Many because of the 5 volunteers who’re serving to to rescue our apple bushes. It has galvanized me into motion. It’s so simple to let jobs like that slide by when there appear to be different urgent jobs to do at this time of 12 months in dwiderling daylight. I hear walkers are good at having a fast chat and inspiring our helpers.
Some might imagine I’m being somewhat brutal taking down the bramble and blackthorn which is at all times a superb habitat for numerous animals massive and really, very small. However I get recommendation from FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) on the best way to make extra use and handle the wide range of habitats on the farm. I used to be going to regulate the bramble the place the Ash bushes had been poisoned. However it appears the bramble will shield the brand new ash seedlings/hazel from deer nibbling and there’s a good run of bramble down the trail to make a ‘superhighway for mammals.Lets hope there are hedgehogs in there. We did get one up within the farmyard this 12 months snuffling and pottering round at evening. Hadn’t seen one for ……variety of years. Not even squashed on the street.
It good to see folks reporting sightings of birds/mammals across the village in The Hill. Yearly I imply to maintain a file of what is on the farm however similar to clearing across the apple bushes I by no means make time. 10yrs in the past the RSPB did a survey on the farm and stated for the dimensions farm (60 acres) we had an above common selection/numbers of birds.
Speaking of birds, we’ve not had the standard pigeon injury on our brussel sprouts and different brassicas. Lengthy could it proceed. Hopefully the pigeons are being tempted by the abundance of berries/nuts round this 12 months. This week might be our first week of harvesting Brussel Sprouts and the tops. We nonetheless have a wide range of kales and cabbages on the market that fortunately have not been broken by the caterpillars. You’ll be able to see all of them rising once you stroll previous.
Look ahead to seeing you within the farm store the place now you can begin to place your Christmas order on-line from our web site or hyperlinks from our fb/twitter/instagram pages..According to many different organizations the orders won’t simply be on a selected day however we may have a system of time slots. This hopefully will cut back queuing and preserve everybody secure. Please chat to Phil and I for extra info.
Have a terrific Christmas.
PS Lastly I’ve hooked up a Photograph from final week with Andrew and I harvesting Kale
We nonetheless get pleasure from doing what we do collectively after 30yrs
