Countryfile and Rural Domestic Violence

When I lived in a very remote Cornish village my very elderly neighbour used to tell me stories about the local goings on. Ranging from infidelity and incest to GBH and suicide.It's not what tourists would want to hear about, but as she used to say "Who knows what goes on in an isolated cottage"

I don't think it should have been on Country File, rather like including it in Gardens World

It is a very serious issue and I agree with Anniebach that it should not be on Countryfile - it is entirely the wrong programme for highlighting this and it deserves a separate programme.
Besides which, Countryfile is on well before the watershed at family viewing time - ok perhaps some people feel that children should face the facts of life, however unpleasant, but I don't, nor do I want to have to turn off an essentially family programme where children can learn about farming and rural life if I want to watch it with DGC.

Country File is fact, Archers fiction, so cannot compare the two. I agree with Jalima, it is a very serious issue and should be given a programme on the issue.

Country File is watched by all ages who want to hear/learn about the countryside,

And I would think this is what the woman meant when she said 'keep it like that'

It is family viewing . And by explaining how more difficult it is for women to seek help, there will not be an increase in public transport .

I think by highlighting this issue on Countryfile, which is a popular family programme, they are in danger of trivialising what is a serious problem and I don't know what the producers were thinking of.

Sorry to disagree, merlotgran.

We asked why they were talking about it when we were watching, Definatly not the right program.

Totally with Merlot on this one. Countryfile is about all rural issues- it has tackled many difficult one before- and it was right to discuss domestic violence. What does it 'trivialise it' - au contraire. Not to say it would not deserve another programme dealing specifically with those issues. Must say I am truly surprised by reactions it is the wrong programme for this. So should domestic violence in rural areas be on MasterChef, The Voice or East Enders?

Country File is watched by all ages who want to hear/learn about the countryside,

Past episodes have covered violent crime, theft, poverty, isolation, injury (sometimes fatal) BSE, Schmallenberg, Blue Tongue, Foot and Mouth, SVD, TB, village schools/shops closing, crop failure, weather catastrophes etc., etc.,

Yep it's great to learn about the countryside so long as it doesn't include any unpleasant situations for some unfortunate women who happen to live there.

Domestic violence is a country wide issue not just a rural issue . If it's suitable for Countryfile it's suitable for Master Chef or Antique Road Show ?

Who wants a discussion on BSE in Master Chef.

Foot and mouth , TB in badgers , closure of village schools etc do affect women as much as men, women farm , they drive tractors, draw lambs,

Domestic violence is no more a problem for rural areas than it is for towns and cities

I think it is in danger of trivialising it because it is not the right time of day or the right programme to approach such a serious problem and, because of that, cannot deal with it in depth.
Domestic violence is, as Anniebach says, is not just a rural issue, it is nationwide.
Perhaps this issue deserves a programme of its own, highlighting the particular issues and logistical problems of domestic violence in the countryside - Panorama? - after the watershed.

As for Eastenders, we never have it on - it is violent enough already from the occasional trailers we have seen.

I think the inclusion of DV in Countryfile was to highlight the difficulty victims face in getting help and how easy it is to feel totally isolated.

Not all issues discussed on Countryfile are confined to the countryside.

Masterchef covers a single subject.....food

Gardeners World covers a single subject with a few offshoots - horticulture/leisure etc.

What single subject would you like Countryfile to cover, Anniebach?

I am completely in agreement with merlot and granjura. Too many people have a warped idea of what living in the country is really like and think it is all about country walks and pub lunches (think Escape to The Country). It is not unusual to find domestic abuse in the country so why not feature it on a programme about the country ? If it is ok to deal with things that happen to animals why not deal with what can happen to humans ?

Why not cover bestiality? That happens too.

In fact, let's add all these subjects to the NC for 4-10 year olds.
Why shield them from anything?

Ps and I don't think that farming etc is all fluffy bunnies and maypole dancing.
I come from a long line of farmers, and still have two lots in the family who farm today.

I am not head in the sand - please read my posts (and I think some posters are misinterpreting mine and anniebach's posts and assume we think this issue does not matter).

Escape to the Country - there's an idea - why not feature rural domestic violence on that programme? Aimed at adult house purchasers - eg distance to nearest help from the properties being viewed? Statistics featuring incidents in any particular location?

I am assuming "Countrylife" is a play on the words "country life" and as such reflects every aspect of farming and rural life today. As such it should indeed be addressing isolation, financial hardship, suicide among farmers, the economic plight of agricultural workers, the loneliness of wives and partners who may be miles from a friendly face, housing issues, transport, and yes, help for victims of domestic violence whose plight is often forgotten as we are more aware of social issues in run down inner city areas. Drug abuse in isolated areas is also on the increase as youngsters who cannot access leisure facilities are an easy target for the (mobile) drug pushers.
It's not all belted Galloways , sheep dog trials and fluffy lambs or rustic idylls as programmes on the devastation csused by foot and mouth showed all too well. On the whole I think the programme presents a balanced view, but can err on the "rustic idyll" side.
I welcome a more realistic depiction of country life and am only sorry that so many townspeople really do not know how hard life can be. Farmers are not all rich with big houses and 4x4s , or to put it another way, for every Brian Aldridge there are 20 Eddie Grundy's (who have lost everything and at one time ended up in a little council flat. )

That post was NOT aimed at any members BTW just "people in general" and correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the programme in question more about the helping agencies , the people who offer support and advice or shelter, rather than specifically about domestic violence? And as such why not recognise the sterling work done both in isolated areas just as we recognise agencies dealing with these issues in cities?

So should they not show the damage done to sheep by rogue dogs or to chickens by foxes ? (they have in the past)
Surely that could be said to be unsuitable before the watershed too.
I tend to agree that this was the wrong program for DV but I don't agree with the fluffy bunnies and cute lambs attitude either.

Just realised I wrote "Countrylife" instead of "Countryfile" - talk about Freudian slip (or fat finger syndrome) as that sort of spoiled the point I was trying to make

Farm machinery is stolen, foxes kill lambs, humans kill badgers and foxes. Some farmers move animals around illegally , and the list goes on, should these be discussed in programmes on city life ? Fluffy bunnies and primroses are a small part of country life.

And I think these are legitimate topics for "Countryfile" too.

Yes they are Alea, but not for programmes on cities. Domestic violence is not a countryside problem more than a city life programme , this is all I am saying. We need to hear more on domestic violence in countryside, towns and cities , why the closure of women's refuges, why so often police fail to act . Farms can be isolated, how often do we hear of city dwellers who don't know their next door neighbours, this too is isolation

but I don't agree with the fluffy bunnies and cute lambs attitude either.
No-one is advocating that [sigh]

Fluffy bunnies are a menace, anyway, and one of our dogs was a great bunny killer. Sadly gone now. Let's hope one of the new pups will be as good.