Countryfile Team in the Broads
Feisty TV presenter Julia Bradbury crewed a traditional Broads yacht at a major bank holiday regatta for May 31st's edition of BBC 1’s Countryfile.
The new look, peak time programme took a look at the traditions, history, sailing, and environmental work in the Broads, as well as the threat of flooding due to sea level rise and climate change.
Julia crewed in Thurne Mouth Open Regatta’s flagship race the “Cock of the Broads” aboard Hilary Franzen’s 102 year old river cruiser “Martlet”, which has raced at the historic regatta for 60 years.
Meanwhile co presenter Matt Baker crewed and helmed the 111 year old wherry Albion, the oldest trading wherry on the Broads under the watchful eye of skipper Paul Gowman.
“Matt quanted, raised and lowered the main sail and had a go on the tiller,” said Paul, who was on his first sail as an authorised skipper, marking the end of a lengthy apprenticeship.
“He was enchanted. They all were,” said Paul, who relates the history of wherries on camera. “They were really wrapped up in it. They were very taken with the shape of the sail and the cameraman went to great lengths to capture that.”
Matt spent the afternoon plant surveying in a dinghy on Rollesby Broad looking at the clear water and thriving plant life with Broads Authority Conservation Officer Hannah Gray.
“The condition of the water is the best it’s been since the Broads Authority was set up 20 years ago,” said Hannah. “It’s key to good biodiversity leading to more plants, which in turn lead to more insects and more fish. We saw lots of water fleas swimming which eat the algae, keeping the water clear.”
On Tuesday Matt helped Broads Authority trainee millwrights paint windmill sails, while Julia learnt how to dress reed with Broads Authority trainee reed and sedge cutters at Ranworth. Among them was Paul Eldridge, one of the Broads Authority’s first trainee reed and sedge cutters who has completed his training and is now set up in business as a commercial cutter.
The programme discussed how the Broads Authority was set up 20 years ago with its first Chief Executive, Aitken Clark, and filmed behind-the-scenes with BBC 1’s “Springwatch” at Pensthorpe.
26/05/09
