Lie of the Land on Channel 4

hatters

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I thought it was great, im not a countryside person so saw things I didn't know went on.
Thought it was positive for the hunting debate - showed beyond toffs galloping around the countryside on horses.....
 

endymion

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I thought it was an interesting prog.

However, I sat down thinking I was away to see a genuine docu about British farming and I was disapointed to find it was wrapped up in so much pro-hunt propaganda. I think it mis-represents British farmers as a whole. I come from Aberdeenshire where there isn't and never has been any hunting with hounds, I don't think farmers there (or in many other places in Scotland) would identify with lasts nights prog at all.

If it had stuck to the problems facing farming and left out the sport hunting I personally feel it would have gained more sympathy from the general public. As it was it came across as a blatant and unashamed piece of pro-hunt blog.

Anyway, better than some the sh*te they usually have on C4!
 

sturgo

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yeah definately was a difference to the usual rubbish they have on channel 4.

It was only an hours programme so can only put so much in... therefore easy to be misrepresent farming in this country. I thought it was good though... and interesting.
 

sturgo

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I come from Aberdeenshire where there isn't and never has been any hunting with hounds, I don't think farmers there (or in many other places in Scotland) would identify with lasts nights prog at all.
Yes... but a lot of people who dont know a lot about hunting think hunting is only hunting foxes. Suggest blood hounds and they probally wouldnt have a clue what your going on about - probally think hunting foxes still!
 

k9h

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I thought it was an interesting prog.

However, I sat down thinking I was away to see a genuine docu about British farming and I was disapointed to find it was wrapped up in so much pro-hunt propaganda. I think it mis-represents British farmers as a whole. I come from Aberdeenshire where there isn't and never has been any hunting with hounds, I don't think farmers there (or in many other places in Scotland) would identify with lasts nights prog at all.

If it had stuck to the problems facing farming and left out the sport hunting I personally feel it would have gained more sympathy from the general public. As it was it came across as a blatant and unashamed piece of pro-hunt blog.

Anyway, better than some the sh*te they usually have on C4!

How ever the program was initialy intended to be about how the hunting lot were getting on post ban. Then the lady started talking to the farmers & diversified the programme to be about what the goverment are doing to our farmers.
 

endymion

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Well for me the two are not neccessarily intertwined. Farming is a much more important issue and it risks losing the support of the public if it is continually presented as being hand in pocket with bloodsports.
 

suestowford

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Well for me the two are not neccessarily intertwined. Farming is a much more important issue and it risks losing the support of the public if it is continually presented as being hand in pocket with bloodsports.

For you they are not intertwined, but you are not a farmer.
 

Malibu

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i thought it was very interesting , i do think it was focused on certain areas but i suppose that is expected; only an hour viewing. A good eye opener for those who dont know what goes on an how the goverment and supermarkets and dominating and dictating the farmers of our country adn what they are forced to do. I think it is ironic how new modern legislations are pushing farmers to do what one would regard as not so modern and more "olden time" stuff i.e no market money no life idea which is just no ethical and not fair on the farmers or their animals
 

endymion

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Farmers round my way don't hunt with hounds. I've met farmers in Essex that don't hunt.

Even if hunting with hounds goes forever, farming will still survive. If they want public opinion towards food and farming to change then they need to start promoting themselves as farmers and not as hunters. It's two different issues.
 

suestowford

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I wonder what they do with their dead stock then? Most farmers I know don't hunt with hounds but they do use the hunt to take away dead animals, because the defra service charges something ridiculous like £70 per carcass. Most sheep don't make that much money at market when they are alive.
 

evsj

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Agree with jacksprat - I think the issue was more focused on the fact that ordinary people (with local accents!) take part in hunting as a part of their livelihood.

The programme did tend to stick to the hunting issue but it did also show that farmers are not all loaded toffs - the majority live in abject poverty thanks to the way the markets work. I think if any townies did bother to watch they may have had a shock at how harsh farming life can be. I have mixed views on hunting now. I've been alot in the past but don't go anymore. I don't want it banned, I just don't want to be involved myself. Unfortunately, hunting is seen by many as the sport of a priviledged few - maybe the programme did something to dispel that....

TBH I wished I hadn't watched it, I went to bed quite depressed and there didn't seem to be any silver lining. For a while I have been avoiding buying imported meat because of the welfare issue but it's not really the answer, is it?
 

endymion

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They also had an internet chat thing with the woman who made the film afterwards. I forget her name but if you google her you'll probably get to the chat room which should be interesting.
 

endymion

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I was a bit mixed about it. I think maybe it was good to let the other horses see that she was pts instead of just taking her away never to be seen again because that way they know she's dead. Still seemed a tad harsh.

It was spooky how they seemed to know exactly what was happening though.
 

Hannahbone

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Well apparently (i havent seen it yet) but at redwings they put the horses down in front of the others as it makes them realise that the horse has dead not just disappeared and it stops them stressing to much!
 

Jemayni

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Plus practically, it is easier to get a dead horse out of a flat field, than a yard. The farm also looked a fair distance from that field, the horse was probably better off being shot their rather than dragged in from the field!

I really enjoyd that programme, I watched it with my OH who has no idea what farming is about (not that Im an expert,) but it was amazing how hard hitting he found it, looking on from a completely external point of view.
 

soph21

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i think it was a brill programme , its all part of life, if you love eating meat and dairy products and thought it was wrong to put it on t.v, go vegetarian!! i live in cornwall. not far from the fourburrow hunt, they've got to earn livings just the same as us. i didnt like the way the calves got shot just because their cross breeds, they shouldnt let friesians out with jerseys!!
 

Clodagh

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I just watched it, thought it was great.
We put our horses down in front of the others, they always seem more interested than upset.
Very depressing viewing, though.
 

soggy

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II come from Aberdeenshire where there isn't and never has been any hunting with hounds,

Utter BS. I know of two privately owned packs that hunted in Aberdeenshire. Admittedly they wouldn't have been as we know hunts down in England, but they were very effective.
 

soggy

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What is the public's opinion of food and farming?

80% of the GP don't connect farming with food.

To them farming is what goes on outside of their town or city and food comes from Tesco's.
 

severnmiles

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I can't believe how many people say 'how can you raise those pigs and then eat them', yet they don't mind eating bacon from a pig that hasn't even seen daylight, I know what my pigs eat and that they've had a great if not short life!
 
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