The Wartime Farm

[Florence Fennel]

Forgot last night, too engrossed in a jigsaw, which just shows you how unenthusiastic I am about it now. I've got it recording on my planner anyway, so I'll watch it sometime, maybe when youngest Golden Girl wants to watch it.

[Farmer_Gyles]

you didn't miss much flo ..... we found out what they should have done with the flax they didn't grow .... found out that the government employed artists to paint pictures .... and that carrier pigeons were used in the war ....

[veggiechicken]

..........and how to waterproof a coat that the "unsuspecting" Peter was persuaded to wear!
There was one good thing - how to make black bread for prisoners of war out of silage and sawdust. We may still need that knowledge -- and how to cook a woodpigeon!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Well unlike most of you I have enjoyed most of the programs so far. Then again I am interested in anything to do with the history of WW11.

Colin

[veggiechicken]

I found last night's programme one of the more interesting ones. Flat Holm island, where I volunteer, was an army base during WW11. It was visited by one of the official artists, a woman, who recorded many of the installations on the island. There was a small railway line on the island, for transporting ammunition and supplies and it was constructed from railiway track acquired from Germany as part of the reparations after WW1. At the end of WW11, German prisoners of war came over to dismantle the track.
The prisoners, so the story goes, were delighted to be working the land, away from the conflict. They were trusted enough to be given guns to kill the island rabbits for food - and to take the boat over to the mainland for supplies. Some of them settled in South Wales and married.
I find it all fascinating

[Jeanied]

I'd love to grow flax - I tried spinning some at the Lisburn flax museum and it was gorgeous to work with! Such an inspirational series.

[veggiechicken]

Last episode tonight at 8pm BBC2!