This final edition in this series of Country Calendar presented by John Noakes and dog Skip that takes a tour of Britain. In the first of three reports there is a visit to Staups Mill near Todmorden in the Upper Calder Valley to meet watercolour artist Richard Bell who draws inspiration from the natural world around him. Next, naturalist and television presenter Michael Clegg travels to Brancaster Staithes on the north coast of Norfolk to meet the local oyster farmers. Finally, along the...

This final edition in this series of Country Calendar presented by John Noakes and dog Skip that takes a tour of Britain. In the first of three reports there is a visit to Staups Mill near Todmorden in the Upper Calder Valley to meet watercolour artist Richard Bell who draws inspiration from the natural world around him. Next, naturalist and television presenter Michael Clegg travels to Brancaster Staithes on the north coast of Norfolk to meet the local oyster farmers. Finally, along the Cromford Canal in the Derwent Valley near Matlock Sheffield Naturalist Derek Whiteley and his wife Sarah look for the various plant and animals that live alongside the canal. Titles: Yorkshire Television Production Country Calendar John Noakes John introduces the final programme from the studio snug. A special edition with films from different regional locations, the first being Todmorden to meet artist Richard Bell. The film shows a waterfall near the ruins of an 18th century cotton mill, known as Staups Mill. Richard is sketching next to the river not far from the mill ruins. The film shows his sketch in close-up. He then paints a colour wash over the picture. The film shows Richard’s rendition of tree trunks and vegetation, and as the film pulls back the remains of the old mill in the background. Off camera Richard talks of his growing up and his interest in drawing along with a fascination in the natural world. The film shows a wildflower followed by a coloured sketch from one of his sketchbooks. Other observations recorded in his sketchbook include a squirrel using a tree trunk to cross the river and a tawny owl Richard disturbed as he came back to the riverside location to continue painting. Using a pen he sketches a plant with a head of tiny flowers, an umbellifer. The film shows a sketch of Malham, followed by a sketch from the countryside looking towards Lincoln Cathedral. He also draws fossils in the rock walls near the cathedral. A view of another sketchbook shows a variety of birds along with annotations, made at Cley-next-the-Sea in Norfolk. He also recorded saltmarsh plants on the same trip. The film finishes as it began with a view of a waterfall above the river where Richard sits. The film returns to the studio and John Noakes along with his dog Skip. Michael Clegg is the studio guest to talk about the next item which was filmed in North Norfolk. A map shows the location of the film which is Brancaster Staithe near Hunstanton. The film looks at the work of oyster farmers, the opening view shows what appear to be cages partially submerged on the coastline. An oyster farmer lifts one of these cages which are in fact plastic open topped trays. A farmer takes some oysters from the box. The oysters are the pacific variety and according to Michael Clegg’s commentary the cold-water creeks in north Norfolk ensure there is an all-year-round supply of oysters. Michael points out some varieties of birds he has spotted. The film shows the bar tailed godwit, a wader foraging for food, a flock of Canada geese fly overhead. Also searching in the shallow water, a curlew; a ring plover runs across the shingle. An oyster farmer attends to another semi submerged oyster tray. The camera shows another wading bird identified by Michael as an oyster catcher which feeds on mussels or cockles. A great black backed gull flies by and ‘will eat anything’ according to Michael. On the shingle a turnstone explores. An oyster farmer trudges across two miles of marshes to get to Brancaster. To get to the oysters and back can only be done at low tide. Harvesting oysters requires that they are placed in tanks of clean sea water, to rid them of impurities before selling. Derek Billing an oyster farmer and a fisherman all his life, speaks on camera and shows examples of the size the oysters reach when grown. On camera he says sometimes native oysters get mixed up with the oysters they farm. He shows two examples of the different species to the camera. Back in the studio John and Michael share some oysters. John introduces the next item, which is from the Derbyshire peak district on the Cromford canal in the Derwent valley near Matlock. Sheffield naturalist Derek Whitely and his wife Sarah act as guides on this exploration. The film shows a view over the valley and goes closer for a view as a converted barge named ‘John Cray’ is pulled along the canal by a horse on the towpath. Derek Whiteley and his wife stand in the prow. He explains the canal is a place where man and nature live side by side and is frequently visited by naturalists. They get off the barge and walk along the towpath then stop to look at an elm tree ravaged by Dutch elm disease. David explains to his wife the effect the beetle has on elm trees as they take a closer look at the fallen trunk of an elm nearby. Back on the barge they approach High Peak junction an old junction with the high peak railway. This part of the canal, which is crossed by a small swing bridge, is open to let the barge through. Derek and Sarah cross the canal on another footbridge. Further on at this point the canal is choked with pondweed and slimy algae. A view of the fast-flowing river Derwent shows that it’s crossed by an aqueduct carrying the slower water of the canal. Here Derek takes a sample of canal water fauna and flora using a small net. On the aqueduct footpath they put the contents into a bowl. Amongst the wildlife spotted are a stickleback fish, shrimps, water beetles, and pond snails. The Cromford canal south of Whatstandwell is one of the most beautiful parts of the canal. It is richest in wildlife and is now a nature reserve, managed by the Derbyshire Naturalists Trust. Derek and Sarah walk across another canal bridge and spot a water vole swimming across the water. On another overgrown part of the canal, Derek has set a small mammal trap amongst some brambles. Sian retrieves the trap and opens it in a plastic bag Derek is holding. Derek holds up the catch for the camera, which is a bank vole. They release the vole and carry on along the towpath. Further along they find the droppings of a fox, which contain bones, with the aid of a magnifying Derek describes it as toe bone of a rabbit. He puts it in a small container for further investigation. They talk as they walk along another overgrown section of the canal. They list the other animals, birds and plants they might see. A view from the prow of the old barge follows as it slowly goes along the canal. Derek uses a large net, which he sweeps through the air to catch whatever might be disturbed from a nearby snowberry thicket. He examines what he’s caught in the net, using a special tool called a pooter which is a flexible tube that can be used to catch invertebrates directly from leaves. The user sucks one end, which draws the invertebrate upwards to a trap area. One of the species captured is a caddis fly which mostly live underwater. The barge moves further along the canal and the item finishes and returns to the studio. John brings the final programme to an end and his time on the series, as he says goodbye to the viewers and Michael Clegg in the studio. End Credits: Country Calendar was presented by John Noakes with Michael Clegg Editorial Assistant Mark Meysey-Thompson Film Cameramen Dick Dodd, Alan Wilson Film Sound Ron Gunn, Chris Clarkson Film Editors David Aspinall, Alan Briggs Dubbing Mixer Steve Haynes Director Charles Flynn Producer John Wilford © YTV Ltd 1982 Yorkshire Television production