Peat Digger

Anglia Television: Harold Sennit describes the trade of peat digging on the Fens.

Shot of peat digger Harold Sennit walking through the countryside. The camera zooms in on him walking. Harold Sennit narrates the film and states that he used to watch people digging peat when he was a boy until he started digging as well. Close up of Harold Sennit scything down grass while describing his morning routine. Close up of Harold sharpening the scythe. He explains that peat is decayed matter. Camera zooms out to show Harold scything the grass and his black Labrador standing next to him. He claims that when you start peat digging in the field full time you start your turf pits about 8 or 9 yards apart to allow them to dry. Close up of Harold scything the grass. He talks about how his father was one of the best peat diggers on the Fens and so he always got extra money for that. Shot of Harold marking a line with string to indicate where he should dig the peat pits. Shot of the tools used for peat digging. He demonstrates how you use the sharp shovels, known as moor spades. Close up of him digging along the marked line using the shovel. Shot of Harold wading through the water in the trench and digging. He talks about his past and how he and his brother used to live out in the open while they were peat digging. He demonstrates how you dig a peat pit. Close up of Harold holding up a turf picket, which he explains is the main tool used in peat digging. Close up of him using the turf picket to cut rectangles of peat which he then piles up on the side. He explains that the cleaner you cut the peat the quicker it will dry. He states that some people could never dig peat as it’s a trade and so you rely on instinct. Shot of Harold digging in the trench with the peat piled up alongside the pit. He explains that you lay the peat blocks like a brick wall and you have to leave enough time to dry them out as some dry quicker than others. Close up of him trimming the peat blocks. Close up of Harold sorting out the dry blocks of peat and placing them on a cart. Shot of Harold pushing the cart with piles of peat on it. He says that he has lived on the Fens all of his life and so he classes himself as a Fen Tiger. Close up of the Labrador following Harold and a shot of the peat field.

Keywords

Agriculture; Countryside; Digger; Farming; Fens; Fields; Peat; Peat Digger; Rural;