‘I'm proud no sheep have escaped this week': Inside England's farming community
Date: 08:41 BST
Title: 'Crops circles are very clever but still criminal damage'
Content: Will Pope, who has a farm in Dorset, has told us about the 'pain and aggravation' of
finding a spider-shaped crop circle on his land.
'It's a lot of damage, a lot of cost and a lot of stress,' he says.
He was alerted to the crop circle on his land last
year when images of the farm in Sturminster Marshall started circulating on social media.
Will says he found a 'family in the middle having a
picnic' when he went to cut the crops.
He suggests the culprits approach the farmer with
their ideas before causing 'criminal damage' - that way they might be able to come to some arrangement and
still be able to enjoy the crop circle.
This video can not be played
BBC reporter Steve Harris speaks to Will Pope about the financial impact of crop circles
Update:
Date: 08:32 BST
Title: 'We're determined to start again after fire'
Content: Peter and Alison hope to be open in time for Christmas
Peter and Alison Themans had spent 20 years building up their Wenlock Edge Farm Shop business in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, but the buildings were destroyed in just a few hours, leaving only their home next door.
On 26 May, a fire caused by an electrical fault tore through the shop, butchery and charcuterie.
"We went to bed the night after the fire and I couldn't stop thinking about the scale of work ahead of us," Alison says.
"I asked Peter if he was certain he wanted to start again, but we both felt we were not ready to retire."
Update:
Date: 08:27 BST
Title: 'Arson has left us too scared to leave our farm'
Content: The fire at Egghill farm near Birmingham
Farmer Rob Charles says his family is now scared to leave their Worcestershire home unattended after a fire - believed to be arson - caused damage totalling £160,000.
The blaze, which broke out at Egghill Farm near Frankley in August 2024, destroyed two barns, two trailers and hundreds of bales of hay.
Rob says the fear of it happening again has left a lasting impact on his family, who haven't taken a holiday together since the incident.
"We were insured for the physical costs, but it's the emotional impact that stays with you," he tells the BBC.
Update:
Date: 08:19 BST
Title: 'Rural crime has a serious impact'
Content: Lauren WoodheadData journalist
We've been hearing about what makes farming such a special job, but it's not without its challenges - including the threat of being targeted by criminals.
It is an issue that farming-focused insurer NFU Mutual tracks closely.
According to its data, rural crime cost £44.1m in 2024 - down about 17% from the year before.
It saw drops in the theft of GPS units, quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles, but tractor theft and trailer theft rose by 17% and 15% respectively.
NFU Mutual's data also painted a picture across the UK, with Wales being the only place to see the cost of rural crime rising.
Rachel Hallos, NFU vice-president, said such crimes 'have a serious impact on farming families, from the financial cost of stolen equipment to the emotional distress caused by livestock attacks'.
Update:
Date: 08:08 BST
Title: At one with the farm animals
Content: Across England, our reporters and presenters are making new friends on the farms they're visiting.
In Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, goats and cows are the star attraction this morning - but they're a little shy on the microphone.
These goats are a little sheepish in front of the microphone
In Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, this cow is making the most of the attention on the farm
This cow is milking its time in the spotlight
Update:
Date: 07:58 BST
Title: A day in the life of a farmer
Content: While most people are still snug in bed, farmers like Rebecca Wilson are already hard at work - checking on livestock, tending to newly-hatched chicks and making the most of every daylight hour.
Rebecca, who runs a farm in the outskirts of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, says: 'We could be working until midnight this evening, but it's amazing how quick the time passes because you are always busy.'
BBC York reporter Hannah Sackville-Bryant went along to find out more.
This video can not be played
Hannah Sackville-Bryant spends the day with farmer and podcaster Rebecca Wilson
Update:
Date: 07:50 BST
Title: 'I put a bow tie on a llama... and suddenly we were booking weddings'
Content: While farming is a family tradition for some, others come to it later in life.
Celia Gaze decided to start a business on her husband's farm after being
signed off from work due to stress.
The Well Being Farm in Bolton is a passion project which saw her swap the office walls of the NHS for open fields... and llamas.
"One day I decided to put a
bow tie on a llama and suddenly everyone wanted to come and visit the Well
Being Farm," she said.
"We got countless bookings for weddings and people coming from far
and wide to see them."
She has since dedicated different
areas to regenerative farming, and hopes to inspire others to reflect on the
trajectory of their lives.
Update:
Date: 07:35 BST
Title: 'Dad had a passion for old-fashioned farm animals'
Content: Farming has always been a source of joy for Countryfile's Adam Henson, whose Cotswold Farm Park attraction in Gloucestershire was founded by his dad Joe in 1971.
"Dad had a passion for keeping old-fashioned farm animals," he says.
"Breeds such as the Old Gloucester Cattle, Gloucester Old Pig and Cotswold Sheep were going extinct, so dad decided to start keeping them.
"Eventually he had 50 different breeds, so to pay for them he decided to open the farm up to make it work.
"He was very much ahead of his time allowing visitors to bottle-feed a lamb or hold a chick."
Update:
Date: 07:21 BST
Title: 'We are proud to be farmers'
Content: It's not just the BBC celebrating farming life today. The team at Farmers Guardian are hosting their annual #Farm24 campaign too.
They've been asking farmers to share what makes them proud about the job they do.
Yorkshire farmer Rebecca Wilson joked she was just proud no sheep had escaped this week.
"On a serious note, I am proud that every day I get
to do a job that feeds people," she said.
"Whether it is looking after livestock or checking crops,
we're out here doing our bit to produce food sustainably."
Here's what Rebecca and others had to say:
This video can not be played
'I can't see our lives ever being without farming'
Update:
Date: 07:10 BST
Title: Breakfast on the farm
Content: Early starts are part and parcel of farming life - and that's something the team at BBC Breakfast know all about too.
They're spending the morning on a farm in Wiltshire that's going to have a big role to play in our coverage as the day goes on.
BBC Breakfast presenter Tim Muffett reporting live from Malmesbury
Update:
Date: 06:57 BST
Title: Welcome to Farmwatch 2025
Content: As the harvest comes in, we're taking you behind the farm gates to meet the people who shape the countryside and feed the nation.
Our teams at BBC Local radio stations are turning the spotlight on farming communities throughout England with 24 hours of coverage which began at 6am.
For the next 12 hours, we'll be bringing you some of the highlights from the day and our coverage across the BBC. You'll find more on our social media channels, including with the #BBCFarmwatch hashtag
Stay with us to hear first-hand from farmers about the passion they have for their work as well as the struggles they face.
We'll also have insight from the team at Farmers Guardian whose #Farm24 campaign is taking place today too.
This video can not be played
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
So was Lucy Connolly really such a danger that she had to spend a year behind bars? JAN MOIR
After serving 40 per cent of her 31-month sentence, Lucy Connolly walked free from prison on Thursday morning. Remember Lucy? She was found guilty of sending hate crime tweets in the immediate aftermath of the Southport attacks last year, in which three little girls were murdered and others stabbed and injured at a Taylor Swift dance class.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Ten-foot drone came so close to Heathrow passenger jet that pilot and first officer SAW it pass windshield
A ten-foot drone came so close to colliding with a passenger jet that it covered the plane's windscreen. The Airbus A320 had just taken off from London 's Heathrow Airport back in May and was at 9,000 ft when the near-miss occurred, The Sun reports. A report into the incident by investigation bod UK Airpox Board said: 'Both the Captain and First Officer saw a bright white object pass overhead from the opposite direction. 'It appeared to be approximately 2-3 metres in size at the very least.' The report added: 'It may have been larger as it filled a good proportion of the windshield.' The report added that the aircraft was spotted on radar by air traffic controllers. The in-flight incident investigation body was told a suspected drone had been spotted near London's City Airport prior to the incident. 'The Captain only saw the object for a second or two in peripheral vision so could not reliably comment on the shape. No markings were identified.' The pilot stated that the object 'went over us, probably within about 10m'. It is not clear which airline was operating the aircraft. It comes after a drone came within 10 to 20 metres of colliding with a Boeing 737 airliner as it approached Gatwick Airport in April. In a separate incident, a suspected drone came within 10ft of crashing into a British Airways passenger jet flying over London. The plane, operated by the airline's regional carrier BA Cityflyer, was travelling at 3,000ft four nautical miles north west of London City Airport, when pilots noticed an object with lights. The crew of the Embraer 190, which can carry up to 98 passengers, reported spotting the object at 6.10pm on October 31 after climbing out of the east London airport on a route used for domestic services to Edinburgh and Glasgow. While the incident was reported to police, the nature of the object was never formally identified. According to a report filed by the UK Airprox Board, which monitors and analyses near misses, said that both pilots 'instinctively flinched' as the object came 'extremely close' to the aircraft. The report concluded the incident meant there was a 'definite risk of collision' and or required 'providence', an instinctive pilot judgement in response to an emergency situation. In recent years, pilots have warned of the risk of drones causing potentially catastrophic damage if sucked into a jet engine or smashing into a windscreen.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Secret tactics high street stores use to stop shoplifters - as police admit there's 'no point' arresting them
As shoplifting rates double and leading police chiefs admit there's 'no point' arresting thieves, members of the public and shop staff are having to take matters into their own hands. While innocent bystanders have started accosting suspected thieves, this week Lancashire Constabulary issued advice to business owners to say hello to shoplifters when they enter the premises, to deter them from setaling. Meanwhile, staff have also turned to their own secret tactics to catch them in the act, including handing a basket to customers they feel suspicious about. Popular shops including Iceland, Superdrug and Boots are sharing the methods they use to deter shoplifters in the hope that their stores can escape unscathed from the shoplifting epidemic. Staff in Iceland have resorted to locking suspected thieves inside stores to stop them escaping with bags full of produce. A clip shared on TikTok showed a security guard locking up the sliding doors as another member of staff tackled the shoplifter and attempted to wrestle the goods off them. Much to the shock of the thief's companion, the staff refused to let the detained shoplifter go so the accomplice began banging on the entrance, demanding she be released. Dressed in a fleece dressing gown with the hood up, the irate shopper shouted: 'Get off her man, come on, don't do that to her man. Why are you locking the door on her?'. She also yelled at the guards through the door asking them not to 'hold her like that' because 'she's a woman'. Inside, the security guard could be seen collecting several items from the floor and handing them back to shop staff. People in the comments asked whether the guard was allowed to detain the shoplifter but many more jumped to Iceland's defence and said the staff were within their rights to make a citizen's arrest. A citizen's arrest or an arrest without a warrant can be made if a person is in the act of committing an indictable offence or there are reasonable grounds for suspecting they are or might be about to. Offence include theft, burglary and criminal damage. Government advice warns that such arrests should only be made if a police officer cannot do it and if the person might cause harm to themselves or others, cause loss or damage to a property or escape before police arrive. While some supermarkets and shops are using citizens arrests to deter thieves, others are opting for a softer approach. Beauty chain Superdrug have taken to social media with a tongue in cheek campaign warning shoplifters that they are constantly being watched. In one clip, filmed by two staff members at a store in Stourport, outside Worcester, two sales assistants point to their headsets and body worn cameras to show potential thieves that they are being monitored and staff can communicate with each other. The video ends with them holding up a basket to the camera and pointing at it and then at the screen to indicate shoppers should use a basket. A video featuring staff from a shop in Halifax, west Yorkshire, showed the measures taken by the store to deter shoplifters. It followed one staff member as they followed and watched a potential thief who browsed products including a luffa and nail varnish. They appeared in various poses, hiding behind stands and crouching down as the Mission Impossible theme tune played over the clips. As well as watching closely, staff member Caitlin revealed Superdrug stores deter shoplifters by asking if they need any help. High Street pharmacy Boots has also taken to TikTok to promote its Stop, Think, Don't Shoplift campaign. In the minute-long video, a staff member at the Boots in the Arnison Centre, Durham, poses as a shoplifter and goes around the shop pretending to steal items while staff show how they tackle possible thefts. The clip starts by staff greeting the potential thief at the door, smiling, waving and saying hello. They then approach them as they shop, asking if they need any help as they pick up and put down various items. The Durham-based shop also showed off their rotating hooks which they say stops 'pesky thieves' and the security tags and plastic packaging on their beauty products which are difficult to remove. The high street chain has also instituted a rule of only three of each item, making it harder for shoplifters to grab a shelfful of expensive products and make a dash. The clip then shows the member of staff approaching the pretend thief and offering them a basket so it's easier to keep an eye on what they have taken. In another snippet, the fake shoplifter tried to open up luxury products but is fooled by an empty box, with the store advising other locations to use 'dummy boxes' provided by the beauty companies and to security tag the actual items. The video ended by a member of staff telling the would-be thief to 'stop' and 'think', resulting in the customer going through their pockets and bag and handing over an item they had attempted to steal. A store in Nottingham has also taken matters into their hands and installed CCTV to catch out shoplifters. A guard, watching live footage, issues announcements over the tannoy system telling thiefs they've been spotted and to return any stolen items meaning that stock is kept safe and instances of confrontation are avoided. The efforts of shopkeepers up and down the UK come after the total thefts reached 530,643 in the year to March, at an estimated cost of £1.8bn to retailers. Last year, Lancashire Police launched Operation Vulture, which encouraged businesses to use 'customer greeters' to cut down on crime. An online guide called How to Deter a Shoplifter, the force advised: 'By greeting genuine shoppers, not only does this provide a positive impression of your store, it also deters potential shoplifters. 'An offender is less likely to shoplift if they sense that they are to be seen and noticed by staff.' But the advice was criticised by another policing chief has seemingly admitted that there is little deterrent for shoplifters because they are so often freed by courts to steal again. Katy Bourne, the national lead for shoplifting at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: 'People have got to know that they're going to get caught and that there's a meaningful deterrent when they do it. There is no point arresting shoplifters if there is no effective deterrent.' Insisting that it is 'madness' that the thieves blighting Britain's retailers are often not being put behind bars, Ms Bourne told The Telegraph: 'People have got to know that they're going to get caught, and that there's a meaningful deterrent when they do. 'There is no point arresting shoplifters if there is no effective deterrent.'
