A heifer calf at last!

Born on VE Day so she could only be called one thing!

Victoria (Vicky)!

 

March 23rd 2020 was the start of a strange period in the UK with the country put on lockdown due to Corvid 19 a pandemic virus that hit the world. Our life here on the farm did not change much as it coincided with a break in wet weather and Spring arriving with a bang. At last we could get on the grass fields and harrow, roll and fertilise. Lambing was just finishing with just a couple to top up bottlefeeding.

However lots of projects could still be done, including reroofing the main barn and the woodland work on the Ash dieback. Fortunately all those involved were considered key workers.

 

 

With extended family isolating at home and some difficulty getting meat, we were able to fill people’s freezers with our lamb, beef, ham and sausages, a silver lining on an otherwise worrying  time.

 

 

 

Social media was the main way people kept in touch and customers shared their dishes including the meat they had bought from us.

It was a slow start on 26th February to this years lambing season. A set of twins, nothing for a week, then a busy 2 weeks with two or three sets of twins every day. Finishing with a two week break at the end for the last set of twins. Lots of ewe lambs, two sets of triplets and a few singles. 44 lambs out of 23 ewes, so not too bad a season.

 

 

 

 

Sadly due to Corvid 19 all the agricultural shows have been cancelled or postponed till later in the year. Most of us have hung up our showing shoes till next year and put all the stock in together.

The hire rams have done a good job and customers have reported a happy and healthy lambing.

Roll on 2021 and we can look out for our next showing stock.

Its been busy busy as Spring has sprung. Grass to be fertilised, Slug Pelleting, Harrowing  and rolling.

Winny Banbury Wolverton 1937 Hand Rearing 45 Lambs / Sarah Sladen Wolverton 2020 Hand Rearing 1 Lamb!

It is great sadness that we have to report the passing of Michael Walford. He was the 3rd generation to farm here.

He was passionate about the countryside, farming and trees.

It is sad that he will not see the fulfilment of the woodland management scheme and planting of new copses.

 

Pedigree Traditional Hereford Cattle. Front Field 1957

 

 

 

 

 

Pedigree Dexter Cattle 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dairy Cattle, in front field,

on holiday from Lasham 1970

 

 

 

Pedigree Dexter Cattle, in front field, on TB restrician 2020

 

The Bees are out.

Could this be the first sign of spring?

RIP Bear 

Very sadly Bear suffered a heart attack

when we moved him into a new field with some new ladies.

Perhaps it was too much for an old man!

Our first branded fleeces from Father Christmas!

A useful marketing tool on the show circuit.