Tales from the Green Valley

Tales from the Green Valley
GenreDocumentary series
Directed byPeter Sommer
Starring
Narrated byOwen Teale
ComposerDavid Poore
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producerRichard Bradley
ProducersPeter Sommer
David Upshal (series producer)
CinematographyPeter Harvey
Pete Hayns
Running time30 minutes
Production companyLion Television
Original release
NetworkBBC Two
Release19 August (2005-08-19) –
4 November 2005 (2005-11-04)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Tales from the Green Valley is a British historical documentary TV series in 12 parts, first shown on BBC Two from 19 August to 4 November 2005. The series, the first in the historic farm series, made for the BBC by independent production company Lion TV, follows historians and archaeologists as they recreate farm life from the age of the Stuarts; they wear the clothes, eat the food and use the tools, skills and technology of the 1620s.

The series recreates everyday life on a small farm in Gray Hill, Monmouthshire, Wales, in the period, using authentic replica equipment and clothing, original recipes and reconstructed building techniques. Much use is made of period sources such as agricultural writers Gervase Markham and Thomas Tusser.

The series was written, directed and produced by British archaeologist and documentary maker, Peter Sommer, who was awarded the Learning on Screen Award in 2006 by the British Universities Film & Video Council, for Tales from the Green Valley.[1] [2]

The series features historians Stuart Peachey and Ruth Goodman, and archaeologists Alex Langlands, Peter Ginn and saddler Chloe Spencer.

The series was released on DVD, distributed by Acorn Media UK.[3] An associated book by Stuart Peachey – The Building of the Green Valley: A Reconstruction of an Early 17th-century Rural Landscape – was published in 2006.[4]

The sequel to this series is Victorian Farm, with Goodman, Langlands and Ginn returning as TV hosts.

  1. ^ All3Media: "Tales from the Green Valley"
  2. ^ Learning on Screen Awards. Winners 2006"
  3. ^ Tales from the Green Valley. Acorn Video AV9400
  4. ^ Heritage Marketing & Publications Ltd.ISBN 978-1-905223-13-8