Snowdonia: A Year on the Farm 

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BBC One

BBC One Wales

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Snowdonia: A Year on the Farm

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Five farming families open their gates and share their lives across an extraordinary year.

For generations farmers have raised their animals in the wild mountains of Snowdonia. Now five farming families open their gates and share their lives across an extraordinary year.

BBC Two

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

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BBC Two Wales

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Julian Lewis Jones

Nathan Mackintosh

Kate Owen

Steve Robinson

Luke Pavey

Snowdonia: A Year on the Farm: Series 1: Episode 3

Documentaries

Episode 3

Series 1

BBC One - Snowdonia: A Year on the Farm, Series 1, Episode 3

As summer arrives in Snowdonia, it’s time to gather the sheep off the mountains.

As summer arrives, the farmers call on friends to help gather hundreds of sheep from the mountain slopes for shearing. Good dogs and good shepherds are vital to get the job done.

As summer arrives in Snowdonia, it’s time for the farmers to gather their sheep off the mountain slopes ready for shearing. With a lot of livestock to round up and much ground to cover, a team of good dogs and good shepherds is vital.

Ken and Lisa Markham leave their own farm behind to help Ken’s cousin Wil gather his sheep as they do every year - a favour that will be returned later in the season. It’s wild and rugged terrain, too steep for quad bikes, so the only way to round up the flock is on foot with a gang of sheepdogs.

Others are able to use technology like quad bikes to speed things up such as near Bala, where Geraint Davies is helping to gather sheep on a large estate. Near Ysbyty Ifan, young farmer Beca Glyn needs to round up a small gang of ewes who are being sent to Anglesey. Fortunately, she has the help of trusty sheepdog Bruce, cousin Elin and young dog Bess. 

On Cadair Idris, the day of the Markhams big gather arrives. They have around 800 sheep to round up from across the steep slopes of one of Wales’s most impressive peaks. Ken and Lisa have called on plenty of helpers from the local community, including cousin Wil and their old friend Goronwy who has been gathering these slopes for longer than Ken’s been alive. Teamwork, experience, and top-quality sheepdogs pay off and a hard day’s work means a well-earned feast for the shepherds.

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Snowdonia: A Year on the Farm

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