Help required - Tracks & Country Tracks episode list

[Bob]

A couple of years ago I drew up a list of approx. 40 / 41 programmes that made up the Tracks & Country Tracks series of the mid-90's.

I posted this list on the forum in response to enquiries about these series. However it appears that the thread containing this list has been archived and I'm having trouble tracking it down (no pun intended!)

Did anyone download this list to their computer - and if so would it be possible for them to email it back to me? Unfortunately I no longer have access to the hard drive on my old computer which contained the list - and it took a fair amount of time to compile.

Any help with this would be gratefully received - thanks.

Bob

 

[Galemys]

A couple of years ago I drew up a list of approx. 40 / 41 programmes that made up the Tracks & Country Tracks series of the mid-90's.

I posted this list on the forum in response to enquiries about these series. However it appears that the thread containing this list has been archived and I'm having trouble tracking it down (no pun intended!)

Did anyone download this list to their computer - and if so would it be possible for them to email it back to me? Unfortunately I no longer have access to the hard drive on my old computer which contained the list - and it took a fair amount of time to compile.

Any help with this would be gratefully received - thanks.

Bob

Hi Bob,

I've got it in a word file, E-mail me at t.lourens*sanquin.nl
(substitute * with @)

Cheers,

Tom

 

[scanker]

Is it this?

'Tracks' and 'Wild Tracks' episodes (this may not be all of them however!)

1994
Fungi, fire and food
Fungi, fire and food - on the beach
Wood edibles
Navigation
Water
Toys
Breakfast special
Rope and rucksack
Hygiene
Bivvy boat

1995
Birch
Fire, boots and roots
Shelter; group (debris)
Shelter; snow
Native cunning
Hot rock and ember cooking
Crossing rivers
Fungi
Canoe trip - tidal waters
Seaweed uses

1996
Cooking fish
Cat-tail uses
Conifer uses & resin
Scottish river journey (2 episodes)
Pegs and parachutes
Fungi uses
Outdoor clothing
Autumn fruit and nuts
Hypothermia
Birch uses

1997
Walk - Surrey
Roving
Smoking food
Beach cooking
Mountain rescue
Rescue strategy (STOP)
Tracking
Canoe trip - River wye
Flint knapping
Bark uses
Dining in style!

Regards

Bob

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=139841&postcount=13

 

[Galemys]

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=139841&postcount=13

Ah you have beaten me! I just found it back as well.
I have got 26 episodes, I'd be very interested in anyone who has copies of episodes I haven't listed in my post in the linked thread.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[MikeE]

How or where can you get/download the episodes?
I enjoyed them when on, but would love to revisit them!

 

[IntrepidStu]

How or where can you get/download the episodes?
I enjoyed them when on, but would love to revisit them!

I only thought there were 10 "country tracks" episodes. If anyone has them all PLEASE PM me.

 

[sandbender]

Ah you have beaten me! I just found it back as well.
I have got 26 episodes, I'd be very interested in anyone who has copies of episodes I haven't listed in my post in the linked thread.

Cheers,

Tom

26 episodes! I thought I was doing well with 12

 

[HERBz]

Unfortunately I missed these as I was just born as these started
so I would love it if someone could send me these.
thanks

Herbie

 

[addo]

Ive only got a few on tape and enjoy these the most out of rays programmes, would love to have them all. Wish the BBC Would alow them to be released.

 

[MikeE]

"Wish the BBC Would allow them to be released".

Likewise!!

 

[Galemys]

Hi all,

There's 10 episodes to be found on the internet but remember that promoting illegally downloading is not allowed on this forum.

Mmh, I seem to be the 'track's-specialist'!

I can't have been the only one who recorded those on video (now all on DVD) in the early days? Surely together we must be able to make a complete collection?
So anyone who has a an episode that is not listed below, please E-mail (see my first post below) or PM me.

• Natural remedies: greater plantain/yarrow/meadowsweet/dock
• Hedgerow food: chicken-of-the-woods/burdock /pignut
• Elderberry cane/digging stick/bushmen’s waterpit & egg/tin can fishing
• Birch: woodman’s tea/birch polypore/birch bark
• Fire drill/sphagnum-moss egg cooking
• Woodland shelter
• Rabbit in earth pit
• Water(filter)
• Snow shelters
• Cordage: nettle/tree roots/willow/’backpack’
• Navigation in the woods
• River crossing
• Scotland (2x): meadowsweet/horse chestnut/woodsorrel/dock/wild ransoms/dagkoekoeksbl. (accid. taped over…)
• Tracking wildlife
• Beachcombing: edible seaweed
• Fungi: utility
• Canoeing: hogweed/water hemlock/comfrey
• Flint knapping
• Fungi: edibility
• Salmon cooking
• Cattail
• Pine resin
• Food for free: crab apple/sweet chestnut/beech nut/rosehip
• Roving
• Shellfish & noodles: cockles/razorshell/Alexander’s/beet

The missing ones would be these:
1994
1. Fungi, fire and food
2. Fungi, fire and food - on the beach
3. Toys
4. Hygiene
5. Bivvy boat
1995
6. Birch
7. Canoe trip - tidal waters
8. Pegs and parachutes
9. Outdoor clothing
10. Hypothermia
1997
11. Walk - Surrey
12. Smoking food
13. Mountain rescue
14. Rescue strategy (STOP)
15. Bark uses
16. Dining in style!

Cheers,

Tom

 

[mayfly]

There have been a lot of threads on here about these, like this one. Tracks has become something of a holy grail in terms of practical UK focussed bushcraft 'how-to' films. I have seen the 10 on t'Internet, and they are great, but like many others would love to see the rest again (I remember watching nearly all of them first time around). You can read my post in the linked thread for my take on the issue of copyright, etc. The question, though, is how to collate and share them legally given that repeated efforts to get the BBC to re-release more than the 10 selected copies have failed. The only way forward at present is for some kind soul who had the foresight to record them all originally, to collate them on suitable media and share them privately for personal non-commercial use. Count me in if this ever happens, kind of a passaround, though setting it up won't really pass on this forum I suppose, and it would have to be a VERY kind soul. I should add that if the BBC released additional episodes for sale I would of course buy copies immediatey. I think in reality the remaining episodes of Tracks are likely to remain frustratingly out of reach.

Chris

 

[Bob]

Thank you to everyone who contacted me / posted re the episode list - I knew I could count on you!

Sorry for not replying sooner but I couldn't access the forum last night - a common problem it would appear!

Tom - you're following my line of thought exactly; my next post was going to enquire as to whether we had all the episodes between us. Regarding your 'missing' list -

1994 - I have all the '94 season episodes except these two (I didn't find out about Tracks that year until the series was underway!)
1. The first 'Funghi (sic), Fire and Food' where RM demos a bowdrill and steam cooks a sorrel-stuffed trout (originally broadcast 18.05.94).
2. The second 'Funghi (sic), Fire and Food' where RM collects a variety of seashore edibles in Pembrokeshire (Saundersfoot) - broadcast 25.05.94.


1995 - Again, have all except
1. Hot rock and ember cooking - Hangi (rabbit) and bread ovens demo'ed.
2. Tidal waters canoe trip - incl. canoe shelter and pot hanger.
3. Fungi - intro to subject.

1996 - All

1997 - All except
1. RM's 'childhood walk' across the North Downs (Holmbury Hill to Box Hill).
2. River Wye canoe trip - the original (i.e. 1997 episode) - I think I have the edited more-recently aired version.


By the way; the more recently aired Tracks / Country Tracks 'shorts' are edited - and therefore shorter - versions of the originals aired in the 90's.

So it would seem that the first two episodes of 94, the tidal canoe trip of 95 and the walk of 97 still evade us! I - like Tom - would be very keen to learn of anyone who might have the originals of these.

Addo - which episodes do you have?

Thanks again.

Regards

Bob

 

[mayfly]

By the way; the more recently aired Tracks / Country Tracks 'shorts' are edited - and therefore shorter - versions of the originals aired in the 90's.

That's interesting, didn't know that. There are some real gems in the original list I must say! Good luck with this. Chris

 

[delbach]

The Tracks series is one of the best things RM has done .I really enjoyed them.I read on another forum (can't remember which one)where some one got in touch with theBBC and paid £140 (i think)for a DVD of an old series. I cant remember if there were any restrictions to what you could do with the DVD
Cheers Andrew

 

[addo]

Addo - which episodes do you have?

Ive not got the ones missing it would appear. sorry. The quality isnt that good on the old tapes either. I was surpised how many episodes there were!

 

[Bob]

Thanks for replying Addo.

Still the 'Holy Grail' of bushcraft evades us!

Indiana Jones never has this much trouble!!

Bob

 

[Galemys]

By the way; the more recently aired Tracks / Country Tracks 'shorts' are edited - and therefore shorter - versions of the originals aired in the 90's.

Some of mine appear to be edited as well, fo rinstance this is the information that was available for the 'wood edibles' episode (it is called 'hedgerow food' in my own list, I'll see if I can adjust the titles of my list to Bob's official episode titles to avoid confusion):

Programme 3 – 1 June 1994
RAY MEARS - WOOD EDIBLES
Ray Mears visited the open woodland of the Sussex Hampshire Borders in search of a free picnic. Starting aloft in a tree bough, he found 'Chicken of the Woods', a funghi that has the texture of the bird (but without the feathers). Ray points out its distinctive orange, yellow colour and how it resembles a blob of polystyrene foam that has seemingly oozed from the tree. The flesh should be washed thoroughly several times before cooking - Ray's preferred method is to stir fry.
Next came the common Burdock, with its broad, almond shaped leaves and a tasty white root similar in appearance to a slim turnip. Removing the outer rind is simple and as Ray demonstrated , the root can be eaten raw or sliced and cooked like potato. Next underfoot came a humble Thistle - this must be cooked to soften the prickly leaves, to be eaten like a normal 'green' - and the root is equally nutritious, prepared in the same way.
Finally, the pignut, the jewel in the crown as Ray described it. Once gathered commonly by children, this knee-high, white flowered plant, similar in appearance to the cow parsley has a distinctive and unique bulb or 'nut' at its root. If there is no 'nut' which is knobbly and brown with white flesh, then you have dug up Cow Parsley which is poisonous and not to be touched.
Gathered Pignuts should be squeezed to remove the chestnut-like soft shell and can be eaten raw in a salad or as a snack. The taste is creamy and similar to a water chestnut with a mild peppery taste. Please remember, take only enough and think of others who follow in your footsteps.

In my version the thistle bit is missing! I wonder if it was ever shown on television because if I can recall correctly I have taped the original 90 series.
It may be that there are differences between the script and aired versions?

Did anyone see the thistle bit?

Cheers,

Tom

Bob you have PM

 

[Bob]

Tom

Will check my tape re. the thistle bit - now you mention it I don't remember it either!!

Also; got your PM and reply sent - thanks.

Bob

 

[Bob]

Re. 'the thistle bit'.

Right - I've just watched this episode and it has cleared some things up and caused a new headache!

In the factsheet it is called 'Wood Edibles' and was originally aired in Programme 3 of 'Tracks' on 01.06.94

In addition to Chicken of the woods, burdock and pignut, RM also identifies and samples / talks about wood sorrel, ramsons (wild garlic), dandelion and spear thistle.

I think you are right then Tom - you have an edited version.

Now the confusing bit (for me anyhow). It's been a while since I looked at this tape and I thought I had taped this as a segment from the Tracks programme itself. However, this episode - and at least one other I looked at briefly (tarp uses and bivvy boat - Prog 10; 20.07.94) are actually self-contained programmes under the title 'Wild tracks'. They are dated 1994 however! I've nothing on the tape to indicate when I recorded these programmes so either the original RM segments were so popular they put them out again on their own in 1994, or I taped re-run 1994 episodes at a later- unknown - date.

Can anyone shed any light on this?! Thanks

Bob