What a fantastic sight! This morning I leant over the farm gate to our big front field and there grazing quietly and contently, were all my ewes and lambs – a mixture of Jacobs and Black Welsh Mountains. A wonderful black and white scene. Not a sound disturbed them. The sky was bright blue and the only thing that interrupted this moment and the sky, was the ducking and diving of my swallows who arrived at the weekend.
We had a couple of swallows arrive at least a week ago and as I was watching them in the yard with my neighbour I stated that it was great to have them back to which he replied
“they won’t be staying here…. they are on the way to Wales”. He was absolutely right. They didn’t stay but whether he was right about their destination I am not sure!
The latest arrivals are here to stay though. Lambing has gone really well and I am pleased with my rams as they must have worked hard last Autumn as lambing was done and dusted in 3 weeks and 3 days – well done boys. It was a relief not to be doing the night shift over the normal 5 to 6 weeks.
On a separate note, we have spent a considerable effort in re-fencing many of our fields over the last few months and this month completed the big job of fencing the 11 acre river field. The fencing each year along the river Tale, which borders our farm, has gradually collapsed and in some cases been ripped out of the ground due to continuous flooding and the pressure of debris on the fence.
We owe a huge thank you to the Tale Valley Trust who very kindly gave us a grant towards the work. We have taken a different approach to the fencing hoping to assist the flood water flow through the fence. Let’s hope it works. We have used traditional chestnut and it looks very smart. Will the cattle and sheep appreciate the work? Doubtful – they will still the think the grass is greener on the other side.
Janet East
