Farm Updates
February
British White Cattle
Just before Christmas we brought in some more British White cows, to increase our herd of this at-risk rare heritage breed. We have Carice, Clover, Flora and Faith who have settled in so well with our herd.
The Saddleback Boys
This month we welcomed two 8 week old Saddleback pigs to the farm, we really loved having them last year and these two are great characters at all. They have some mature hedgerows and grassland in just under half an acre to explore and enjoy.
Chicken and the eggs..
Another addition this month was some more chickens, we now have 6 different coloured eggs, with the hope we can begin selling eggs alongside our meat and veg from the farm.
Guinea Fowl
Last year we unfortunately lost many of our guineas due to the storms and subsequently the fox, after many were blown out of the trees at night. We currently have a temporary home set up in a cattle trailer in the cattle barn with some young guinea fowls with the hope that after we release them they will see the barn as their safe place and live alongside the cattle.
For all of those wondering, it took less than 24hrs for our two eldest guineas to find the babies. Now every morning when we go up to the cattle shed, to feed the guineas and cattle, the eldest two are waiting on the gate to see if this is the day we are letting them out. Between the 10 of them there is always an absolute racket from them all calling to each other, but it does make us smile.
In progress..
A project that started just before Christmas was us creating a track, with the aim for us to gain access to one of our woodlands, Bedford Woods, which is otherwise in-accessible in winter. We need access to the woods in winter for essential management such as coppicing and felling. With the help of Miles, we have managed to complete the first third of the track.
Farm Garden
A big step for the farm garden in the last week was putting up deer fencing, which was crucial before the growing season really kicks off. We have many hungry Muntjac, Roe and Fallow on the farm who I'm sure would take the opportunity to tuck into the produce!
Jen has done an amazing job of building more zero dig beds, with well rotted manure and woodchip from the farm with the aim to have 100 beds for growing.
Hedgelaying Courses
We hosted a very successful hedge laying course with Connor last month, we had some really fantastic feedback and a really enthusiastic group.
Commissions
Alex did an amazing job of a commissioned picnic bench for the Zero Dig project based at Cirencester's Royal Ag College, with seasoned oak from the farm and waney edge top this huge bench can sit 8+ people is full of character and great to see Alex designing again.