Escape to River Cottage

Hugh arrives at River Cottage to begin his dream life away from the city sprawl and immediately sets to work preparing the land for his new vegetable garden and finding livestock. Hugh also attempts spearfishing and meets his new landlord.

The pigs have settled in nicely to their new home, and Hugh believes it is now a good time to introduce chickens to the farm. Hugh also finds a pesky garden pest to contend with, learns the finer points of fishing, and visits a fruit farm.

It is summer at River Cottage and the vegetables are thriving, so much so that Hugh decides to enter The Beaminster Horticultural Society's annual competition, with the Tomatillo as his secret ingredient. Hugh also fishes for spider crabs.

Hugh discovers that mice are a formidable pest to contend with. Spurred on by this experience, he joins Jan Andrews on a hunt for deer. Hugh then strolls down memory lane with the Cheeseman family and creates a Japanese prawn tempura dish.

It is eel migration season, and Hugh learns how to weave a unique basket trap to catch them in the river. He also joins the Chideock Cider Circle for the fall apple harvest, learns the art of cider pressing, and attends a pheasant hunt.

Hugh has lived in River Cottage for six months, and that means his pigs have a date with butcher Ray Smith. It also means it is time for a party. Hugh also learns a remarkable technique for catching razor clams down by the seashore.