Voices From The Dales

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.