A strange spring time

Some updates from a very quiet farmyard

Whilst the staff try to adjust as best we can to the strange world we are in at the moment and keep themselves and everyone in the farm community as safe as possible daily life and tasks on the farm go on. It is spring time and the recent dry sunny days meant the paddocks were finally dry enough for the animals to get out and enjoy the very lush spring grant.

First days of field life

Betony, Gwendolyn, and Gretel wonder if its time to come in after a day out bouncing and butting. It’s hard work and must be time for tea. Olivia and Bramble are not far behind but Buttercup is enjoying bossing those pesky Bagot Goats around too much to bother,. Poor Gurtrude will have to wait until she is allowed to head for the gate.

And the sheep loving it too

Chocolate, Skittles, Toffee, Rolo, Runts and Floss the Portland Sheep tuck into some tasty grass. Its always worth a check if the human has anything yummy though.

Mathilda 'Grazing on a Sunny Afternoon'

Mathilda can’t move that fast with her arthritis but wow can she get through a paddock of grass quick.

The animals are out in the paddocks most dry days between 11.30am and 3pm so you can give them a shout to say hi if your passing by whilst having a stretch and getting some air. Please remember to keep the 2m distances from anyone else on the street and make space for others to pass if you stop for a quick chat (with the animals).

When the animals are fed, watered and mucked out it has been all hands to the garden to make sure we take advantage of everyone’s hard work early on sowing the early crops so the beds are beginning to fill up. We are continuing the potager planting style that was so popular in the front garden so the veg garden will be an attractive as well as productive space to share with everyone. Whilst everyone is playing their part in reducing the transmission of Covid-19 we will do our best to share the changing gardens online so do keep in touch here through twitter, facebook, instagram and our mailing list our flower blog to keep up to date with the plants as they come into bloom.

Rocket, Peas, Asparagus and Chervil

Vegetable garden is going potager (well that was the plan lets see what we can manage) . These seeds were planted by Peter and volunteers in February and germinated in the heated greenhouse ready to plant out early and get a good crop.

Lettuce Bed

Lettuce, mustard leaf, parsley planted out 1st April, under cloche over night but now hoping there won’t be another heavy frost.

Sweet peas and watercress

Sweet peas on a bamboo and farm cut hazel frame with a watercress border. Fingers very crossed that the frost will keep away while the baby plants get settled in.

The orchard trees are beginning to bloom after the winter pruning and we are putting the hazel, hornbean and fruit wood poles and sticks to use in the garden.

Pleached Pear Trees

The pear trees are in bloom and the buds are showing on apple, quince and plum.

Pruning the orchard

Last of the trees pruned and harvested wood is gathered in the field.

Team pruning - nothing wasted

Pruning trees, harvesting logs and poles and chipping the prunings for chicken and rabbit runs and paths around the paddocks.

And finally some familiar faces want to say they can reach you at home to say hello so keep safe and keep up with their antics here.

Meow from Baghera

Purr from Molly

Grunts from Poppy Wilfred and Owen

Squeeks from the guinea pigs

And introducing Nala

Well that is what we’re calling her for the mo. Who is staying from Coram Fields.