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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.
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Richard Uridge | | | | |
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|  | Richard Uridge and Steven Matthews at Helsby Rock
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Richard Uridge returns to Open Country and visits the Mersey Marshes and Gowy valley in North Cheshire, one of Britain’s most polluted areas.
Since Roman times the Mersey Marshes have been gradually drained and reclaimed from the Mersey and traditionally used for grazing. In the 20th century the area became heavily industrialised.
Ineos Chlor in Runcorn and Associated Octel, Ellesmere Port, are located here, as is the Stanlow Oil Refinery and an electricity plant. The M56 and M53 cut a swathe across the land and much of the surrounding area has suffered pollution: the river Gowy, in particular, being used as a dumping ground.
Despite this, those that work the Gowy and surrounding area remain remarkably upbeat. Over 15 years they have fought hard to return the area to its natural state.
Richard clambers up Helsby rock with Steven Matthews, editor of Cheshire History. The whole valley and beyond, as far as the rising Welsh mountains, stretches as far as the eye can see. Steven explains how the land has been slowly drained, reclaimed, and industrialised.
Cheshire History
Richard makes his way down onto the flood plains that run up to the Mersey to meet Gail Butterbill from Cheshire Wildlife Trust. It's here, right beside Stanlow oil refinery, that the Trust is re-introducing water meadows. They are not only creating a natural habitat for migrating birds, but also moving the water away from the oil refinery, averting a potential ecological disaster.
Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Richard continues up the river Gowy to Grange Farm in Mickle Trafford to meet Huw Rowlands on his dairy farm. Huw had invited the programme to visit Cheshire and, as he explained, he’s also a farmer who isn't keen to have to count traffic for the local council to make ends meet.
Richard talks to Ernie Shufflebottem, head water keeper at the Bay Malton Fishing Club, about his mission to re-stock the river Gowy and bring back fishing to its banks over the last 15 years.
Bay Malton Fishing Club
Continuing upstream, Richard catches up with pest controller Dave Oldfield, who’s checking out the traps he’s laid down for mink on the banks of the Gowy. Dave’s grandfather was a gamekeeper in Cheshire and his father an American Indian. As the talk turns to grey squirrels, David reveals that once trapped and killed, they make a tasty meal for his family of seven children.
Richard's journey around the Mersey Marshes and the Gowy valley ends with Walter Johnson at Gibbet’s Field, Mickle Trafford. It was here that the bodies of James Brown and Thomas Price were strung up in January 1795 for abducting and robbing a mail boy.
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Open Country looks back 2003
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