Escape to River Cottage - Episode 1

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s dream of escaping the city sprawl and downshifting to rural Dorset is about to be realised. He has arrived at River Cottage, and his new life as a small holder, living off the fat of the land, lies before him. But first there has to be some changes… What doesn’t put food on the table has to go. Hugh rips up the blooming flowerbeds and lays old railway sleepers as the foundations for his new vegetable garden. With the vegetables sorted Hugh is off in search of livestock in a rare breed pig farm. Aware of the marine larder the Dorset seas have to offer Hugh catches up with a spear-fishing expert and also makes a deal In return for conducting a regular cull to keep Anthony’s pigeon flock at a manageable size…


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Escape to River Cottage - Episode 2

Hugh had thought his downshifting was progressing nicely. But his daily garden check reveals a pesky garden pest. A Riverbank rendezvous with keeper John Aplin gives him an opportunity to put his vermin control to the test, and hopefully catch himself some supper. The jam season is approaching, so it’s off to Forde Abbey farm for a day fruit picking. He meets a group of European students and is invited for a meal of Ukrainian Borscht and a campfire song. Hugh decides to expand the River Cottage livestock, but foxy concerns about his new chicken run send him to fellow small holder Frank Biddlecombe for a lesson in foul play.


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Christmas At The River Cottage (Episode 3)

Top of his Christmas list is a goose, and he heads off to admire Dave Roache's gaggle and discuss the merits of goose keeping. But before Hugh can purchase his Christmas lunch he needs to raise the necessary cash. So it's down to the Farmer's Christmas Market with a festive selection from the River Cottage larder. His home made treats of meaty mince pies, cider apple brandy butter and marrons glaces seem to be wetting some appetites. But a fat goose requires a fat profit and Hugh uses his red reindeer antlers to attract the Christmas customers. The stall sells out, leaving Hugh time to get into the spirit with the Bridport Christmas parade.


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Escape to River Cottage - Episode 4

Hugh’s garden pest problems are now being rivaled inside the Cottage, with an infestation of mice! Desperate measures call for unusual powers of persuasion and Hugh calls in vegan mouse charmers. After, spurred on still by the mice Hugh joins Jan Andrews on her regular cull of the Dorset Roe Deer population.Then it’s a trip down memory lane as Hugh catches up with local schoolmaster Mr Cheeseman, who kept a fishing boat in the bay Hugh used to play in with his childhood pals. The Cheeseman family meets for a nostalgic beach picnic, but will the schoolmaster favour Hugh’s Japanese prawn tempura or stick with his own traditional recipe?


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Escape to River Cottage - Episode 5

It’s now eel migration season and Hugh meets up with local basket maker Malcolm Seal, to try his hand at creating an eel trap. The Chideock Cider Circle enjoys the right to collect orchard windfalls and Hugh joins the September harvest in return for a taste of their infamous brew. With lots of tipple tasting and a raucous game of skittles will Hugh be feeling a little under the weather? Another autumn treat is in store for Hugh as he joins a group of beaters on a nearby pheasant shoot. Hugh returns home to make a hearty game terrine for his guests the burly beaters. The evening ends with a bang as they all celebrate Bonfire Night in the River Cottage garden.

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Escape to River Cottage - Episode 6

His pigs are now ready for slaughter and Hugh intends to have a pork party to pay his new neighbours back for their friendship and invaluable help. Hugh also enlists one-time playboy Victor Borge and local butcher Ray Smith to help him deal with the meat. Back at River Cottage the three immediately set to work preparing a feast of small holding delights for the party guests.Hugh manages to fit in a sea shore scavenge with Bill Gibbons in search of some free food. Armed with buckets and mounds of table salt Hugh learns an ingenious technique for catching tasty razor clams.


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