Voices From The Dales

Apr 05 2024 32 ep. 14 mins 6

Voices From The Dales Podcast artwork

Voices From The Dales is currently in Series Three, 'Swaledale Farmer'. It's a mix of fresh interviews and clips from the Dales Countryside Museum's oral history archive. All episodes are 15 minutes and presented by Andrew Fagg from Hawes.

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Swaledale Farmer pt.6: A Big Part (Michael Watson part 2 and Rachel Watson)

Apr 05 2024 15 mins

Michael shares his knowledge of bird life on the farm, stressing that there is as much wildlife about as there ever was. He describes how the farm business is dealing with the government’s major change to farm payments. Michael shares his views on the Swaledale breed in the sheep shed, and there’s a cameo from daughter Rachel who describes her attraction to a career in hill far

Swaledale Farmer pt.5: Maar Rain No Hay (Michael Watson part 1).

Apr 04 2024 15 mins

Michael Watson fothers sheep in a high allotment with haylage and cake. He paints a picture of the scene in Upper Teesdale, and describes how much the stock means to him. The talk turns to the changing climate and Michael reveals that 2023 was the first time no hay was made at Stoney Hill.

Swaledale Farmer pt.4: Side By Side (Ray Ridley)

Apr 03 2024 15 mins

As Ray gives his beloved White Park cattle a scratch in a rain-battered shed, he reveals how Swaledale sheep numbers have come down over the years as stewardship schemes have come in. He describes how lapwings and sheep ‘look out for each other’, how ‘scrapes’ have been dug to provide habitat for the birds, and how he grew up on the farm wondering at the abundance of wildli

Swaledale Farmer pt.3: So Much Grass (Sue Ridley)

Apr 02 2024 15 mins

Sue Ridley describes the unique location of Kexwith Farm in lower Swaledale. She humorously rejects the title of ‘farmer’s wife’, tells the story of the revival of a remnant of ancient woodland, and reveals how engagement with stewardship schemes has led to healthier stock and more grass.

Swaledale Farmer pt.2: Eager To Learn (Christine Clarkson pt. 2)

Apr 01 2024 15 mins

Christine speaks about wildflower identification, hay meadow management and peat depth testing. She reveals how the authorities once regarded Kisdon hill top as being of insufficient environmental interest to warrant stewardship payments, and closes with stirring advocacy of the importance of local communities.

Swaledale Farmer pt.1: Deep Black (Christine Clarkson pt. 1)

Mar 31 2024 15 mins

The new series is introduced by presenter Andrew Fagg. Then meet champion Swaledale sheep breeder Christine, checking on tup Mo. She shares the story of her farming career and her current thoughts on the direction of the Swaledale breed, as well as a conversation between tourists overheard in Muker’s famous meadows.

Dialect pt.9: Kit Calvert, 'Lord, do somemat f't'cow'

Nov 01 2023 15 mins

Kit Calvert’s conversion and cow story, begun in episode 8, concludes. We also hear him telling how he was persuaded to ‘translate’ parts of the Bible into Wensleydale dialect, and why he collected the poems of John Thwaite. He reads from St John's gospel and the poem 'Wakken Mother Wakken'. This is followed by concluding thoughts on dialect. Published on Wed 1 November 2023.

Dialect pt.8: Kit Calvert, 'Wily old bird'

Nov 01 2023 15 mins

Series Two special guest Rob Ward remembers Kit Calvert. He adds ‘warts and all’ to our understanding of the man regarded as the ‘Complete Dalesman’. After Rob, a Kit Calvert recording gifted to the museum in 2019 is published for the first time. It is the story of how he came to faith through the travails of a milk cow. Published on Wed 1 November 2023.

Dialect pt.7: Kit Calvert, ‘Wass than nowt’

Nov 01 2023 15 mins

Kit Calvert, one time saviour of Wensleydale Cheese, is introduced. A description is given of the recordings of him held at the Dales Countryside Museum. From the 1977 Trevor Sharpe tapes, we hear Kit Calvert tell how his use of dialect made the Queen Mother laugh. And it is revealed how Wensleydale dialect propelled Wensleydale cheese onto the national stage, with the help of a Mr

Trailer for Episodes 7-9 of Series Two on dialect, ft. Kit Calvert

Oct 17 2023 1 mins

A 90-second trailer for the final three episodes of Series Two on dialect. It whets the appetite for Episodes 7-9, which will feature never-before-published archive material of Kit Calvert, the saviour of both The Wensleydale Dairy in Hawes and the dialect poetry of John Thwaite.