The end of a sunny day.
Sunset
National Fungi Day
Found this selection in Bere Marsh wood.
Piano
A different look.
Smudge
Enjoying the catnip
Donkeys
Having their balancer mix.
Sheep
Fresh grass in Willow.
Rain
Wet, wet, wet
Jessie
Keeping warm.
Blandford
Signals museum.
Donkeys
Night-time in the stable.
Sheep
Sunny day in the Square.
Donkeys
Expectations.
Sunset
After a very wet day.
Mudeford
View towards the Isle of Wight.
Proclamation
The formal accession of King Charles III is acknowledged in Salisbury, a band players hymns and The National Anthem and the assembled crowd promised to support the new King. I signed the Book of Condolence and look forward to the Coronation next Spring. A warm, sunny, day with light winds.
Sheep
Are in there somewhere! Rain overnight has half filled a water butt, the plants in the garden will be pleased. A warm cloudy day with strengthening winds.
Longest Day
The Square paddock has turned into a wildflower meadow which the bees and butterflies love. The electric fencing has been removed so the donkeys have the whole of Laneside, including the shady area under the oak tree. First BBQ of the year on a hot and sunny day.
Workshop
William and Toby made an unexpected visit to the workshop after the door was left open. They decided the hay was the best thing to eat before leaving. A cool sunny day with the occasional shower and a bright orange sunset.
Sheep
Grazing a fresh section of paddock before the donkeys can graze there. A warm sunny day.
Mash
William and Toby eating their mash with the balancer pellets. A warm sunny day.
Budleigh Salterton
Cycled past the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh and the start of the Exeter Ship Canal.
Cycle
Just about made it round.
Woodbury
Four donkeys sharing their paddock with four goats
Grazing
The sheep have been confined to half of Willow so the donkeys can follow them in a couple of weeks. A warm sunny day with a brisk wind.
Lolly
A lovely sunny day for a lolly
Damoiselle Damsel Fly
Beautiful blue male, resting in the sunny hedge Laneside, the paler female was flying about nearby. They like chalky streams so they’re a few miles away from their usual habitat. The bigger Dragon Flys are flying round the pond. A sunny windy day, warm in a sheltered spot.
Walter
Standing with his front hooves on the fence rail to eat the Willow, the tree looks to have grown wider in the last year, and reach lower to the ground. Arranged for regular delivery of straw bales to save collecting them, moved a stack of paving so the truck can get into the Square paddock and turn round. Fixed a few hooks in the tack room for the rakes and brooms, makes a big difference to the available floor area. Picked three mini cucumbers. A sunny cloudy day with a chilly wind.
Donkeys
Resting in their stable in the morning sunshine before getting up to start their day. They spread their bedding all round the stable and sometimes bring their collars in to play with overnight. Had to take opportunities to poo pick, torrential rain showers didn’t last long but were potent with longer sunny spells in between. The pond has filled up nicely, need to clean the filter. A quiet end to the day with light winds.
Pixie
The first to sneak past the hurdles to have a look at the modified shelter in Willow, it has a new roof and a new tarpaulin over the top. The only paddock without a shelter is Fallen Oak and that has the moveable arcs so that should be the end of shelter building for a while. Pixie tried to chew the stepladder a few times which proved not very appetising, so she moved on to the grass round the edge of the fence. A sunny cloudy day with light winds and the threat of rain.
Peonies
Standing upright in the sunshine, they’ve become slightly bowed after the rain of the last few days but are still looking magnificent. The donkeys have been out in the paddock standing under the oak tree during the heaviest downpours. Toby has been excavating a bigger roll-over patch and came up covered in mud, it took a while for it to dry so that it could be brushed off. A cloudy sunny day with heavy showers.
Toby
Scratching his neck on William’s back, William had nudged him out the way to get to a patch of grass just through the gate. They horsed about on the straw for a while before going out in the paddock. Cut a few twigs from the beech hedge for them to eat later. The ground is softer after torrential rain and thunderstorms, a cloudy muggy day.
Paints
Celebrating the Jubilee with a set of paints, managed not to smudge this for a couple of hours, and it filled up a few of the wrinkles. Groomed the donkeys and took them for a walk round the fencing in Laneside, they’re starting to make an impression on the hedge, it’s tall and wide after the hedge laying rejuvenated it a couple of years ago. A cloudy sunny day with a chilly wind, torrential rain and bright lightening filled the sky at midnight, no watering required tomorrow, hope the water butts are full.
Blackthorn
Walter tucking into a branch cut from the hedgerow, the rest of the flock wandered over to finish eating the leaves and start nibbling the bark, the donkeys will have what’s left in a couple of days. Jubilee cream tea at The Baker Arms, the scones were delicious. Sat outside on the terrace until a thunderstorm passed by and then played Mahjong. A blustery cloudy end to a sunny day.
Jubilee Beacons
Two visible on the skyline above the stable, one at Bulbarrow and the other Hod Hill, I could see eight in all and some stayed alight for over an hour. No appreciable rain for a week, so the ground is cracking, watered the raised beds and the runner beans. Trimmed a few beech twigs from the hedge for the donkeys and moved the sheep into Willow paddock. A sunny day with a chilly wind.
Platinum Jubilee
The flags are flying for the weekend and the bunting is up on the stable. The Baker Arms has organised afternoon tea for tomorrow afternoon and there’s a garden party on Saturday in the field at the bottom of the hill, haven’t made a crown yet. Will take the corgi that started life as a prop in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a picnic. A lovely sunny day with a cool breeze.
High Jinks
William and Toby playing around on their straw, Toby tries to get hold of William’s fly mask with his teeth and pull it off, he doesn’t succeed, which is good…. They’re always keen to get out of the gate into the paddock, the buttercups need mowing in Laneside so will need to cordon off an area with the electric fence. Cut a blackthorn branch for the sheep and apple tops for the donkeys. A sunny cloudy day with a cool breeze.
Cycle
From Shroton to Sturminster Newton for coffee and then back along the trailway for lunch at The Cricketers. Lots of people walking their dogs, some easy to pass with twenty riders, some not! The rain clouds stayed on the hills and looked threatening but we arrived back in the dry. A sunny cloudy cool day, the temperature dropped late afternoon, not good for the courgette plants.
Ivy
Trapped in a set of hurdles so that her feet could be inspected, she was limping a bit but there was no sign of an injury or stones so a quick hoof trim and a dose of purple spray all round should help. She’s a good weight, it’s easier to tell condition without the fleece, the marks from the shearer’s clippers are quite obvious, I wonder how long it will take for the pattern to disappear. A sunny cloudy with a chilly wind.
Thistle
Not too prickly for the donkeys, it was growing in the rose bed and was over three feet high, and as there was only one they had to share. Tied up the runner beans that were trailing along the ground, one of the poplar rods had stopped sprouting so cut it into two foot lengths and pushed them in around the courgette plants on top of the compost heap where it’ll be well watered. A warm sunny cloudy day with a brisk cool wind.
Morning
Misty in the Vale, but not over Bulbarrow, let the sheep into the small overgrown paddock behind the stable, they disappeared from view as the grass is three feet high. Could hear them chomping away, they ate the sorrel first and some of the docks which they’re not supposed to like! Late home last night so the donkeys were waiting at the stable for their balancer. A sunny day with a chilly wind, lovely in a sheltered spot.
Sheep
Maybe feeling the chill without their fleeces, they almost disappear when lying in the longer grass, the wethers have fluffy bits of wool round their horns. Cycle from Kingston Lacy to Shapwick and back along Sweet Briar, coffee at Pamphill and spicy prawns for lunch at The Anchor, a cool wind meant eating indoors. A break in the clouds let the sun through to lift the temperature late afternoon, but only briefly before the clouds came back at sunset.
William and Toby
Chewing their way through the pear twigs cut from the top of the tree, they usually have ten or twelve to share at the end of the day, or a handful of goosegrass each. They like thistles as well, but there’s a very prickly variety they don’t like that’s taken over the mound in the Small Paddock, so have started to dig those out. Rain overnight and a cloudy day with a very cold wind, lit the woodburner.
Three Bags Full
Nine fleeces in paper sacks ready to be put in a box and sent to Pocket House Studio for making into a rug, the rug made from last year’s fleeces is expected to arrive in July, so it’s a fourteen month wait! Had to go out first thing so the gate into Laneside was opened early, the donkeys had a look and decided to stay where they were and lie down on their straw for a while. A sunny showery day with blustery winds.
Cycle
A level twenty two miles from Ferndown Forest to Upton House and back via Wimborne, Delph Wood and Holes Bay, with coffee and flapjack en route and a tasty sausage roll at the end. Planted out a few more runner beans, the first ones planted a couple of weeks ago are half way up the sticks. Collected four bales of straw. A sunny start to the day with rain moving in at sunset.
William
Seeking shade from the sun inside the sheep shelter in Laneside, it’s not exactly the right size for him but he manages to squeeze in with Toby, they’re still shedding hair and covered in dust from rolling over on the bare patch in The Avenue. Picked the first cucumbers from the greenhouse and planted a couple of courgette plants on top of the compost heap. Lunch at the The Baker Arms. The hottest day of the year so far after a cloudy start.
Shearing
Bianca losing her fleece, there was a lot of lanolin in the fleece close to the skin so although the sheep were shedding their wool round their necks it was a couple of weeks too soon to shear them. Shearer’s talk about the grease ‘rising’ up the fleece away from the body so the clippers can get underneath, the temperature has stayed low at night so that will have made a difference. They were all finished within an hour and let out into the paddock to graze. A cool start to a warm sunny day with light winds.
Dry and Warm
The sheep are being sheared tomorrow and they must have dry fleeces, so they’re staying in the workshop tonight. All manner of things have been stored elsewhere; the sheep (dog) crate, ladders, stools, bailer twine, tables etc. It’s a reasonably sized space for nine sheep to roam around, the door is open so they have a view of the vale, just through a hurdle to stop them escaping. I think they’ll settle down after a few hours. A showery windy day, a lot cooler than yesterday.
Pond
The irises are looking good and the first water lilies just need a little more sunshine to make them open. Smudge likes to drink out of the waterfall which has slowed down to a trickle so the filter needs cleaning – a job for a sunny day. Cycle from Pamphill to The Anchor for coffee, and skittles in the evening. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Dreadlocks
Bianca and Nola are shedding wool from their necks, the shearer is booked for Saturday; haven’t received the rug made from last year’s fleeces yet, will be sending some more next week! Strimmed the verge the other side of the laneside paddock, the willow rods planted to fill in the gaps in the hedge are doing ok, the cow parsley was over four feet high. A warm cloudy day with rain late afternoon, no watering.
Fly Masks
William and Toby keen to go out into the paddock, just waiting for the gate to be opened, they’re wearing their masks to stop the flies settling round their eyes. The ground has puddled after overnight rain, so no watering required. Tied up the tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse and have been given some leek seedlings, still have room in a raised bed so they can go straight in. A cloudy sunny day with a chilly wind.
Morning Moon
Almost due south over the stable, a misty start to the day. Cycle from the Fox and Goose at Coombe Bissett to Downton for coffee and a slice of flapjack before a long climb up to the ridge and along Pennings Drove. The swallows are taking more interest in the stable block, flying in and then out again, one of them took a wrong turn and ended up in the shed at the back, luckily the cats didn’t see him before he escaped. A showery day with sunny spells and a brisk wind.
Jago and Elton
Snuggled up by the water trough, keeping cool in the sun. Welcome rain overnight so no watering required, a cool start to a sunny cloudy day with the occasional heavy shower. Pinched out the side shoots on the tomato plants in the greenhouse and potted on a few more young plants, pulled rhubarb and cut a few pear twigs from the top of the tree for the donkeys. A cloudy end to the day with the promise of more rain overnight.
Donkeys
William and Toby chasing each other round a paddock full of buttercups in the sunshine, they always avoid eating the flowers, which is good as they’re a cumulative poison! Pheasant Fest at the Baker Arms so spent a fun day selling tasty food, with everything pheasant, and lots of raffle tickets in aid of Dorset Air Ambulance. Over £3000 was raised which will fund one take-off for this vital service. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Kings Troop
Firing their Royal Salute at the Platinum Jubilee Celebration; A Gallop Through History. The Royal Horse Artillery gave a great performance, criss crossing the arena and just missing each other at full pelt and then leaving through a very narrow gate as fast as their horses could go pulling the guns, closely followed by the rest of the troop. A cloudy, sunny, day with light winds.
Windsor
A good day out at the Horse Show, the Household Cavalry looked very smart and the musical drive was at full gallop. The very efficient arena team did a great job setting up and dismantling the jumps for the Shetland Pony Grand National, always fun to watch and the height of the wall meant the puissance proved challenging. A cloudy sunny day with a chilly wind.
Beans
Ready to be planted out, the first of the carrots and radishes are poking through the soil in the raised bed, it rained most of the morning which saved watering. Sowed land cress, spinach and peas, tied up the tomatoes and cucumber in the greenhouse. Stacked wood and sharpened the chainsaw. A sunny end to a wet cloudy day with blustery winds.
Digby
Eating the leaves from a bramble that’s grown out from the hedgerow, planted a few willow rods to supplement the ash trees in the hedge. Collected four bales of straw, the fields around the farm are being used as leys, producing a sileage crop for the cows that has matured twelve weeks after sowing, the ryegrass may be left to grow and produce another two cuts, or it could be ploughed in and replaced with maize. A cloudy sunny day with light winds.
William
Lying down on the straw until it’s time to go out into Laneside, I did wonder why they didn’t come up for their balancer later and then discovered they’d managed to shut the gate that leads out of the paddock… The sheep are shedding fleece, especially the white ones, looks like they have dreadlocks, hope to have a date for the shearer soon. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Cheese Race
A lovely day for Shaftesbury Festival, the races up Gold Hill carrying a 25lb cheese were fun to watch, lots of people entered and the record stands at 15 seconds for the fastest runner. Lots of food and drink stalls to wander round. The donkeys managed to shut the gate into Laneside so had to be released to come up for their evening mash. Watered the raised beds and the runner beans. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Sheep Shelter
The old shed is proving to be a popular place with the sheep, it’s slightly cooler in there than lying out in the sun, the temperature reached 20* yesterday so they’ll be pleased when they’re sheared. Tied the tomato plants to their canes in the greenhouse and cut off the developing side shoots, planted out a few runner beans. Warm enough for breakfast outside, wore sandals for the first time this year, blue skies and fluffy white clouds.
Lady’s Smock
One of the perennial herbs growing in the paddock, said to be sacred to fairies it’s unlucky if brought indoors and was never included in May Day garlands for that reason. Also known as the Cuckoo Flower because it flowers at the same time as the arrival of the first Cuckoos. It’s a food plant for the Orange Tipped Butterfly and their are lots of those flying around. A warm sunny day with light winds.
William and Toby
The boys are back after their hospital visit, William’s ulcers have gone and there’s no sign of any lice or worms on his skin so he must just like scratching! They we’re very pleased to get out of the transport and after a quick bite to eat in their stable they were off down the paddock for a run around and a roll-over. Toby came back up for salt-lick so they had their portion of balancer and mash followed by goosegrass and thistles. A cloudy, sunny day with light winds, feeling a bit warmer but still cold at night.
Wisteria
Looking good, the bees love it and so does the wren. William’s ulcers have gone so they’ll both be back from the equine hospital today. He’s been a bit itchy so the vet has done a scrape to see if there’s a problem with his skin, may just be his winter coat being scratched off, he certainly loses a lot of hair when he’s groomed. A foggy start to a cloudy, sunny day with light winds.
Bianca
Showing off a fine set of teeth while chewing the cud next to the paving slab walkway and the lumps of wood. William and Toby were picked up by the Donkey Sanctuary transport, William will have his tummy checked for ulcers and Toby will be able to watch from the stable next door. Hopefully the medication will have worked and he’ll be given a clean bill of health, they’ll be brought back tomorrow. A warm, cloudy day with light winds.
Beauty of Bath
The blossom is bursting on the apple trees, and the pear, looks as if it could be a good year for Bramley’s. Planted out more tomato plants and a couple of cucumbers in their pots in the greenhouse, one of the cucumbers has started flowering already. Will keep the courgette plants inside for another week. A misty start to a hazy day, several degrees warmer than yesterday.
Winnie
Taking a look inside the sheep shelter to make sure everything is as it should be before going in for a measure of salt lick and hay, although there’s still enough grass. The swallows have been back for over a week, swooping low and round the stable block deciding whether to nest here again. A cloudy day with light winds.
Visitor
On the way back from Llangollen to Chirk, crossed the aqueduct ahead of three fluffy ducklings and moored on a straight stretch between two bridges at Moreton. Walked down to the River Dee and back up to the visitor centre at Trevor. A duck decided that there may be easy pickings available so hopped on board. A cloudy sunny day with light winds.
Train Ride
The journey took half an hour from Llangollen to Carog alongside the River Dee, past the chain bridge and Horseshoe Weir. After an ice cream at Carog the train set off back to Llangollen, a diesel runs most of the year with a steam train making the journey on special occasions, not sure how it would turn round, there must be a turntable somewhere. A cool, sunny, day with light winds.
Horseshoe Weir
The River Dee feeds the canal, two aqueducts, two tunnels and all the locks downstream on the Llangollen stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal. A two mile walk along the towpath from the marina, past a shire horse called Dakota, he was pulling a ferry that took passengers along to the hotel, just short of the weir. This stretch of the canal is unnavigable so the moorings at the marina are the last stop. A cool, cloudy day with light winds.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
The highest canal aqueduct in the world, carrying narrowboats across the River Dee in the Vale of Llangollen, eighteen arches built of stone and cast iron. Completed in 1805 having taken ten years to design and build, length 307m, drop to the river 38m. With a footpath on one side and no path or handrail on the other, it’s a long way down! Spectacular views across the vale to Froncysyllte and the viaduct that carries the railway line. A sunny cloudy day with a chilly wind.
Canal
A leisurely pace along the canal from Whittington towards Llangollen, passed through a couple of locks and moored at Chirk Bank for the night. Looking forward to crossing the Pontcysyllte aquaduct tomorrow. Lots of fluffy ducklings were being herded into the banks by their mothers as the boats passed by. A cool, sunny day.
Donkeys
Standing in the shade in the sheep shelter in Laneside, the end of the paddock was partly shaded by the oak and ash trees but they chose to duck their heads and go and doze in the shelter. Moved some of the tomato plants and a cucumber into their pots in the greenhouse, will have to finish the cane framework to support them sometime. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Ouessants
They were all in Fallen Oak waiting for another gate to be opened, and always think it’s worth exploring another paddock. They’ll move into the Square paddock in a couple of days and then Willow and Fallen Oak will be fallow for a month or two. The donkeys browsed the hedgerow in Laneside, not able to reach the newest willows and poplar. The water butts are full after heavy rain overnight, so the grass should be growing well. A cloudy start to a sunny day, and the wind is still cold.
Mutual Grooming
William and Toby spent ten minutes chasing each other around the paddock, Toby braying, before coming back up to the stable for salt lick and a grooming session. Took the opportunity of shutting the gate and giving them their balancer and mash. William is picking up a few stones in his hooves, need some more sand on top of the aggregate in the mud control mats. Watered the hedgerow. A windy sunny day, warm in sheltered spots.
Winnie
Surrounded by hay that she doesn’t like much, it’s difficult to tell her condition under the fleece, it’ll be another month before it comes off, she could be a little underweight. No sign of the rug being made from last year’s wool, they did say it would be a year. Finished laying the soaker hoses in the hedges, need more connectors to use the same water supply hose for all of them. A sunny, cloudy, day with a chilly wind.
Crows
Sitting on William’s head and a couple on his back, they pull the hairs out for making their nests, there’s quite a lot of hair on the ground when the donkeys have been groomed, but they still prefer to select their own and William doesn’t mind. Arranged soaker hose in the hedge, seems to work well at the start and finish of the run, not so well in the middle, so a few puddles and dry patches. A sunny day with a cool wind.
Hampton Court
Visited the Royal School of Needlework and talked with the Archivist about the type of work they hold in their collection, my Grandmother studied there in the early 1900’s and three of her pieces are so good they’re to be accepted into the archive, they can then be displayed in future exhibitions of work. Well done Granny! Spent the rest of the day walking round the gardens and having lunch, it was nice to drive in the main gate and down the driveway to the Palace. A sunny day with a chilly wind.
Digby
Chewing the cud in the sunshine, Digby is sitting by the logs in the middle of the small paddock, the rest of the flock are sitting round the edge by the fence. William has had his second injection for stomach ulcers, he’ll have the last one next week. Collected some grids for the only paddock entrance that doesn’t have them, and a dismantled wood store. A bright sunny day with light winds.
William
Head in the hedge, he likes to eat hawthorn, blackthorn, brambles and wild roses, his favourite on this occasion was the field maple, it doesn’t ever have to be trimmed from the paddock side. He’s eating his fibre mash with the balancer, he’s just a bit slow, so Toby has to have some as well. Potted on the cucumbers and tied more runner bean canes, fixed another plank of wood to the end of the sheep shelter in the small paddock, the last gale loosened the roof. A sunny, cloudy day with a chilly breeze.
Butterflies
Lots about, including this Common Blue and the Orange Tipped, the blackbirds have nested in the hedge and make a real racket when one of the cats walks past, especially if it’s Coby. A pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers were in the garden, both had bright red flashes. Fixed more of the runner bean sticks, planted a few rows of Adelaide carrots and put the lemon trees out on the terrace. Lunch in Stur. A warm, sunny, day with a chilly breeze.
Easter Cake
Afternoon tea on the terrace, cake baked by Linda, the hatching chick on the top has been around a long time and wobbles about. Fussed and fed the sheep and talked to the donkeys in the paddock who were tempted by slices of apple. Moved the teak table to where the shed used to be, it looks smaller on the concrete, needs a couple of benches and maybe a pergola to provide a bit of shade. A warm, sunny, day with light winds.
Compost Heaps
Finished moving the compost to the right hand side ready for planting with courgettes and pumpkins next month, and once they’ve finished it’ll be used to top up the raised beds. The left hand pile of donkey poo and grass cuttings will stay as it is for the next year and the centre strip is all ready for filling. The compost is full of worms, they like the cardboard but not the parcel tape. More runner beans have appeared, and the first of the peas, had all the ventilators open in the greenhouse. A warm, sunny, day with a moderate breeze.
Digby
Watching Jessie and Mackerel through the fence, this patch of grass by the oak tree and wood pile is prime ground for mouse hunting, visited frequently by the cats and the sparrowhawk. Digby’s horns curl inwards so need trimming regularly, a hacksaw does the job! The sheep spent the day in the Small Paddock, returning to Fallen Oak for the night. Cycle ride from Pamphill to The Anchor for coffee and chocolates, a misty start to a mild, cloudy day.
Donkeys
William and Toby in Laneside, grazing under the oak tree, this area has to be fenced off later in the year as the acorns are poisonous to both sheep and donkeys. Bought a bag of Donkey Diet for William and soaked a few of the cubes in hot water to make a mash, he doesn’t drink as much as he should which won’t be helping his tummy, so need to find ways of getting water into him, Toby drinks far more, and at fairly regular times. More runner beans have sprouted. A cloudy, milder day with light winds.
Ivy and Jago
The sheep have moved into Fallen Oak for a while so the donkeys can walk down the Avenue into Laneside, have a run around, and browse the Hazel in the hedgerow, they are starting to relax, William keeps checking everything is where it should be. Ivy’s teeth look more prominent than ever, they came over to see if I had any treats, which I didn’t! The Sparrowhawk spent most of the day hovering beside the hedgerow, not sure it caught anything. A rainy start to a cloudy day with a brisk, cool, wind.
William and Toby
Back in their stable after a week at Endells, William has various patches where he’s been shaved and he’s a completely different shape, the bolus in his tummy and the impaction in his colon were taking up a lot of space! They were so excited to be out of the van, they inspected their stable and the fencing, kicking and bucking each other before going out into the paddock and running around. William will have treatment for his ulcers over the next few weeks. A breezy, sunny, day with a cool breeze..
Sunset
A very frosty start to a sunny day with a strong easterly wind, lovely in the sun but cold in the shade. Topped up the pond with rainwater, tadpoles are swimming around the water lilies although I haven’t seen any toadspawn, fed the fish who are swimming much closer to the surface. Lots of bright yellow dandelions are filling the borders and the bees are making the most of the flowers. Laid a few more grids and filled them with gravel. A lovely sunset to end the day.
Rhubarb
First of the season, not forced, so full of colour and flavour, there’s more coming so hope to have enough to freeze. Raked the raised bed that’ll be sown with early carrots in the next week or so, the tomato and cucumber plants are doing ok on the windowsill. A balloon was up early this morning, it didn’t travel very far in the light winds, there was too much cold mist in the vale. William was allowed to graze grass today, with no tubes or muzzle, he’ll have been happy to be out of the stable with Toby. A frosty start to a sunny day.
Sheep
Taking it in turns to be king of the castle, Jago has settled on one of the slabs making it difficult for the others to run along them all. Visited William and Toby in the equine hospital, William’s tummy impaction has all but cleared and his cut has healed so they should be home early next week, the Donkey Sanctuary has transport standing by. William has been allowed to eat a handful of grass and they both may be allowed out into a small paddock for some exercise tomorrow. A wet start to a cool cloudy day.
Sunset
Stormy skies and a strong cold winter wind, the sheep sat behind their shelters out of the rain showers, they didn’t want to be inside, they just preferred sitting out of the wind. William is doing ok, although the impaction in his stomach is taking time to remove, it’s being prodded to make bits on the edge flake away. Visiting them tomorrow and taking straw, balancer, treats and a ball for Toby to play with. A very windy day, lunch at the pub.
Bluebells
The first of the flowers in the hedgerow, protected from the cold winds by the bank. Tempted to flower by the warm days last week the rest have decided to slow down and stay hidden now the frosts are back. William is doing ok, treatment is continuing and as the only donkeys in the hospital they’re getting a lot of attention. Removed the feeder in the stable ready for cleaning, may modify the design to prevent straw slipping down the back. A cool, cloudy, windy day.
Ouessant Sheep Society
This month’s banner on their Facebook site is one of my photos, Walter, Digby and Elton, posing when the grass was greener and lusher. A bit of a traumatic day yesterday with William spending a long time being treated by the vet, and then transported in a Donkey Sanctuary ambulance, with Toby, to an equine hospital with an impacted colon. That’s resolved itself, but following a gastroscopy he does have a bolus filling a third of his stomach that needs dissolving, and an ulcer. Hopefully the cut at the top of his leg will be healing. A cool, cloudy, windy, day
Nola
007 having a nice day in the paddock with a supplement of hay to eat, the younger sheep in the flock are always more interested in the hay and Nola usually hangs back so there can’t be much sweetness in the grass. Planted a white Viburnum in the garden to fill a gap in the border and put a trowel full of worm casts in the bottom of each tomato pot. William’s Cut is healing OK, may let him out onto the straw today. A cloudy day with a chilly wind.
Poppy
Toby was swiped on the nose when he nudged Poppy, she isn’t bothered by the donkeys feet and wanders up and down between them. Topped the brown grass in the small paddock, the grass had started growing but will have stopped again with the drop in temperature. Sowed courgette and sunflower seeds, potted on the tomato plants and laid out the greenhouse with trays and pots. A frosty start to a cloudy day.
Stable Mats
William and Toby inspecting a new mat before it goes into the stable. The cobwebs and dust have been brushed away, the straw removed and the floor washed and disinfected. Hopefully three new mats will mean the donkeys will be able to lie down without a straw bed and William’s cut will stay clean and continue to heal. The house martins are back and have started building nests, breeding pairs stay together for life and with nest building this early in the year there should be two broods produced before they fly south again. A cold, breezy, day with snow showers.
William
Still a bit dopey after a visit from the equine vet, he had to be sedated as the developing abscess at the top of his leg needed removing and the cut cleaning, a process that took a while. Toby became ever more attentive and rested his head on William’s back, taking hold of the skin with his teeth, just to let him know he was there. They’ll have to stay up on the hard standing for a couple of weeks, the cut needs flushing and creaming three times a day and there’s a daily dose of antibiotics and painkillers. William, stoic as ever, just gets on with it, the vet will be back in a few days. A cold, frosty start to the day with a few snow showers.
Blackthorn Winter
When I collected the straw from the farm the weather forecast was on the agenda as the cows are still in the sheds, wise Bob said that this was about to be a Blackthorn Winter’, with sub zero temperatures and the threat of snow! It did snow today, several times, and the blustery east wind meant the temperature felt like minus two or three. The sheep were happy as usual and the sky cleared at dusk to reveal a bright orange sunset.
William
Rolling over in Willow, the purple sprayed cut under his leg doesn’t seem to bother him but the equine vet is coming to have a look just in case he needs antibiotics, he’s eating and drinking normally. Laid the last two rows of grids in The Avenue and filled them with gravel, sand will go on top once it’s settled. Potted on the cucumber plants and collected straw bales. A cool sunny day with a freshening breeze.
Cycle
Fabulous ride along the Kennet and Avon, from Bradford on Avon to Bath and beyond. Through the two tunnels on the old Somerset and Dorset railway line, a cold, and occasionally damp, experience with some lighting and a classical playlist, which was unexpected. With an average speed of 8mph and a maximum of 25mph we crossed two aqueducts, with spectacular views of the valley below. Tasty lunch at The Angel Fish. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Walter
The sheep have moved into the Square Paddock where the grass is longer, it’s been fallow for weeks so is well rested. The donkeys have followed on from the sheep and are grazing half of Willow, once they’ve been in there a week they can move into the other half and the grass can be topped to remove any remaining seed heads, ready for the new Spring growth to take over. A sunny warm day with light winds.
Spring Colours
Red and pink Camelia and Azalea with the white Stellatta Magnolia, there’s a lot of new colour in the garden, the primroses are still blooming and the first of the tulips are showing off, hope they don’t get drenched and blown away in the next day or two. Topped up the troughs for the hedgehogs and the birds. Pulmonaria Trevi Fountain is blooming and the Forsythia is bright yellow. It’s amazing how the plants have responded to a few days of sunshine. A warm, sunny day with light winds..
Avon Beach
First paddle of the year, the sea is 10* and feels ok when the water has washed over warm sand. The intrepid swimmers belonging to ‘The Blue Tits’ had no problem with venturing in where it was colder. Had beer and chips before going home, collecting the last lot of gravel on the way. The edge of the driveway is finished and there’s a new path from the greenhouse to the shed. A warm sunny day with a freshening breeze.
William
He’s absolutely fine after a rather traumatic day – spooked by efforts to catch Winnie, who’d escaped the sheep pen, he tried to jump the hurdles at the top of the Avenue. He’s not a good jumper and didn’t quite make it, but with some momentum and considerable body weight he ended up on his back, four hooves in the air and looking rather surprised, so he just rolled over and stood up! Once Winnie was secured in the sheep pen William was able to walk down the Avenue and into Willow paddock, a graze at the top of his leg stopped bleeding quite quickly and the vet was able to have a look and dose the area with antiseptic spray. A not very relaxing sunny, warm, day with light winds.
Silver Birch
William and Toby like eating the bark, their teeth make a rasping noise as they bite the logs, if it’s a really tasty piece they’ll eat all the way through to the centre. Moved hurdles to the corner of the small paddock ready for the vet’s visit, now the weathers warmer the sheep need Clik solution applied to their fleece to avoid fly-strike, it’ll be another month before they’re sheared. A sunny warm day with light winds.
Digby
The sheep are making the most of the lush grass at the back of the stable, they graze in there for an hour late afternoon before returning to the small paddock for the night. Digby came over to see if any treats were available, he’d already had hay and a handful of a country mix that looks like muesli, his fleece is thick and soft, still waiting to get the rug made from last year’s fleeces, hope it arrives soon. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Poppy
Venturing onto the yard outside the stable, Poppy likes to eat the donkey balancer when she can find any that’s been dropped, the bark on the branches has been nibbled by the donkeys, they need fresh ones most days. Collected more gravel for the new path by the shed, the grids at the side of the paddock driveway are almost full. Sowed French Bean seeds in pots in the greenhouse. A warm, sunny day with light winds.
Toby
Enjoying the sunshine in the paddock, the grass has been cropped by the sheep so the donkeys can graze all day, as the days get longer and warmer the grass will start to grow and the sugar levels will increase, so their time in the paddock will have to be restricted. Must plant the runner bean seeds, the plot has been turned over so the framework of sticks can go up, the raised beds are full of compost, all ready for sowing carrots when the soil warms up. A sunny day with light winds.
Sheep Shed
The old potting shed with a new opening for the sheep, have also removed a panel in the back wall to increase ventilation, it’s certainly cooler inside. The rubber mats are hanging on the fence to get rid of the smell, it’s taking a while. The spring has stopped running and the paddocks have dried out in the last couple of days so the donkeys were able to go out for a few hours. True to form, William stopped and ate the first clump of grass and Toby had a run round. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Spring Equinox
It’s the first day of Spring, the day when the sun crosses the equator and the tilt of our hemisphere means the days are warmer and longer. Certainly true of yesterday when the sun shone all day and the bumble bees and brimstone butterflies were flying around. The Hyacinths have done well to overwinter, they must like it in the border, the shallow dish behind needed to be topped up with water for the hedgehogs. The day ended with a glorious orange sunset.
Formation Caterpillars
Each eating their own section of leaf the rose sawfly slugworms appear between June and October, hopefully the local finches and sparrows will keep them under control. Moved the sheep and their arcs to the fallen oak paddock to let willow lie fallow for a few weeks. Went down the lane to cut some beech branches for them and the donkeys, the hedge has grown really well since being laid a couple of years ago and is now wide, tall and bushy – more than enough year round fodder for the animals. A sunny warm day with light winds.
Blending In
Walter and his horns just about visible in the upended arc with Digby watching from outside. Had a lovely walk through hayfields to The Plough at Manston, unfortunately arrived just after ‘last orders’ so had a thirsty walk home! Planted another courgette plant, all the others have been eaten by snails, first flowers on the runner beans, removed side shoots from the tomatoes, picked a cos lettuce. A sunny cloudy day with rain later.
Goosegrass
William and Toby enjoying a late green treat after their vitamins, they spent most of the day in the square paddock after chasing each other around their straw area for half an hour, repeating the routine as soon as the gate was opened. Overnight rain softened the ground slightly and definitely a benefit for the vegetables. Picked a lettuce and three mini cucumbers. A wet day with late sunshine.
Baling
Happening in fields all over the vale, a five day window of hot dry weather has allowed farmers to cut, waffle and bale their hay, so the race is on to get it all in the barns before the thunderstorms arrive. Cycle from Pamphill, twelve mile round trip to Badbury Rings and The Anchor for coffee, past fields of linseed in full flower, acres of deep blue replacing the familiar bright yellow rapeseed. A hot humid day with clear skies and a pale pink sunset.
Sheep Arc
Delivered to the fallen oak paddock today, a third arc for the sheep to share, Walter was the first to have a look, but Bianca wasn’t far behind. Mowed the avenue so the donkeys can graze there in a week or so when the square paddock needs resting, they had a trot round when the arc arrived, the horses in the field opposite whinnied their support. Tied up the tomatoes, cavalo nero and runner beans and picked roses and peonies before the promised rain flattens them. A hot sunny day with some late cloud.
William
Halfway through a rollover, it’s one of the first things the donkeys do when they are let into the paddock, always in the same place and now there’s a small depression of bare earth in which to roll. Went to the tip with three dumpy bags of hedge cuttings and weeds, the hedge is now higher than the buttercups and grasses so perhaps they can be left instead of weeded out. Collected four bales of straw, the hay making is well underway in the fields and the yield is ‘ok’, so better than last year. Watered the vegetables, a very hot day with light winds.
Howitzer
Nestling near a pub car park, would make a good restoration project, next to lots of other rusting vehicles that have been left there over the years. Replaced a few slats on one of the garden benches, hope it will last a it longer as it’s very comfortable, next job will be to reinforce the legs. The donkeys are looking a lot smarter, their winter coat has almost gone to reveal a shiny, shorter version. Watered the hedge and the vegetables. A very hot day with increasing winds and a pale pink sunset.
Lolly
William and Toby enjoying an ice lolly filled with sliced carrot. William licks and bites the chunk of ice while Toby stamps on it to release the carrots. Spent a couple of hours watching the planes at Compton Abbas followed by a BBQ in the garden – the donkeys are not entirely familiar with the smoke and smells of food cooking so they paced around the stable yard. The sheep spent all day in their arcs. A hot sunny day with light winds.
Evening
The field has been cut for hay and the sparrowhawk is stationary in the sky, fixed on an area of ground waiting for something to move. Unfortunately, the mole seen running around the garden has been despatched by the neighbours cat, there must have been a reason for it being out and about in daylight. The sheep spent all day in their shelters out of the sun, and the donkeys grazed their paddock, keeping a look out for the horses in the field across the lane. A hot day with light winds.
Horses
Let out for the first time into the field next to the lane, the donkeys spotted them very quickly and nervously watched them for most of the day, occasionally all of them chased around, bucking and kicking. Moved the sheep, and their arcs, into the fallen oak paddock and arranged a few pallets and lids next to the fence to provide some shade. Watered the raised beds, the courgette plants have been eaten by snails. A warm humid start to the day with increasing winds and drizzle early evening.
Salt
Toby savouring the salt lick; he’ll walk up to the stable midway through a warm afternoon for a small dose and then have a second helping in the evening, his rough tongue rasping at the block. This Himalayan salt mined from a mountain range in Pakistan is ideal for donkeys because it’s too hard for them to bite through – they can’t bite bits off which would give them a digestive overdose. They spent the day nibbling the short grass in half the paddock, will soon have to give them the whole area. A warm sunny cloudy day with a hazy sunset.
Dartmoor Ponies
A group ran round the hillside and down to the stream which proved impossible to cross at Harry’s Ford, there were stepping stones further downstream and a few yards away a narrow plank, both of which proved impossible to cross. The mist was low over the moor, drifting through the valleys and down towards the villages below, a day of big temperature swings depending on whether the sun broke through the clouds. Rain later.
Birds Foot Trefoil
Growing in laneside paddock, it survives mowing, grazing and trampling and will grow to the height of the surrounding grassland, mostly on sandy soil; so to see it growing on clay is unusual. It’s a high quality feed and doesn’t cause bloat in ruminants, so ideal for grazing sheep. The flowers are mainly visited by bumblebees, and are a breeding ground for butterflies including the silver studded blue and the six spotted burnet so must watch out for those. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Ouessants
Bianca happily chewing at an apple branch although it’s a few months old, and Walter always inquisitive, head on one side. Their fleeces are growing and they’ll need to be protected against fly strike in the next couple of weeks. There are lots of different opinions on how short to cut the grass so they will like to walk in it as well as graze, so will cut pathways through the paddock then they can stand on the short grass and eat the long! Perhaps there’ll be more grass for the winter and certainly less grass to deal with on the compost heap. A warm cloudy day with late sunshine and light winds.
Willow
William and Toby both tried to eat the same short length of willow although there were two branches waiting for them when they came up for their vitamins, I guess it’s more fun to have a competition for a few minutes, eventually William wandered off to start nibbling at the other piece. Watered the raised beds and the runner beans and snipped off the tomato sideshoots. A warm sunny cloudy day with a few spots of rain, pint at The Baker Arms.
Poppy
Sitting in her favourite place, which is a bench warmed by the sun, Poppy will stay there all evening, sleeping and trying to get the forget-me-not seeds out of her fur. Mowed the lawn and strimmed the edges, planted more runner bean plants. Tomatoes have set the first fruit and there could be a glut of mini cucumbers in a week or two. Thinned out some of the apple clusters, could be a bumper year for the Ellison’s Orange. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Gone to Seed
Mizuna salad leaves and rocket, both sown before a cold wet April and now really tall and setting seed, the mange tout peas are yet to flower, the cos lettuce and carrots in the raised bed behind are doing well. Let the sheep into laneside paddock but they sat in the sun next to the fence instead of lying in the shade of the hedgerow, had to let them back into willow paddock and the shelter of their arcs. Saddlebacks are available locally, managed to negotiate half a pig for the freezer, it will have travelled less than 10 miles in it’s whole life, hope it tastes good. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Paddock
Full of grass, buttercups and sorrel, the donkeys eat everything except the buttercups, the electric fence is moved a yard every few days to give them a fresh strip. Mowed the tall grass in the oak paddock so the sheep will graze the new growth, they won’t eat the taller grass, possibly because they don’t like the feel of it on their tummies. Cycle ride from Pamphill past Badbury Rings to The Anchor for coffee, followed by fish and Chips from the van in Child Okeford. A cloudy cooler day with the occasional shower.
Sleeping Toby 💤
With William looking a bit dozy Toby was lying flat out, donkeys don’t relax like this very often but with the temperature rising in the mornings they’re going out onto their straw before eating their breakfast in the shade. A small mole was running round the terrace wall at lunchtime, probably a youngster driven from his birthplace by his mother, so he’s out and about looking for new territory to conquer, hope he doesn’t start tunneling under the lawn. A warm sunny day with cooling rain for an hour or two.
Sheep
Let through into the adjacent paddock they started eating as soon as they could although the grass looked the same in the paddock they’d just come from. The grass is growing really quickly after the rain and the sugar levels will be high until September so they should gain some weight before Autumn, Winnie especially could do with putting on a few extra pounds. The fleeces have arrived OK at Pocket House Studio. Collected more wood for the new sheep shelter in the square paddock, should have enough now. A lovely hot sunny day with light winds and a pale pink sunset sky.
Raised Bed
Looking bright green in the morning sunshine, there are a couple of rows of carrots (sown sparingly to avoid thinning), with a stray lettuce, land cress, cos lettuce, radish and more Nantes carrots. With the last few days of warm weather it’s been watered twice a day to stop the veg going to seed. Tied the bean sticks together and linked them to the trellis which is the other side of the path, the first beans are winding up the canes despite the attentions of the slugs and snails. A lovely warm and sunny day with light winds, the cats have been lolling about in the shade.
Cucumbers
Eight or more little mini munch cucumbers on a plant less than a foot high, liking the corner of the greenhouse they mature at about four inches long, so are prolific and need picking regularly. The tomatoes have their first fruits and the side shoots removed. Still no luck with the French beans, although did find one that had germinated in the ‘discarded compost’ tray, so maybe more will pop up. Wisteria smells fragrant, hoping for a second bloom, the fish thrashed about in the pond and had extra rations. Pint at The Baker Arms, warm sunshine all day and light winds.
Carrot Lolly
The first time Walter has been offered one and he was not impressed, he looked the other way and then ran off to join the rest of the flock. The donkeys gained from the rejection and crunched their way through the ice to get to the carrots. Mowed the long grass in the bottom paddock, it has too much sugar for the donkeys and the sheep have more than enough to eat. The hedgerow that was laid over a year ago is looking good, full of fresh growth and dense at the bottom. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Farrier
It’s been ten weeks since the last visit and the donkey’s hooves needed a trim, William’s seedy toe has improved and there’s no sign of laminitis which is good. Toby was finished first and then he stayed close by, resting his head on William’s back, they had a ginger biscuit and thistles afterwards after a quick walk round the yard, the sound of their hooves on the concrete was different, somehow. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Ouessants
Winnie and Digby sitting in the sun chewing the cud and dozing, their new woolly coats are a week old and they feel like velvet. They have access to two paddocks in the hope they’ll keep the grass short enough for the donkeys to be eat in them afterwards. Mowed laneside, the sheep won’t be able to eat their way through that field as well. The hedges are growing really well, some of the field maple trees are sprouting later than the others. A warmer sunny day with moderate winds, light until nearly ten o’clock.
Donkeys
Let out into the paddock they grazed right up to the electric fence, nibbling the fresh spring grass, they’re not looking any slimmer so will have to give them a longer, narrower strip to increase the ground they cover walking uphill and downhill. Watered the tomatoes in the greenhouse, the cucumbers are struggling with some slug damage. Eating radish, rocket and nasturtium leaves, most of the runner beans are winding round the canes and the mangetout peas are starting to cling on to the willow whips, hoping some may root. A cool start to a sunnier day with light winds.
Scalpings
Delivered in a slightly larger tipper truck than expected, the tractor driver did a brilliant job of getting the trailer in the driveway entrance and spreading the load. The donkeys watched from the far side of their straw area and were less worried than when the lawnmower appears beside them, they went into the square paddock after the tractor had turned round, and the sheep took no notice at all. A cool sunny start to a very wet day with strengthening winds, removed the side shoots from the tomatoes.
Cycle
Farnham to Manswood through Chettle, started in the rain and finished in the rain with a spell of sunshine in-between, the bluebells are still in flower and there are fresh green leaves everywhere on the trees. Lunch at The Museum Inn. Finished leveling the driveway in preparation for the top dressing of scalpings. Too wet for the donkeys to be in the paddock, the straw area is getting boggy and needs raking over, tomatoes are doing ok in the greenhouse, still too cold to plant out the courgette.
Fleeces
Ready for packing into a box in paper sacks, six fleeces weighing a kilogram each, they are rich in lanolin and already going curly. A very wet day with strong winds, the sheep went into willow for a while before returning to their shelter in the small paddock. The donkeys tried to stay out of the wind by the stable and nibbled on a fresh apple branch. Mended a puncture, lit the woodburner.
Coby and Digby
Separated by a stock fence, Coby the bengal cat and Digby are still able to touch noses and have a good sniff, after a minute or so Digby went back to grazing the paddock. The sunflowers in the pot by the back door have been chewed off, not sure they’ll regrow, hope the plants in the border do better. Collected a couple of pallets to modify the sheep shelter in the square paddock. A much calmer day with lighter winds and warming sunshine, visited a local Dorset Art Week’s exhibition.
Willow
William and Toby had to stay out of the paddock because of strong winds and driving rain, they had their usual breakfast of three wedges of straw and then mooched around the stable. The feeder was topped up later in the day with the addition of a tasty willow branch and a handful of goosegrass. The sheep stayed undercover only coming out whenever the rain stopped. Collected my bike after a service, needs to go back in a couple of weeks as it requires a new chain and cassette. Checked the greenhouse after the gale, all ok. A stormy day with gale force winds and cold driving rain.
Black Sheep
Walter, Winnie and Digby look so different, longer legs and blacker than ever without their fleeces, they’ve been hiding from the wind most of the day, only emerging from the sheep shelter to graze the paddock and then return to comfort to chew the cud. The donkeys have been on high alert, chasing around and hanging on to each other’s necks. All the trees are bending in the wind, losing blossom, leaves and small branches, hardly any racemes left on the wisteria, they’re all over the grass, tied the bean sticks to the trellis. A cloudy mild day with occasional showers and gale force winds.
Runner Beans
The first two rows are planted out and had to be tied in to the canes to stop them being blown over in the wind. They’ve been left alone by the slugs and snails which is good. Planted out more sunflowers and parsley plants, bought more compost to top up the tomatoes in the greenhouse, still no french beans showing. Ate the first two radishes from the raised bed and a few handfuls of leaves from the rocket and mizuna plants. The Cos lettuce are doing well, land cress is off to a slow start. A sunny cool day with moderate winds.
Shearing
Nola, in the process of losing her fleece, it was sheared off in one piece and is in very good condition, the lengths of wool have crinkled and when the strands are rolled they are impossible to pull apart, so this will result in a high quality spun product. The three white and three black fleeces will remain separate, wrapped in paper sacks and sent to the Pocket House Studio on the Isle of Lewis for making into a rug, there’s a waiting list so the rug should arrive within the year! The sheep were soon back in their paddock grazing happily and weighing slightly less. A fine start to a cold day with increasing winds and heavy showers. Lit the woodburner.
Winnie and Digby
Checking out the new accommodation, they’re not used to concrete floors, will have to give them straw and hay for their overnight stay. Wet fleeces are not good for the shearer, worst case electric shock! Managed to get them all inside and the door shut, will leave the stable door open so that William and Toby can keep an eye on them. The Sparrowhawk has been flying round the oak tree on a couple of occasions, and a pair of owls were flying in the field, hope one of them likes the nesting box. A cloudy sunny day with a cool wind and the occasional shower.
Stormy
Torrential rain off and on all day, poo picked and finished tidying the workshop ready for the shearer. Planted a few runner beans, the sticks stayed up in the wind, the frame may need reinforcement once it’s covered in leaves, will have to check for slugs in the morning. Donkeys stayed by the stable and the sheep ran for their shelter every time it rained. All the water butts are full, topped up the pond. Removed the first side shoots from the tomato plants. A warm muggy end to the day with low cloud covering the hills.
Mutual Grooming
Toby was being groomed by William while having a groom himself! The boys carried on nibbling each other in their usual right / left stance, William loses his hair in chunks, leaving bare patches. Toby has a much finer coat that always looks the same. Moved the electric fence to give them more grass, they stayed out in the paddock despite torrential downpours that turned the paddock entrance to a soggy puddle. All the trees are looking greener, their leaves filling out. A showery day with light winds.
Rhododendron Ferrugineum
In full bloom, the alpine rose bright pink flowers and green blemish free foliage are a couple of weeks earlier than last year, it must have liked the frequent frosts and low rainfall. Started to dismantle the sheep shelter in the square paddock, nearly ready to raise the roof and cover with planks and a new tarpaulin. The end of the workshop has been cleared to create enough space for the shearer to handle the sheep, they need to be kept inside the night before to give the fleece time to dry. A cloudy start to a sunny day, lunch at The Baker Arms.
Sleepy Sheep
Lined up along the fence in the late afternoon sunshine, with Nola at the back, the sheep stayed there for an hour or so before stretching and setting off round the paddock for their daily head butt and pogo session. Most of them are shedding parts of their fleece, the shearer is booked for next week so they’ll have to be kept dry the day before, could be a bit of a challenge, will need to clear space in the workshop unless the weather improves. A wet start to the day with light winds and late sunshine.
Blue Sky
Sunshine between the showers, the ash trees are just about to show their leaves, no sight or sound of the barn owl at dusk, and no activity around the box in the oak. The grass is growing greener and will soon be full of sugar, so strip grazing the donkeys will continue and the sheep will have to work harder to keep the paddocks trimmed. Topped up the pond, the tadpoles are growing, no sign of legs yet, lily leaves are widening to give the fish some shade. A wet end to the day with lighter winds.
William
Waiting for his daily mug-full of vitamins, slightly tubby William stood by the straw store for a while, Toby meanwhile helped himself to the fresh straw in the stable, neither of them tempted away by a few apple branches. They both came in from the paddock when there was a downpour late afternoon and never went back out, and all the sheep squeezed into their shelters until the sun came out again. The wisteria is trying to flower, battling against the cold nights and the gale force winds, a cloudy day with heavy rain showers and bright skies at sunset.
Cycle Ride
From Pimperne to Chettle and back on forest tracks and quiet roads, passing this field of cowslips and acres of bright yellow rapeseed, spotted red kites and buzzards. No rain, but the wind was very strong which made cycling uphill a bit of a challenge. Removed the protective sheets of plastic and dismantled what was left of the wood piled by the oak tree, all cut and stacked ready for the woodburner. The larger pallets will form the basic framework of a new sheep shelter in the square paddock. A sunny end to a blustery day that started with a rain shower and a rainbow.
Mizzly
A drizzly day with light winds, tidied the greenhouse and tied the tomatoes to their canes, the cucumbers are newly planted and looking ok. Reset the electric fence, the donkeys grazed the paddock in the afternoon. Fixed a few more of the runner bean sticks, the frame needs to be strong so some of the canes extend into the hedge. Topped up the pond with rainwater, the fish are hungry and the tadpoles are growing. A calm end to the day with a pale pink sunset.
World Donkey Day
William and Toby enjoyed the sun before the stormy weather arrived, no time in the paddock as the electric fence tape is being blown off the poles onto the grass. Results from the poo samples were very good, low counts for roundworm so no treatment required. The poo picking twice a day and letting the sheep graze the paddock before the donkeys is paying dividends, treating the boys for lungworm and tapeworm is an option later in the year. A stormy day with high winds and low cloud, water butts nearly full.
Composted Hedge
Finished emptying half the compost heap and turned the rest ready for planting the courgettes and pumpkins, over 500 trees and hedging plants have had a mulch in the last couple of months. Mowed the meadow strip and took the top off the buttercups in the bottom paddock, there should be enough space for the grass cuttings to be interspersed with layers of donkey poo, mulch for next year! Cut the last wood in the pile under the oak stump so the blue polythene cover can be removed and the pallets put to a different use. A fine sunny day with light winds.
Ouessants
The sheep are enjoying their new paddock, they nip the tops off the buttercups and leave the rest of the plant. The donkeys started their day playing tog-of-war with one of the collars, I think Toby won as he was banging it on the ground. A lone deer was in field, have finished the fence and gate around the raised beds and beans so it doesn’t matter if he/she comes in the garden. A damsel fly was circling the pond, not affected by the low temperatures. A sunny cloudy day with light winds.
Ellison’s Orange
The pink and white clusters of apple blossom survived the gale, last year’s crop was less than fifty apples so hoping this year will be better. Saw the dangly legged Hawthorn Fly for the first time, also named the St Mark’s Fly because it traditionally appears on 25th April, last year it flew on the 29th April and so it’s nearly a week later this year. The courgette seeds have sprouted after three weeks on the windowsill, no sign of the pumpkins, the tomatoes are looking ok in the greenhouse. Groomed the donkeys. A cold start to a day of lighter winds and warming sunshine.
Donkeys
William and Toby have had their vitamins and are resting, William in the evening sunshine and Toby in the shade of the stable. The high winds of the last day or two mean they’re less relaxed than usual, it’ll take a calm night to relax them. Moved barrowloads of compost from the heap to the new hedgerow which is looking healthy and full of fresh green leaves. The high winds snapped the rhubarb stalks, the leaves too big to withstand the gale. A sunny day with strong winds and rain clouds that passed by over the hills.
Early Purple Orchid
Cycled from Cranbourne to Garston Wood to walk through the carpets of bluebells, several orchids were in flower alongside yellow archangel, which is related to the mint family so considered a bit of a thug in the plant world, and wild garlic. A buzzard must have been nesting close to the road as it swooped over our heads a couple of times. The route took us alongside the River Crane and a pair of white egrets, a red kite hunted among a field of sheep. A sunny cloudy start to the day with buffeting gale force winds and heavy rain at dusk, the racemes on the wisteria ripped off and accumulated in piles on the ground before they’d even opened.
Strip Grazing
The sheep have been moved into willow, and the donkeys have moved into the square paddock, they’ll be confined to a small area bordered by an electric fence, and graze the paddock in strips. William loves grass and is looking tubby, must be the result of eating the apple twigs and the hay discarded by the sheep. It’s difficult to maintain the balance between too much grass and an area big enough for them to get enough exercise. A sunny day with a brisk wind, warm when sheltered from the wind; in a calmer moment a partridge walked along the top of the hedge towards the house. Added weights to the tarpaulin on top of the woodpile.
Apple
The last of the apples went to the sheep, there are patches of long grass in the paddock they’re not keen on eating, mainly in the corners. Another frosty night with early morning fog, hope the apple and plum blossom survived. Planted a few tomatoes in the greenhouse, covered the oak woodpile with tarpaulin which will have to stay there for at least a year, dismantled the sheep hay feeder, there should be enough grass in the paddocks to last until autumn. A breezy day with sunshine and showers.
May Day
The ancient festival of Spring, first celebrated by the Romans to honour the goddess of flowers – Flora, and more recently, the day village greens were opened after the winter. April nights have been frosty but summer is nearly here. The sheep are visited most days by the Bengal cat which sits on top of their shelter, Winnie is usually the first to make sure there’s nothing to worry about. A foggy start to a sunny, cloudy, chilly day with heavy rain showers.
Drenched
Big raindrops fell soon after this photo was taken, once the hills on the horizon have disappeared the vale quickly fills with cloud and there’s not much time to get under cover. The garden and hedging needed the rain, the ground had cracked much like it does in late summer. Moved the tomatoes into the greenhouse ready for planting, the mizuna and rocket seedlings transplanted into one of the raised beds. A sunny end to a cool day.
Goosegrass
William and Toby enjoying Cleavers, a herb known for its healing properties associated with reducing inflammation of the skin. They are both shedding their coats and are spend time scratching on posts and gate fixings, so a regular portion may help, the crows are pulling hair from their backs. Toby finished his handful first and joined William to pinch what was left. Moved the electric fence from the lower paddock, watered the vegetable seedlings. A sunny start to a cool day with cloud later.
Pixie
Pixie is a big fluffy ball of wool just waiting for the shearer, tidier than Bianca who is shedding stylish strands just like dreadlocks. All the sheep were sitting in the morning sunshine chewing the cud before the rain arrived, Walter tidied up Pixie by eating any available hay from her fleece. Finished preparing the greenhouse for the tomatoes, all the pots have a spadeful of worm casts from the wormery in the bottom, the wind increased at lunchtime and the temperature dropped so didn’t move the plants in to acclimatise. A rainy end to the day with waterbutts filling ok.
Grass Cutting
Before the rain that’s been promised for tonight, the grass has had it’s first cut of the year, the meadow strip has been left to grow wild and has meadow cress mixed in with the buttercups and thistles. Finished part of the driveway, it’s ready for a load of scalpings to be delivered. Planted a few of the sunflowers outside in a warm corner, started the framework of canes in the greenhouse ready for the tomatoes and cucumbers. The donkeys have just about eaten all the grass in the bottom paddock so will soon move into the square, the sheep will move into willow. A sunny start to a cloudy day that turned colder, lit the woodburner.
Feeding Time
William paused in the avenue to look at the sheep over the fence while they had their hay. Fresh straw, warm water, apple sticks and a mug full of vitamins were waiting for him and Toby at the stable, as usual. Interesting cycle along the Sika Trail in Wareham Forest, slight delay when I caught the handlebars in a bramble loop and promptly fell off! Thankfully, no damage done and the ride continued with a coffee stop and then an ice cream at the Quay. Watered some of the hedge and the beans and the sunflowers in the greenhouse. A cold start to a sunny day with a chilly wind, no rain, water butts are nearly empty.
Happy Birthday Blog
Started a year ago today, the blog is still going! There have been some changes over the months; this bottom paddock has been divided in two and with regular grazing by the sheep there are no buttercups in flower, and no rain for the last month means the grass is shorter as well. Adjusted all the gates so that they can be opened and closed with one hand, the stock wire on on of them needs raising as it’s dragging on the ground, the sheep are too big to be able to wriggle underneath. Pint in the garden at The Bennett Arms, a lovely sunny day with a chilly wind and misty sunset.
Donkeys
In the lower paddock on a lovely sunny day, they watched the tractor drive in through the gate, down to the bottom paddocks and up to the pile of logs waiting to be split. It was a few hours before the tractor left and they could walk down the avenue. Stacked all the logs ready for use in a couple of year’s time, they’re already drier than wood from a healthy tree so could be used sooner. Cycle ride towards Hambledon Hill and back through West Orchard, a warm day with a moderate cooling breeze so no fleece required.
Hedge
Starting to thicken out in places, the hornbeam is doing well with the beech following on later. Would be good to let the sheep in to eat the grass but they’d eat the hedge as well so that’s not an option. Moved a couple of barrowloads from the compost heap to help feed the hedge and retain water when it rains – promised for a week’s time. Gathered together all the logs for splitting, watered the raised beds and the seeds in the greenhouse. The runner bean seeds are up, not sure what happened to the French beans so have sown them again. A sunny day with a cold wind from the east.
Ouessants
Grazing happily in the sunshine, the gate was opened later in the afternoon to allow them to nibble at both paddocks and use the arcs as well as the corner shelter for shade. Cycled from Pamphill to the golf club for coffee, all the hedges at the roadside are trimmed very neatly and some are growing new leaves, but not all – they need rain. Collected four straw bales for the donkeys, the farm is optimistically cutting grass and are also desperate for rain, there’s none in the forecast for the next week, we’ve had less than a fifth of the monthly average. A fine sunny day with light winds.
Poo
Toby taking an interest in his sample, William has a bag of his own and both have been sent off to the Donkey Sanctuary for testing, the amount of worms in the sample will determine the quantity of medicine required. Historically, Toby has a greater worm burden than William but we’ll find out what the result is in a week or so. Bianca is running around the paddock so no more purple spray required. Stacked wood, moved woodchip, collected more rubble. Bought a salt lick for the donkeys. A lovely spring day with light winds and a hazy sunset. Beer on the terrace.
Jessie
Sitting watching the donkeys and sheep in the bottom paddocks until disturbed; a neighbours cat has started wandering around, she likes to walk towards the donkeys on the yard and then rolls over before moving just beyond the fence. Toby puts his nose through the rails and sees a paw moving quickly towards him so backs off, and then there’s more rolling over from the cat! William then takes his turn at the rail, with the same result, they could become firm friends. Finished moving the pile of woodchip, stacked the rest of the logs. A sunny day with a fresh chilly wind.
Balloon
At sunset, the first of the year to travel along the vale, climbing and then descending over the hill towards Shaftesbury, would have been cold as the temperature drops quickly at the end of the day. Bianca has stopped limping and is still shedding her fleece, the shearer isn’t due to arrive until June so there are a few weeks to go before she loses the lot! Six water butts are empty and the ground is starting to crack, need rain to invigorate the new leaves, having to water the greenhouse and the new plants in the border. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Bianca
Limping in the paddock this morning so rugby tackled and upended, four feet cleaned and trimmed and an dose of purple spray applied to each one. Still limping this afternoon, may take a couple of days to cure, she’s started shedding her fleece. Watered the hedge early, in the shade the hose was filled with ice, melted ok in the sun. Released the fresh green leaves sprouting on the young hedge plants, if they stay in the rabbit proof plastic wraps they overheat, turn brown and fall off. A very warm spring day with blue skies and sunshine with a bright orange sunset.
Sunflowers
Potted on, and in the greenhouse with the beans and the parsley, a warm day so both the vents opened. Lots of bees and wasps around the ceanothus and wisteria, they’re not flowering yet but must still be an attraction. An orange tipped butterfly was out and about round the border and the nettles in the ditch. Watered the raised beds, currants and rhubarb. A group of hang glider enthusiasts circled round Hambledon Hill, mirroring the flight of the buzzards over the field. A cool start to a lovely spring day with light winds, didn’t light the woodburner.
Blackcurrants
Have replaced the rhubarb in the border by the hedge and will produce clusters of fruit from June until August, have added a few redcurrant plants as well. There’s an increase in the number of flies on the poo picked from the paddocks so the cold nights aren’t stopping them multiplying, the sheep have been dosed so are protected from fly strike, and the donkeys are having a daily application of citronella spray. Lunch in the marquee at The Baker Arms, a cold sunny start to the day with a fresh easterly breeze.
William and Toby
A mix of apple, willow and hazel twigs are worth pulling around the yard to get the best bits, groomed the boys and led them down to the bottom paddock without them having their breakfast, so they came back up to the stable early to eat straw from the feeder. Toby had a rollover on the way. Collected four bales of straw, the sheep won’t need any more hay now the grass is starting to grow. Repotted the sunflower seedlings and had lunch in the sunshine, a sunny cloudy day with a chilly wind.
Plum Tree
So far the blossom has survived the frost, a profusion of white petals that are ahead of the leaves, the adjacent fishpond is full of toad tadpoles and hungry fish, the daffodils are mostly over for this year but the primroses are still in full flower. Stacked logs, raked the woodchip, fixed the gutter on the back of the stable. The sheep and donkey poo is attracting flies, a good reason to remove it from the paddock, it will help reduce the faeces worm count and subsequent medication. A sunny start to a cool day with light winds and the occasional shower.
Ouessants
Running up the paddock in the sunshine for a handful of treats, they spent most of the day in the shade under their shelter, another reason to run is to be alongside the donkeys when they come back to the stable for the night. The first house martins swooped round the stable eating the insects, no sign of the swallows which must be here as well. A hard frost overnight helped form a ribbon of fog down in the vale which took a couple of hours to lift, the morning was warm and sunny with temperatures dropping as the chilly wind from the east moved in.
Oak Rounds
These need to be much smaller, will have get someone in to do it as I’ve never used a log splitter, it’ll double the size of the pile behind the fence, I think. Spread some of the woodchip on the rose bed, raked the remaining pile around to let out some of the heat. Cycle ride from Shroton to Sturminster Newton for coffee, and back through Child Okeford, 14 miles of country lanes and trailway in a moderate cooling wind with some sunshine, followed by chips at The Cricketers. The donkeys and sheep spent the day out in the paddocks eating grass and chewing on branches. A lovely sunset.
Brunch
Too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, William and Toby pushed right to the bottom of their feeder, the fresh straw is the same all the way down so not sure why, they raised their heads in turn, snuffling and snorting. Cleaned the rest of the greenhouse, watched the kestrel hunting over the field. Watered the hedge and the raised beds, two of the waterbutts are empty. Grubbed up a bucketful of dandelions, left the thistles to grow on for the donkeys. A cold start to the day with snow showers on a strong wind followed by warm sunshine and a mellow orange sunset, half the day was winter and half spring.
Oak
The tree that dominated the view from behind the stable has been cut down to it’s lower limbs, all of them are hollow and some have worms working at the very top of what’s left. The limbs have flattened tops and horizontal perching places, and an owl box has been fixed in the centre, the nesting hole faces south and encourages any inquisitive owl to fly in over the open field. The box may become home to a sparrow hawk or kestrel and if not then maybe a pigeon! There’s a big pile of logs that need stacking and seasoning ready for the woodburner in two years time, and the woodchip will be spread around the garden. A cloudy day with sunny spells, variable temperatures and moderate winds.
Different Paddock
The bottom paddock still has some grass but the small paddock by the stable with the mound the sheep love so much is looking bare and brown so they have been moved into the square paddock to allow it to rest and rejuvenate. To help them settle in they have a new apple branch and although it was cut weeks ago the buds are still bursting through the bark, the water trough has been cleaned as well. The shelter in the bottom corner needs the roof raising to make poo picking easier and the ground could be leveled at the same time. A cloudy cool day with some warming sunshine later.
Driveway
Making good progress towards the final few square metres, several loads collected and spread around, the edges are almost finished, the first real test will be tomorrow when the tree surgeon drives over it. Fixed a couple of narrow planks to the bottom of the owl box ready for fixing in the oak tree, watched the kestrel hunting above the field, after a few minutes it was chased away by a couple of crows. Groomed the donkeys, William’s bald patches are improving as he starts to shed his coat. A bright cold cloudy day, warmer when in the sunshine and out of the brisk wind.
Collars
Left on a fence post because the donkeys like to play with them overnight, banging them on the ground and dragging them around. Last night Toby managed to wrap one around his front leg, tightening it round his fetlock by treading on it with his back leg and walking away. A different look, certainly, easily loosened and removed when his foot was picked up with no damage done. Collected more rubble, dug up a bucketful of dandelions, a pair of Jays we’re flying around the hedgerow. A frosty start to a cold cloudy day with late sunshine and a bright orange sunset.
First Bluebells
Lovely seven mile walk from Tarrant Gunville to Ashmore for coffee by the pond, sat on the aquafer bench and returned through the bluebell wood. The hint of blue will turn into a carpet over the next few weeks and blend with purple violets and white wood anenomes before the tree canopy closes overhead and blocks out the sunlight. Lots of wildlife and birds around including a herd of deer, buzzards, skylarks and owls. A frosty, cold, sunny day with a moderate and gusty chilly wind, snow showers late afternoon with a pale crimson sunset, still light at 8.15pm.
Tadpoles!
I’m very happy to say I was wrong about the toad spawn, there are lots of tadpoles in the pond, all being ignored by the fish who are bigger than last year and prefer the pelleted food. The strings of spawn must have been laid lower down in the water, out of sight in the elodea. The water is clean and clear with some weed growing on the waterfall. Friends came over to talk with the sheep and donkeys and stayed for lunch, which was lovely. A sunny day with a cold persistent wind and a pale orange sunset.
Oak
Lovely calm spring morning across the vale, may have had a frost, not sure. The sun was up early and shone all day, a breeze at lunchtime cooled the temperature but late afternoon was glorious. Watered the seedlings in the greenhouse, the automatic openers were working so opened the side vents. Dug up two buckets of dandelions and planted three new azaleas, snowdrops and bluebells. The first carrots are showing, sowed land cress and cos lettuce in the raised bed and runner beans in pots. The animals were happy in the paddock. Beer and crisps on the terrace at dusk.
Mutual Grooming
William bites and pulls at Toby who at the same time nibbles William, they’ll do this for a few minutes and although it looks a bit rough it’s part of their pair bonding ritual and is supposed to release feel good hormones, the sheep and donkeys grazed the paddocks all day. More work on the driveway, no more rubble to level, watered the hedge which has a mass of emerging leaves, removed a lot of dandelions from the border. Fed the fish, still no toadspawn so probably won’t have any this year. A chilly start to the day with a brisk wind, warm sunshine late afternoon, had an ice cream on the terrace. Happy Easter.
Blackthorn
There are clouds of blossom all over the branches, should be a bumper crop of sloes in the autumn but in the meantime the bees are making the most of the nectar and pollen, the foliage appears later. A lovely sunny afternoon after a cold start, the sheep and donkeys chased about in the paddocks. Herds of cows have been let out onto the grass in adjoining fields, they’ve been kept inside since before Christmas so will be enjoying their freedom. Sowed French Bean and Runner Bean seeds, the tomato plants are doing ok and the cucumbers look good as well. Repotted a few parsley plants, would be good if it self seeded. A warm end to the day.
Donkeys
Walking up the avenue to the stable for their vitamin mix having spent all day in the lower paddock. Their hearing is good so calling them in works ok, just takes ten minutes or so for them to arrive, Toby likes a rollover at some point and William stops to look and think. The pile of apple twigs is going down and the last of the D’Arcy Spice apples will be eaten by both the sheep and donkeys in the next couple of days, they’ve lasted really well piled in a dustbin since September. A misty start to a lovely warm sunny day.
Mackerel
Named after the sky, her tummy has the same markings, likes to hunt mice and roams around and about the paddocks and the edge of the compost heap. A few bags of rubble dropped off on the driveway, it’s been widened a little and will now be edged with lumps of oak and surplus fencing posts. Donkeys and sheep spent the day in the paddocks; collected four bales of straw, the grass should be sufficient for the sheep if the weather stays warm so didn’t get any hay. The Robin is still sitting on the nest, no eggs yet. Blackthorn blossom nearly out. A cloudy warm day with light winds.
Hellebores
Survived the frosts and strong winds very well, full of buds and flowers, alongside Cornus, Primrose’s and Pulmonaria. Cleaned the stable, discarded all the straw and cleaned the floor with Hibiscrub, most of the cobwebs and dust removed from the walls and ceiling, drinker washed out, the chaff mixed with dirt had gathered in the corners so they needed to be scraped several times. Looks a lot better, needed to be done before the warm weather settles, maybe it will help William’s itchy patches, he had a dilute Hibiscrub wash followed by an application of Sudocrem. A very warm and sunny day with light winds so shorts and polo shirt instead of fleeces.
Female Robin
Incubating eggs just outside the garage, and very hard to see unless you know she’s there, most noticeable are her orange cheeks and her tail sticking up against the wall; the nest is in a tray that forms part of the hose pipe holder and is about three feet off the ground. The plank was put there a few weeks ago, singled out for use on a not yet built sheep activity centre, so maybe that’s why it’s a relatively safe place to be; sheltered from the wind and rain by the overhanging garage roof. Incubation of the eggs will take 13 days and fledglings take a few weeks to become independent. A misty start to a very sunny and warm day.
Sheep
Grazing together in oak paddock, lower down the bank out of the strongest gusts of wind, it blew a gale all day under dark skies, the sun and a patch of blue did break through at lunchtime but soon disappeared, the hills all but hidden in low cloud. Planted redcurrants and blackcurrants and sowed mangetout seeds, all the sunflower seedlings are poking through the compost and some of the nasturtiums. Smudge is pretty much his usual self, going out and about and eating normally again. The donkeys stayed near the shelter of the stable and ate apple twigs. A cool end to the day with a promise of warmer days to come.
British Summer Time
Today we have an extra hour of daylight in the evening which will last until late October when the clocks change back. The hyacinths were planted in the garden after flowering indoors in 2019, they put on a colourfull show despite the frost and wind and complement the primroses. Enjoyed a sunny cycle ride from Pamphill, one of the trackways was very muddy and narrow which required some concentration to avoid too many wobbles. A sunny windy day with late cloud and falling temperatures, too wet for the donkeys to be out on grass after heavy overnight rain, they watched as the sheep ran down to the laneside paddock.
Straw
Collected three bales of yellow wheat straw for the donkeys and one bale of soft green hay for the sheep, the grass is starting to grow in the paddocks so this may be the last bale of hay until the winter. Lovely dry cycle through Farnham and the Gussages with coffee and a sausage roll at Chettle with super views across newly ploughed fields, it started raining just as the bike was put on the car. Fed the fish, no sign of any toad spawn, perhaps there won’t be any this year. A wet end to a cloudy sunny day.
Smudge
Needed a visit to the vet as his face was swollen and red round his whiskers, a few hours later he’d had three teeth removed and his ears cleaned. He always shakes his head and then wobbles about a bit so hoping his balance will have improved, definitely not too steady on his feet when he came out of the cat basket, he slept for twelve hours and then went out for ten minutes before having a wash and falling asleep again. No doubt he’ll liven up over the next few days, I’m not sure Poppy missed him! Fish and chips from the van in Child Okeford. A cloudy sunny day with light winds.
Donkeys
A sunny start, all the animals were out and about on the grass, the sheep have to go out first as the shortest route to laneside is through the oak paddock where the donkeys spend the day. Cold drizzle in the afternoon meant moving another shelter in with the sheep as they couldn’t all squeeze into just one and they don’t like standing out in the rain. Finished leveling the driveway, need more small hardcore to reach the stable yard. Sawed wood, using less in the woodburners as the days lengthen but there may be a frost later this week. A cloudy mild end to the day.
Seeds
The tomato seeds are an inch or so high, using the mole hill soil mixed with vermiculite didn’t work out very well, the soil had too high a proportion of clay and stayed too wet so the plants have been repotted in compost. the sunflowers are just poking through the compost. Sowed Blue Lake climbing beans and green courgettes, the beans are in the greenhouse, everything else is cluttering up the utility room. The donkeys and sheep spent their day grazing the paddocks. A sunny day with a cold wind and a lovely sunset.
Ouessants
Running for home and their afternoon hay after spending the day in the laneside paddock. The view across the lane continues to improve as the hedge is thinned and fencing finished, the light is much brighter in the mornings, picked up some tree off-cuts that will be stored and seasoned for a couple of years before burning. All the activity in the field gives the donkeys something to watch before they walk down to the paddock. Collected slate chippings and pushed a few of the willow whips into the ground. A chilly start to the day with sunshine and a glorious sunset.
Willow and Alder
Collected stems of bright stemmed Alba Britzensis (Coral Bark Willow) and Alder from Castle Cary, the alder will be eaten by the donkeys, the willow given to them in smaller amounts so that they don’t overdose on the naturally occurring aspirin. Will push some of the whips into the ground to supplement the hedges, they’ll root easily if the soil remains wet for a few weeks. Planted rhubarb in the largest pots available, good roots so given enough water should produce lots of tasty stems. The donkeys and sheep were all out in the paddocks, a mild sunny day with light winds.
Hay
The sheep spread more hay on the ground than they eat because they take big mouthfuls and then drop most of it, so the donkeys benefit most mornings. A lovely walk from Pamphill fringing the River Stour to Walford Mill for coffee, the ground is drying out and the river has dropped to allow the swans to start nesting. Levelled more of the driveway, almost to the paddock gate, surprising how much is disappearing into the ground as it’s walked over. Watered the new trees which are starting to bud. A mild start to the day with cooling winds and cloud later.
Spring
Vernal equinox, which means the sun is exactly above the equator and day and night are of equal length, this is the start of spring for most, the birds are nesting, the days definitely feel warmer and the wind is less abrasive. A pair of partridges stayed in the garden most of the day and a pheasant has adopted a routine that includes the stable and the paddocks, it takes little notice of sheep, donkeys or humans and walks and scratches about talking to itself. The first rhubarb crown was moved a month or so ago, have dug up the rest and will plant them in large pots, the ground was too dry where they were under the hedge. A cloudy sunny day with light winds.
Driveway
Not pretty to look at but coming along well with bag loads of free rubble, it’s easy to see where the professionally laid driveway ends and the rubble begins. As more rubble is added the vehicles will drive over it and tamp it down, hopefully a load of sand spread on the top and the use of a roller will finish the job next year. The hedges have been cut so the views that disappeared over the summer have been restored. A misty then sunny day with light winds and lots of pheasants grazing in the paddocks, as always they seem to spook the donkeys.
Ribston Pippin
Grown in 1708 from one of three apple pips sent from Normandy to Ribston Hall, near Knaresborough, the original trunk lived until 1835 and it then sent up a new shoot and survived on the same root until 1928. The apples have a very high Vitamin C content and it’s possible the Cox is a descendant. Ripens early, and most of the apples are hidden by new foliage, last year most of them fell off before I noticed. Listened to a webinar on worm infestations. It’s possible that as William and Toby are well covered their worm burden is low, analysis of a faecal sample will tell us if any treatment is required. A cool, cloudy day with late rain and a red sky sunset.
Ellison’s Orange
One of the 15 Left on the tree, there was a lot of blossom so must have caught the last frost, all the remaining fruits are under the canopy. This variety is mid season and juicier than its ancestor, the Cox. Over 24 hours of rain now, everything in the garden will be happier, not sure about the fencing company who are here to divide the lower paddock, they put their wellies on, unloaded the posts and wire, and left! They’ll be back tomorrow…..
Farrier
Lovely white hooves after trimming and rasping, the green wellies didn’t get any attention. William’s seedy toe has improved and there’s no sign of laminitis which is good, the hooves will be brown again by tomorrow. Foggy start to the day and very hot first thing, cooler later with a little rain but no thunderstorm, watered the veg. Regular straw delivery arrived, 24 bales stacked at the end of the workshop should last a month. Raspberries and blackcurrants very tasty. Fencer expected tomorrow.
Water Lilies
Yellow and pink flowering at the same time. These hardy Water Lilies float on the surface of the pond unlike the sub tropical varieties that sit on long stalks above the water. The leaves dislike being splashed, so prefer growing at the other end of the pond to the fountain. The fish are very hungry and want feeding several times a day, the water boatmen that eat the plant debri and algae sit on top and push the food sticks to the nearest leaf edge. It started raining early this morning and should rain all night so no watering. Donkeys are standing outside and quite happy to get wet, the hardstanding is nice and clean having been swept a couple of times, water butts filling up.
Temporary Solution
I snipped off all the stalks without flowers on the runner beans, 6 or more per cane, this is the temporary deer protection as I like runner beans a lot! Fencer coming this week so I will have stock fencing to put on the trellis, then I’ll need to add a couple of gates. Think I may have found where the deer is coming through the hedge, a couple of pallets and some bailer twine have filled that gap. Time will tell whether this works, good to see that the courgettes are starting to wander in the raised bed. More rain this morning and then the day warmed up with late sunshine. Iceberg lettuces need planting out, hopefully get round to that tomorrow.
Hay
Finished mowing the buttercups in the paddock and moved on to the fallow field with the muck heap (which needs to be moved) and cut the very tall grass with the hedge trimmer. Collected the stalks and will dry them for winter forage for the sheep but not the donkeys as it’ll be too high in sugar. Moved the electric fence as the donkeys managed to reach the branches of the new willow tree. Planted out the French beans and fed the tomatoes and cucumbers which still aren’t doing much. Hot and sunny, watered the runner beans, think the barricade has deterred the deer. Thunderstorms tomorrow?
Donkey Forage
A mixture of hawthorn and beech with a small amount of willow. Foraging animals will self medicate with willow as it’s the equivalent of aspirin. Moved more of the muck heap today and walked the local circuit to go to the postbox and get eggs. The rooks are mobbing the buzzard who just flops around taking no notice. No rain, watered the veg, picked raspberries and blackcurrants. Sowed Mizuna seeds, a good addition to any salad. Moved the parsley and purple sprouting seedlings to the cold frame to protect them from the slugs. Promise of thunder storms tomorrow.
D’Arcy Spice
This apple is the last to be picked in November, doesn’t mind a bit of frost and stores until February before going a bit wrinkly, it’s best eaten after a month of storage as the skin softens. Originally from Essex, the variety predates 1800 and is grown in windswept situations because the fruit doesn’t fall off in a gale, so is a good choice for this garden. Apparently, apples kept for a year or more taste of spicy mince pie filling, must try it! Looks like there’s a good crop that would benefit from thinning out. More rain showers so no watering, cut a bit more mixed hedging for the donkeys who know exactly what’s coming and get very excited at the prospect of a tasty treat.
William and Smudge
Smudge likes to sleep on the straw bales in the workshop, stays there all day sometimes. Persistent rain today which was great for the garden, will take a while for all the waterbutts to fill, no watering required! The runner beans which were doing so well have had their flowers bitten off leaving the stalks, suspect it’s the deer so will try and keep it out of the garden, may have to cage the veg growing area if that can’t be achieved. Didn’t happen last year, must be a different deer with a different grazing pattern, likes hosta flowers as well.
Electric Fence
William and Toby grazing, the fence was necessary to avoid them eating too much sugar rich grass in the square paddock. They had a few small branches of willow, hazel and hawthorn from the bottom hedge and loved eating them. The electric fence was easy to put up and connect once I figured out what all the bits did, deciding where to put it took a while. It’ll be interesting to see how the sheep react, the donkeys stayed away from it, expect they’re all wise to the effects of touching the white tape – some users don’t turn it on! Woodpecker spent ages on the lawn feeding tonight.
Bees Nest
A white tailed bumblebee about to crawl through the air brick, they usually nest underground and like a southerly aspect, this wall is north facing so I’m not sure why they’ve chosen it. They’re unlikely to be disturbed by anything so there’ll be up to 400 happy workers in the colony supporting the queen. No shortage of pollinators in the garden! The wren is collecting Poppy’s hair from the terrace, must be lining its nest or making a new one somewhere.
Thistles
Donkeys love thistles, and would eat them all day if they could. Lots growing in the garden so no shortage of supply. The sheep were not impressed by all the noisy chomping so wandered away. Interesting end to the donkey day when they walked through the workshop, past the pile of straw bales and into the long grass. They didn’t go far and were soon coaxed back with more thistles and donkey biscuits. Warm day with more cloud, it may rain tomorrow. Donkey poo bags have gone from outside the front gate so will need to restock.
Dorset Countryside
As seen from my bicycle, stunning views and quiet lanes on a fifteen mile circuit, it was a nice temperature for cycling with not too many hills and headwinds. No rain at all today, the donkeys have been chasing each other up and down the paddock and were happy to come back up to the stable for their evening feed of vitamins and straw. The sheep are nibbling away, the grass there is still too rich for the donkeys, will have to get to grips with the electric fence so that we can strip graze.
Sheep
Mark IV sheep shelter has some vinyl attached to increase the amount of shade available, the sheep have the choice of two paddocks and like to come back to the shelter to chew the cud. The trees along the hedge line are very distinctive, will have to grow more in case the ash trees succumb to ash dieback, they seem healthy at the moment. Started laying out the electric fence so that the donkeys can be limited to a strip of the square paddock and not graze the whole area which has too much rich grass. A warm and sunny day with a late shower, still need to water so hopeful for more significant rain later in the week.
Spurge, Smudge and the Runner Beans
Caper Spurge growing next to the runner beans which have a few first flowers. They won’t be helped by a second cold day with strong winds and rain showers although there was some late evening sunshine. The grass will start growing again if we get sunny days; the hay harvest was early and half the usual yield so the farmers are hoping for a second load later in the year.
Cycling UK Bike Week
Dorset is great for cycling, lots of local groups and miles of trailways and waymarked routes some of which are part of the National Cycle Network. I cycle all year round and although there are lots of hills to struggle up the going down makes it all worthwhile! There was more rain overnight so the veg are looking good and there’s not much watering required, the straw delivery for the donkeys was just in time and we bought another salt lick to hang in their stable. The tadpoles were crowding round the fish eggs in the pond but they look just the same so hope to have tiddlers soon.
Donkeys
Toby sitting in the stable, he likes to play with hazel and willow branches, William likes logs and the scratching post, they have a mutual groom every day. 10* colder today with an east wind, cycled 15 miles in the showers. Sowed nasturtium, basil and mizuna lettuce seeds.
Milkflower Cotoneaster
Almost in full flower, nearly lost this tree in the winter storms, a hastily built support has stabilized the trunk and it went through a leaf losing stage but has perked up now. Will have to see how it does in the next gale, may have to reduce the top growth. Popular with bees and butterflies, birds are not supposed to like the berries but the blackbirds eat them in the winter. Provides the only midday shady area in this part of the garden so I’d like it to keep growing. Rained overnight, first rainfall for weeks, half filled several of the waterbutts, temperature has dropped by several degrees.
Goldfish
The fish have spawned in the pond with a lot of thrashing about which attracted the cats attention. Â The white blobs in the pictures are the eggs which will hatch in a couple of days. Â Swallows are flying in and out of the stable catching flies
, they must be nesting elsewhere. Â The grass in the paddock is going a bit crispy, the donkeys are leaning over the fence to eat the hedgerow, another hot day with the promise of rain soon.
Bramley Apple
Looking good, this tree must be over thirty years old, it has been pruned every year to keep the apples within reach from a ladder and provided a years supply of cooking apples last year. Stored apples did develop ‘bitter pit’ in January so need to freeze them before Christmas, a lack of calcium is the problem so maybe watering with the left over cement residue will have helped. Managed to catch small four goldfish in the pond, they’ve moved to another pond that needed them, a few tadpoles went along as well. One deer tick removed from my leg tonight, all ok I think, seem to attract them. Another hot day, may get rain in a couple of days.
Hedgehog
Really pleased to know there are hedgehogs in the garden, not sure why this one was out in daylight. She (?) seemed fit and healthy and proved that by escaping from the cardboard box that was meant to contain her while cat food and water was brought out. She appeared again later and sniffed at the cat food, didn’t eat any and scampered off into the undergrowth. May have young somewhere or was out looking for nesting materials. Probably more than enough slugs, snails and worms around for her to eat. The hay bales in the field were taken away today, a fresh breeze so feeling cooler.
Scratching Post
The donkeys are losing a lot of hair and like to scratch on the metal gate fixings, this arrangements of logs was knocked over twice before stabilized sufficiently to withstand a donkeys weight. Saw this hornet on the shed roof, probably collecting wood for its nest, fortunately the nest isn’t in the shed.
Birds Foot Trefoil
In amongst the buttercups in the paddock and not trampled by the sheep, struggling a little because the buttercups are so tall. Hot again today, the hay in the field, which was cut five days ago, has been baled. Watered the veg, trees and hedge, saving the last full waterbutt to top up the pond so it’s tap water from now on until it rains. Saving as much water as possible from the kitchen, helps to water the plants outside the back door.
Saw Leaved Moon Daisy
Flops about in the wind, guess it wouldn’t if I staked it. Shorter than the Giant Scabious and has more petals than the Ox Eye Daisy, flowers are tightly packed with more foliage to fall over. Seeds everywhere so plants are growing all over the garden. A hot day with a slight breeze, no rain in the forecast so more watering. Did some cosmetic concreting round the edge of the greenhouse slabs. Sheep are doing their best to eat the grass in the lower paddock, donkeys are looking slightly tubbier than when they arrived – fish and chips from the travelling van was good.
Roses
Flourishing in the manured rose bed, they get the early morning sun. Drinking from the bird bath early this morning was the Green Woodpecker, flies the same route from the oak tree at the bottom of the paddock up to the row of trees that border the lane, he stops to eat the ants in the nest under the birdbath. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker also drinks here but doesn’t eat the ants before flying away. The Ash trees growing out of the hedgerow are full of ‘keys’, I hope some saplings will grow and flourish elsewhere.
Produce!
Bite size carrot thinnings with lovely fresh green tops, and a few radishes, there would have been an inch long courgette in the picture as well but I ate it in the garden….! Participated in a Donkey Sanctuary webinar on donkeys today. Learnt some very interesting things; you need a shaping plan if you want to change their behaviour, so that you take only tiny small steps towards the final goal. Another hot day, will have to top up the water in the pond. Gardeners’ Delight tomatoes show signs of recovering in the greenhouse, the Outdoor Girl plants behind the greenhouse have their first flowers.
Ragged Robin
Self seeded from the border, now growing between the crazy paving stones, love the colour of the flowers. The field at the end of the garden was mown today for hay, looks like a good time to do it as no rain in the forecast. It’ll be cut again later in the year for silage. Thinned the carrots, watered the runner beans and courgettes, more tomato plants potted on in the greenhouse. Donkeys losing a lot of hair, and the sheep are starting to grow their fleeces again. Not sure where the woodpecker is nesting, does a swooping fly past several times day.
Giant Scabious
The bees love this nectar rich scabious, it does well in the wind swept border even if it’s not staked.  Fog in the valley this morning, turned into a very hot day.  Watered the hedge and all the veg, water butts nearly empty.  House Martins are flying in and around the garden and stable block at low level catching flies, not sure where they are nesting.  The pair of thrushes are back collecting worms, not seen them for a couple of days. Sheep are happy in the lower paddock where there’s lots of shade if they want it, and there’s a rabbit that likes to sleep in the buttercups, only know it’s there when it makes its escape.
View from the stable at night
An intricate spiders web over the lense blocks the view of the fence and the donkeys standing in the corner, in daylight this camera sees down the paddock; buttercups, fences and trees.  Very windy today, vents on the greenhouse still opened in the sun, able to work in there without feeling too hot.  Tricky for all the plants which have to cope with daytime temperature swings of 10* or more.  Planted out the rest of the climbing beans, some of the runners are halfway up the sticks.  Lawn looking dry, need some rain but there’s none in the forecast.  A couple of branches have snapped off the oak tree, need to be brought up to the house and cut into logs for the woodburner next year.
Chinese Windmill Palm
Moved from a neighbours garden a year ago, an abundance of bright yellow male flowers, a baby at 3 meters high he could grow to 20 meters, already have one that’s around 10 meters high so there’s some way to go! A windy cooler day, mowed the paddock after poo picking, removing the buttercup stalks left by the sheep, the noise spooked the donkeys a bit, the sheep weren’t disturbed and are finding their way round the lower paddock ok now. Started to arrange the canes for the tomatoes in the greenhouse, my Gardeners Delight tomatoes are taking a while to perk up after suffering a setback a couple of weeks ago. The Outdoor Girl plants are fine, fortunately.
Water lillies
Already established, these pop up each spring, they live alongside irises , elodea, tadpoles and the ever increasing numbers of fish, which need feeding several times a day. They change from brown to orange as they mature. Opened the gate from the square paddock into the lower paddock to let the sheep wander in for richer grazing, all was well until one of them became detached from the group. The bleating was LOUD, all calm once they were reunited. Sheep are now back in the square paddock overnight, don’t want to be woken up…! The noise made the donkeys a bit agitated, they wanted to see what was going on. Hot day today, veg doing ok, planted spinach, coriander and rocket in the raised bed with the courgette plants which are supposed to trail over the edge of the bed as they grow – I think some training may be required.
Sheep shelter success
Good news, they like it! Really foggy this morning, turned into a very hot day with light winds so most of the young plants came out of the greenhouse. Poo-picked the paddock and disturbed a partridge having a dust bath in one of the donkey roll-over patches. Planted sunflowers and sweet peas. Eating Mizuna salad leaves, not sure what’s happened to the nasturtiums, they usually self seed everywhere, may have to buy some.
Cold frame assembled
Poppy and the instructions, looks as if she has some paws missing… Frame parts fitted together well, colour matches the greenhouse, will need to fix it down. Warming up today, less wind, need to keep the bird baths topped up, the blackbird empties one every day with a lot of wing flapping. Planted out the Blue Coco beans and the courgettes. Parsley seedlings repotted, sowed iceberg lettuce and basil seeds. Getting through my seed store! Hedgerows growing really fast, lots of noisy bird activity, the thrush is always on the lawn looking for worms.
Sheep shelter
Mark II version of the sheep shelter which will provide shade and protection from the rain once it’s finished. Mark I was a tarpaulin that was noisy when it flapped about in the wind and wouldn’t have lasted very long, will be interesting to see if the sheep ever use it! Moved the seedlings out of the greenhouse today and walked the donkeys to the paddock gate before letting them out onto the grass. Hedge watered and growing well, let some of the branches out of the plastic wraps, the leaves tend to go brown if scrunched inside. Looked for fruit on the Ellison’s Orange apple tree, very hard to find, the blossom must have caught the frost.
Veitch’s Climbing French Bean
Really shiny seeds, pods start off green and then turn purple as they age. Seeds in pods that are older are good in soup. Just appearing in their pots, sown 7th May along with early purple sprouting which germinated more quickly. Fixed the glass in one of the cold frames, sunny, bit of a lazy day….
Pink Hawthorn
Planted next to the native hawthorn hedge this forms a striking contrast with bright pink double blossoms. Maybe a few taller white hawthorns would look good, the hedge behind is able to provide these if I don’t cut it. Moved muck from the heap, all three raised beds are full, one is growing carrots, the next will have courgettes and lettuce and then the third will have purple sprouting broccoli and pumpkins. Cows have moved into the field at the end of the paddock, more company for the donkeys.
Sheep’s eye view
Of one of the oak trees, grasses and meadow cress in amongst the buttercups. The sheep are flattening as much of the paddock as they are eating, lovely sunshine, feels like the cold wind is gradually warming up. New hedge looks good today. Eating Mizuna and herb lettuce from the greenhouse. Potted on courgettes which have some flowers already, too cold to be planted outside. One sunflower seed has germinated. Donkeys happy to be out grazing the hedgerow over the fence.
Tayberry or Loganberry?
Not sure! Red stems, I hope the birds will leave me some of the fruit.
Mowed the copse, potted on courgettes, the raised bed is ready but it’s too cold at night to plant them out. Sheep are happily munching round the buttercups in the square paddock. Donkeys are shedding a lot of hair, confined to the avenue today as the willow paddock was being mown and they mustn’t eat grass cuttings. Gardeners’ delight tomatoes potted on, still looking a bit sad. Sunny day, chilly wind.
Wisteria Sinensis
Well established, lovely scent but the cold wind is stripping the pendants, flowers can be made into an aromatic wine, don’t think I’ll try it. Nice and warm in the greenhouse and there are lots of hungry fish in the pond, tadpoles growing, don’t think there are as many as last year. Forget-me-nots seeding everywhere and the seeds embed themselves in Poppy’s fur, very difficult to get out. Another two raised beds nearly full of donkey poo, will plant courgettes in one of them. Rose buds bursting, the first flowers of the climbing rose have been nipped off by the deer, those higher up have survived ok.
Dorset milk
First pint (500ml) of local milk! Delivered for 50p a bottle from the farm a few miles away. On the windowsill potted-on cucumber plants Louise F1 planted 25th April.
Another cold night, tomato plants looking a bit sad. Mowed some of the buttercups in the paddock today, so tall and so many. Planted more runner bean plants and watered the carrots which are looking good – no rain for a few days now. A noisy Partridge wandered through the garden, usually a pair of them so was calling for company, I think.
Mushroom/Toadstool
Chilly wind today, 6* instead of the very warm 21* yesterday. Greenhouse vents staying closed. Beans starting to wind round the sticks. Biodigester serviced ok. These are growing on the muck heap, look tempting but probably not a good idea to eat them.
Blue Coco French Beans
Climbing french beans, heritage variety, lilac flowers and violet pods that turn green when cooked. Planted 26th April, 6 inches high now, will be planted out next to the runner beans so if I save any seed it’ll produce a slightly different bean next year.
Stumpery
Old dead tree had to be cut down, would be interesting to create a stumpery, although not an ideal position in full sun. Some research and experimentation required, I think, definitely needs to be kept damp.
Hedgerows
Greater Stitchwort at the edge of the paddocks below the hedges.
Growing alongside Red Campion, Bluebells and various ferns and nettles. The Donkeys don’t eat any of them.
Sheep
Half a dozen freshly shorn sheep have arrived, borrowed to eat most of the grass in the paddock so that the donkeys can be allowed to graze there. Sheep also have a different worm burden to donkeys so cross grazing is no problem.
The donkeys were pleased to see them, not sure they like buttercups, donkeys don’t!
Dawn Chorus Day
Sunrise and drizzle before 6am, super to see partridges walking in the lane, pheasant in the paddock and goldfinches, blue tits, great tits, robins, a pair of thrushes, blackbirds, pigeons, rooks, buzzards, a pair of wrens, hedge sparrows, magpies, ducks flying over and a few other birds I can’t identify (yet), in the garden. Definitely saw swallows yesterday. Have deer in the garden most days, flowers on the bushes grazed very neatly to reachable height.
World Naked Gardening Day
Distinctly chilly wind today, cat mint is blooming, no sign of the cats….
May Day
Three swans flew over this morning in perfect formation, lovely to see. Hawthorn is in full bloom, later than the Blackthorn and frothier!
More rain
Great for the garden. One of my new water butts fell over, undermined by the water from the overflow pipe, it’s standing on blocks now, not just gravel. Will soon fill up again.
Hawthorn Fly
Hundreds of black dangly legged flies are drifting over the hedgerows, they’re also called the St Mark’s Fly because they usually appear on April 25th every year. Not bothersome when walking in the paddock but will eat the roots of lettuce plants.
Full water butts
Misty day with more than enough rain overnight for the garden and the new hedge.
April in Dorset
A lovely month to start a blog! Toadspawn has turned into tadpoles in the pond and the buttercups in the paddock are really tall, almost too tall for the mower.