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Outlook: Farming and Phil Collins taught me about love

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Simon Dawson on his farm in Exmoor

14/10/2020 GMT

Farming and Phil Collins taught me about love

BBC World Service - Outlook, Farming and Phil Collins taught me about love

Learning lessons about love and life from a ewe and a lamb

When a ewe rejected its newborn lamb on his farm, Simon Dawson was flooded with memories of his own childhood 40 years earlier.

Simon Dawson was on a wayward path after a difficult childhood. He says his mother would tell him directly that she didn't love him. Things were at their lowest when their family house burnt down and Simon was blamed for it. Unsure of love, he turned to music for answers. But the real lessons came later in life when he set up a farm and the animals he cared for showed him what true guardianship and acceptance means. Simon now believes his mother suffered from postnatal depression and was never given the support she needed. He tells Emily Webb how he turned things around and learned to love. 
Simon's book is called The Boy Without Love.

Ugandan gospel singer Sandra Suubi was spotted at high school, when she sang to a group of friends during playtime and her performance drew a huge audience. She went on to win a national TV contest and became known as the pop star who collects trash. That's because she turns plastic waste into elaborate set pieces, costumes and even musical instruments for her performances and music videos. She spoke to Outlook's Troy Holmes about turning cups into couture.   

Robert Bezeau follows a similar path. He is the mind behind the Plastic Bottle Village in Panama. He's collected millions of discarded bottles and repurposed them into buildings, houses and even a grand castle complete with turrets, battlements and facades. He spoke to Outlook in 2016 about his mission to clean up the planet.  


If anything in this programme has affected you, you can find links to helpful organisations at bbc.com/actionline.


Picture: Simon Dawson on his farm in Exmoor
Credit: Courtesy of Simon Dawson

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