River Cottage - Escape to River Cottage (1999)

Hugh arrives at River Cottage, a former Gamekeeper's cottage in west Dorset. He sets about removing the plants from the garden and starts planting his vegetables.

Hugh's been at the cottage a month, his vegetables have been planted and they are growing nicely. Pike is on the menu today, but he'll have to catch one first. There's also a trip to the local fruit farm for a day's fruit picking with the transient eastern European workforce.

The vegetables are doing so well, Hugh decided to enter them at the Beaminster Show. He also enters the Home Craft section with his own jam and a sponge cake. Then it's off on a fishing trip for spider crabs.

Hugh has discovered that he is not alone at River Cottage, there are mice at the cottage and he wants rid of them - by humane means. There's an early start to try and bag a roebuck and a nostalgic reunion with a childhood hero as he goes in search of prawns.

Hugh decides that the river that give the cottage its name should contribute to his larder. So he has an eel trap made and puts it to use in the river. He also spends the day as a pheasant beater being paid with pheasant not money for his day's work. Then it's a lesson in cider making with the Chiddick Cider Circle. He tests the theory that the cider's purity will never result in a hangover.

The day has arrived for Hugh's pigs to go to slaughter. He intends to use "everything but the oink", so enlists the help of Ray and Victor. Then it's party-time to say thank you to everyone who has helped him over the summer with one of his pigs helping to provide food for the guests.

Christmas Special at River Cottage