However, now that they are going to have more programme hours to fill, lets hope that they can now find time to show some real countryside events - shooting, hunting, fishing, ferreting, tying flies, making nets. Proper traditional, get your hands dirty stuff that still does happen in the real countryside. They could also have it presented by real country people with years of experience of their subject, who could talk about the countryside in the way that Jack Hargreaves did so well in his "Out of Town" series.
Somehow though, I rather expect that we will get more of the same format, where everybodies happy, nothing gets killed, the flowers always flower and the sun always shines.
Today has been a real beauty, clear blue skies, unbroken sunshine and some clean, cold air. It was so refreshing after the claggy and mild dampness, drizzle and gales of recent days. Being out on the marsh this morning was a real joy and a boost to the spirit. It was almost as if the weather was shrugging off yesterday's Shortest Day and giving us a taste of the Spring that is yet to come. It was good to see the flock of c.104 White-fronted Geese still happily feeding away on the lush, green grass in the Flood Field, their calls so much more musical than the farmyard honking of the Greylag variety. So far they appear to have evaded the shotguns that regularly wait on either side of the reserve for them, but they will come under intense pressure over the next two weeks as many wildfowlers and duck shooters have two weeks holiday.
Other than that it was a generally quiet day bird-wise, just the usual stuff, but it was nice to see that this brood of five swan cygnets, hatched on the reserve this year, have all survived OK so far.
As you say, it was great to be out today in the sunshine. I think we are going to pay the price though by the looks of it in the next few days. Thats a good number of White fronts on Sheppey. Hopefully a few will wander towards Reculver soon!! Have a good Christmas Derek, all the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marc, same to you.
ReplyDeleteOne thing's for sure, I don't think we're expecting to have to face what the poor sods up north are.
Jack Hargreaves - proper countryman...
ReplyDeleteThose cygnets look in really good health Derek - there has certainly been enough water about for them. Agree about Country File. We do always watch it and like most parts of it. We are interested in rare breeds so always enjoy Adam's contribution - and he is a real countryman, as is Matt, who I believe comes from a farming family in Northumberland. But I suppose they are trying to cater for all sorts. Happy Christmas to you.
ReplyDeleteDerek - as I recall, the demise of "Out of Town" was due, in part, to the fact that Jack Hargreaves did show the other side of the cosy picture. I well remember the pheasant shooting, pike angling and, on one program, how the old Kent bird catchers were able to lure migrating Sky Larks with a contraption which used rotating mirrors to replicate open water - these birds being captured to supply ingredients for Lark's tongue pie of Mrs Beeton fame!
ReplyDeleteI can't see the modern day t/v license payer putting up with vermin control - be that fox, rat, squirrel and/or corvid as part of an, entertainment based, daily television show?
Nice post - plenty to think about - Dyl
Pat, Adam's contribution in the programme is by far the best part.
ReplyDeleteDylan, Your last paragraph is correct and that's why we have the lightweight programme that it's become. I read a book all about Jack Hargreave's life earlier this year and he was quite a character and to a degree nothing like the person that you saw on the screen.