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PROGRAMME INFO |
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From Shetland to the Scilly Isles, Open Country travels the UK in search of the stories, the people and the wildlife that make our countryside such a vibrant place. Each week we visit a new area to hear how local people are growing the crops, protecting the environment, maintaining the traditions and cooking the food that makes their corner of rural Britain unique.
Email: open.country@bbc.co.uk
Postal address: Open Country,
´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4, Birmingham, B5 7QQ.
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Z to Z Britain
At the end of the year, Helen decides to take a look at the end of the alphabet … and in particular, the curious places in Britain which begin with Z.
On the edge of Dartmoor, above South Zeal, she meets who's visited every one of the 41 of these alphabetical locals, from Zabulon to Zulu. He explains why there are so few place names in this country beginning with Z, why there are so many in Devon and Cornwall, and why the letter Z in general has had a rotten deal throughout time. He says that people involved in places with Z in the name are always unusual, so Helen goes off to meet some of the people who live in the village.
Trudging down an old trackway, she comes across who writes medieval murder mysteries based on historical court cases, local records and legends. He says the landscape around the area is crucial to his stories - he believes people are formed by the land as they, in turn, influence it. The moors in particular he finds special and atmospheric - and he thinks are evocative of the Middle Ages like no other place.
Arriving in the village, Helen follows the sound of which is coming from Dr Nick Groom's cottage. Nick's always been interested in Old English ballads and chose to learn hurdy-gurdy as the village is full of folk enthusiasts playing more conventional instruments. In particular, he plays for a local group, The King's Brawlers, who perform dances from the 14th to the 16th century - and Helen discovers that brawlers in this instance have nothing to do with fighting.
South Zeal has more traditional surprises in store: Helen visits Dave Denford, the local blacksmith. Known locally as 'Dartmoor Dave', he feels the desire and need for hand-made items is returning slowly. In the past blacksmiths were much in demand, but large scale manufacturing almost wiped them out. Today, Dave works on gates, railings and craft items and enjoys the creativity of turning bare steel into something attractive. He even makes medieval weapons and chain mail.
And of course a village traditionally revolves around a pub. At the Kings Arms Helen finds herself in the middle of South Zeal's Monday Club - and of course, Michael, Nick and Dave are there too. Along with what seems like half the village, they meet each week to sing and play, and plan the many events that bind this village together … from the annual folk festival to the and all agree that South Zeal really is a traditional, tightly-knit village community. So what better way to drink a toast to the old and new years, than in the local cider (spelt, of course, with a Z!)
Email Open Country: open.country@bbc.co.uk
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Z to Z Britain
Open Country looks back 2003
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