Tales from a Green Valley

[FluffyMuppet]

Hi guys,

According to the June issue of Grow Your Own magazine, there will be a new series called Tales from a Green Valley on BBC2 in the autumn. 12 episodes.

It's about life in the reign of James 1 and the historians will be reenacting things like ploughing, thatching, harvesting and tending the vegetable plot and herb garden.

[Andy Hamilton]

Hmm I quite like the sound of that. Sounds like the sort of programe that you will pick up strange and invaluable tips from.

[FluffyMuppet]

This started last night and I quite enjoyed it. Each programme looks to be a month in the life of the farm and the first episode was September, so they were mainly gathering the apple harvest and ploughing the wheat field.

Next episode is 7.30 BBC next Friday (26th)

[Millymollymandy]

I watched that. It was really interesting, the people doing the project are historians and the like, not a bunch of moaning members of the public, for a change!

[kevin m.]

Sad to see that Friday's episode was the last of what has been a delightful series (shame that I missed a couple of them though).
It made a change for this type of 'living History programme' in that the participants,rather than being 'ordinary people who had volunteered', were all experts in various fields (no pun intended!),though obviously they learnt a lot by actual practise rather than academic study of the various Agricultural/homemaking skills required in a 1620's Farmhouse.
This has been my favourite T.V. show of the last few months,and I'd love to see it repeated,or better still,released on DVD.
Did they have DVD Players in 1620?

[MATTHEW]

For those who enjoyed the series on the Green Valley. You might be intersted in a new book that is being published later this month. 'The building of the Green Valley' by Stuart Peachey details exactly how the valley in which the series was set was recreated over an 18 year period. It gives a good account of the research and recreation that went into the reconstruction of this 17th century farming landscape. The valley is still in use today as an experimental history site - and a viable agricultural project that specialises in rare and little known early plant varieties. Further details can be found at heritagemp.com

[ina]

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for that tip! I don't have a telly and therefore didn't watch any of that series, but it does sound very interesting. I'll have to get hold of that book.

[Andy Hamilton]

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for that tip! I don't have a telly and therefore didn't watch any of that series, but it does sound very interesting. I'll have to get hold of that book.

I had a quick chat with matthew and we will be offering a signed copy of the book as a prize in our delayed 2nd birthday competition. We seem to be gettting a few offers of prizes as it goes

[Millymollymandy]

Sounds interesting - both the book and the competition. That's not the same as the sunflower competition is it? I hope not cos I'm not growing any!

[Andy Hamilton]

Not sure we ended up getting a prize sorted for the sunflower comp, but no this will be different. Seems that a few companies just want to give us stuff for a comp, not too shabby. (In english that means its rather good).

Not sure what the comp will be yet, I have a few ideas. Will have decide on a final one though.

[Aberlemno]

I have this series on DVD (my Christmas present last year) - now I shall have to put the book on my "Wanted" list too. I did wonder if it was attached to the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans, especially as they took the pony down to the Mill at St Fagans to grind the corn. Off to check your link now.

[Ermintrude]

Oh I loved this series. Did someone say that you can visit the farm? If so where abouts in Wales is it?

[Peter Sommer]

I was the Producer/Director of the series. Delighted you all enjoyed it so much.

Thought you might like to know that you can find some articles I've written about it on my website - http://www.petersommer.com/tv_tales.html

Best wishes,

Peter Sommer

[Millymollymandy]

Thanks a lot for the link Peter - I will go and have a look now!