Easter is now over, and unusually brought beautiful fine weather. This enticed many ramblers out into the countryside, especially through our farm it seemed! The glossy magazine for the county recently featured the very pleasant circular walk around Wellow Park Wood adjacent to the farm, with the bridleway bisecting the farm, so this perhaps accounted for the extra numbers. As part of our Stewardship scheme we have recently completed a 'permissive' path on the farm that allows this walk to be completed without having to walk along the side of the very busy section of main road approaching the village. After the effort of installing a footbridge over a dyke and two kissing gates, we have been pleased to see this well used already.
The path follows two sides of a small field which we have established as a wildflower meadow under Stewardship. It is an awkward field to cultivate (small, with lots of corners) and caused complaints from our combining contractors because of difficult access, so it seemed obvious to remove it from the arable rotation. The field was drilled with 'pollen and nectar' mix to attract insects, and 'field corner' mix for a range of wild flowers and grasses. This year will be its first full season and we are looking forward to these plants appearing. Unfortunately, most of our walkers decided to shortcut across the field so it looks like we will need some notices to explain and dissuade them!
Spring calving is now in full swing. Our two bulls were obviously very quick off the mark when they were put in with the cows last year! Three sets of twins resulted in the inevitable problems, and time has been spent with some calves to get them sucking properly. Heifers often pose the biggest problem when they first calve, with one at present very proud of her calf but also reluctant to allow it to suck. Post natal confusion!
The best news is that the first group of cows were let out yesterday in unseasonably warm sunshine. The end of winter feeding is in sight!
The path follows two sides of a small field which we have established as a wildflower meadow under Stewardship. It is an awkward field to cultivate (small, with lots of corners) and caused complaints from our combining contractors because of difficult access, so it seemed obvious to remove it from the arable rotation. The field was drilled with 'pollen and nectar' mix to attract insects, and 'field corner' mix for a range of wild flowers and grasses. This year will be its first full season and we are looking forward to these plants appearing. Unfortunately, most of our walkers decided to shortcut across the field so it looks like we will need some notices to explain and dissuade them!
Spring calving is now in full swing. Our two bulls were obviously very quick off the mark when they were put in with the cows last year! Three sets of twins resulted in the inevitable problems, and time has been spent with some calves to get them sucking properly. Heifers often pose the biggest problem when they first calve, with one at present very proud of her calf but also reluctant to allow it to suck. Post natal confusion!
The best news is that the first group of cows were let out yesterday in unseasonably warm sunshine. The end of winter feeding is in sight!
One of our bulls, Jordan Castle Uriah, with two of the new calves!
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