Table of Contents 1.

Many moons ago, more than I care to remember, one of my wildlife television documentaries surprised me, as well as the headquarters of BBC in London. It took nearly eighteen months to make, telling the story of a traditional farm and its rich nature, not far from our own here in South Devon. The film featured two traditional Devon farmers, brothers living and working their family farm a haven for exceptional wildlife. The film was broadcast as part of the major BBC2 ‘Natural World’ strand, early Sunday evening. The narrator was Jonathan Dimbleby, a distinguished broadcaster, who also happened to be President of the Soil Association and has his own organic farm.

The day after the broadcast in my BBC office, I received a phone call from Television Centre in London. They wanted to know why I had not warned them of my programme’s likely public response. Apparently not only was I being held responsible for jamming the main  switchboard, but Bristol too had been inundated with hundreds of calls all morning. I could only apologise, but pointed out that surely the controller of BBC2 must be pleased with such high ratings for the channel.

For the rest of that week my post was delivered by the sack load. The response from the audience was overwhelming. People of all ages wrote or left phone messages. Some just leaving a simple ‘thank you’, while others, “it’s what we pay our licence fee for”. Schools and colleges asked for repeat showings or requested copies for educational use. But one call stood out. It was from the Ministry for Agriculture. The secretary I spoke to wanted to know if I could take a senior minister around the farm featured in the film. The opportunity to bend a minister’s ear for a couple of hours about the state of the British countryside and wildlife conservation, was too good an opportunity to miss. Even better, in the years that followed, many of the points we discussed appeared in new government initiatives. A welcome appreciation that the health and wellbeing of the British countryside is inextricably linked to the richness and variety of its wildlife. Conservation farming was then in its infancy and any links to a vibrant tourist industry was under appreciated. It seemed obvious but at that time no statistics existed. As the minister later commented to me following the devastating aftermath of Foot and Mouth Disease in 2001, it was a “very expensive way to get the evidence we talked about”.

However, I was even more humbled before the film was even aired. As a thank you to the farmers and local residents, I organised a short preview of the film in a nearby village hall. Packed with people their reaction was much appreciated. But as I was putting away the projector, a large imposing figure was bearing down on me. He thrust a gigantic hand forward, followed by an arm wrenching shake. “Youm”, he said in his broad Devon voice, vigorously pumping my hand again, “be the only bloke who’s ever made me cry”. I was just hoping that was a compliment.

Andrew Cooper