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Ballycastle

The team visit Ballycastle, a coastal community on the north eastern tip of Ireland that's quickly becoming known for its local crafts and artisan food and drink.

The team are in Ballycastle, a coastal community on the north eastern tip of Ireland that's quickly becoming known for its local crafts and artisan food and drink. Margherita Taylor is on a small ‘forward-thinking farm’ that produces ethical and sustainable produce from animals that would other be considered waste products in the dairy industry. Joe Crowley catches up with a couple who produce award-winning smoked salmon and dulse seaweed, a popular local delicacy. Charlotte Smith goes on a red squirrel safari with a local school group, and Adam Henson welcomes new bull Black Prince to his farm.

55 minutes

Last on

Tue 28 Jan 2020 01:45

Music Played

  • Agnes Obel

    Brother Sparrow (Piano Session)

  • Passenger

    Holes

Ballycastle Market

Ballycastle Market

Joe takes a trip to Ballycastle’s market to meet some of the local traders and get a taste of the best local produce. 

With all that's on offer, it’s hard to know where to begin but one stall holder peaks Joe’s interest.

Ruairidh and Melanie run the local smokehouse, specialising in organic salmon and trout from local fish farms. 

Ruaridh and Joe head to the harbour to pick up the latest catch and, whilst Ruaridh takes the fish to the smokehouse, Joe is tasked with collecting another local product found in the waters off Ballycastle - dulse seaweed.

Broughgammon Kids

Broughgammon Kids

Margherita heads to the outskirts of Ballycastle to Broughgammon farm where she meets the Cole family. 

Here, she helps Charlie and his dad, Robin, put fresh bedding down for their billy goats and feed their bull calves.

Then it's off to find Charlie’s mum, Millie, and her mum, Pam, in the onsite butchery where they are busy making goat burgers and goat bacon!

Squirrel Safari

Squirrel Safari

In Ballycastle Forest, Charlotte joins a red squirrel safari with some local school children.

Leading the group is Daniel McAfee, from the Glens Red Squirrel Group, who points out evidence of red squirrels in the forest.

The telltale signs include nests - called drays - built high up in the trees and chewed pine cones on the forest floor that the red squirrels have eaten. 

The children get stuck in hiding food for the squirrels to find whilst Daniel and Charlotte are lucky enough to get a brief glimpse of a couple of red squirrels.

School Food Fail?

School Food Fail?
Tom's investigating whether today's school meals are making the grade - 15 years after the infamous Turkey Twizzlers were taken off the menu.He finds out how healthy eating is at the heart of the curriculum for children at Brownsover Community School in Rugby.But there are fears that some schools across the UK aren't serving up the standards they are legally required to meet.So what can be done in the face of increasing financial pressures and cheaper imports to make sure the very best local British food is enjoyed by the nation's children?

Gamekeeper

Gamekeeper

Liam McCullough is a vet in the neighbouring village of Bushmills. 

When he’s not running his practice, Liam stalks deer on his marsh and woodland around Ballycastle. 

Wintertime is shooting season and the deer numbers have to be controlled to protect trees and farmers' fields from over-grazing and also to stop them expanding their territory - venturing on to roads where they're a hazard to road traffic.

Liam takes a Countryfile camera to see the impact the deer population has had on the landscape and if our camera traps have picked up any activity.

Smoking Fish

Smoking Fish

Earlier, we met Ruaridh from the North Coast Smokehouse. 

Whilst Joe was busy picking dulse seaweed on the beach, Ruaridh was preparing the day's catch.

Against the stunning backdrop of Ballycastle seafront, Ruaridh shows us how the smoking process works and cooks up another Northern Irish delicacy: pollan.

This whitefish is mainly found in Lough Neagh and is little-known but the important question is: what does it taste like? Joe tucks in to find out... 

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Margherita Taylor
Presenter Joe Crowley
Presenter Charlotte Smith
Presenter Adam Henson
Series Producer Joanna Brame
Executive Producer William Lyons

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