大象传媒

It鈥檚 been a long wet winter. After the deluge, the land is stirring. Farmers are preparing for spring and with it the arrival of new life.

In Northumberland, Emma Gray is preparing for the Skipton Dog Sales. She has built an international reputation, and half the farm鈥檚 annual income comes from breeding and training top sheepdogs. This year, she has high hopes for her fully trained two year old sheepdog bitch Meg, and anticipation is building for a record breaking price tag. But just three days before the sale, Meg starts to show signs of lameness, and Emma is forced to take an emergency trip to the vets.

On the northernmost tip of the Scottish mainland, hill farmer Joyce Campbell is preparing for spring. Her 800 North Country Cheviot ewes are now in the final stages of pregnancy, and Joyce is doing everything she can to keep them fit and healthy ahead of the birthing season. When she discovers one of her ewes is showing signs of listeria, a serious bacterial infection. Joyce does everything she can to save her.

In the Lake District, Matt and Dani Blair are preparing for the first cattle TB test on their new farm. It鈥檚 a nerve-racking procedure. One positive test could put the farm in lockdown for months. Later, when heavily pregnant Dani goes into labour, she and Matt head to the hospital, leaving 19 year old shepherd Murray holding the fort.

In Aberdeenshire, spring has come early for new entrant farmers Isla and George at Little Rowater Farm. They prefer their small flock, Dutch spotted pedigree and commercial ewes to lamb early, which means keeping an eye on them around the clock. With husband George working full time and three children to look after, Isla has her hands full lambing night and day.