Tag: willow

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Wet Wet Wet

Torrential rain has left the willow rods very happy, most of them are standing in running water in the meadow strip. Sprouting from several buds the shoots are a pale green, and haven’t been eaten, which is good, they’d be a tasty treat for a passing rabbit. The fields in the vale are flooded, forming a huge lake, will have to avoid the lowlands for a few days. Collected straw bales for the donkeys and one hay bale for the sheep, all unloaded in a light shower. The sky cleared at dusk and the birds were singing.

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Sheep

A lovely day for the sheep to be out and about, they moved down to Laneside so that the donkeys could run around in Willow. The Ash trees are budding and so are the Willow rods, a few have been planted in this hedgerow to fill in the gaps between the trees already there. Sorted the tools and moved them from the greenhouse to the shed. A cold, sunny, day with a brisk wind.

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Small Paddock

The sheep have moved from Willow into Small to give the grass a chance to recover, the extended shelter has room for the hay feeders and the rising spring doesn’t affect this paddock as much as the others. The Ash trees look ok at the moment, have planted a few willow rods along this stretch of hedge to replace them if they show signs of die-back. A frosty start to a sunny day.

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Willow

William and Toby taking the opportunity to eat willow, they stayed as far up the slope as they could so the branch had to be pulled down for them. William’s coat is thick and fluffy, Toby’s hasn’t changed much. Thankfully, no damage from the continuing high winds, a dumpy bag ended up half way down the meadow strip and the wheelbarrows were turned over but the trees all stayed intact. A cold day with sleet and snows showers.

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William and Toby’s Willow

Led the donkeys into the paddock for a walk and stopped at the willow for a tasty treat, the ground is drier and the spring has stopped running, although there’s a boggy patch at the bottom of the Avenue. Collected four golden straw bales, they’ve eaten the last of the beech branches so must cut some more. Piled more broken paving slabs at the edges of the mudmats and filled the gaps with gravel. A sunny warm day with light winds and lots of butterflies flying around.

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Willow

The donkeys have stripped the lower leaves and managed to eat the twiggy bits with a lot of stretching, so need help reaching the higher branches for their dose of medicinal aspirin. Rain overnight has made the paddocks a bit soggy and the spring has re-emerged in the Avenue, the mudmats are doing a good job of making the entrance passable so hope they remain in place. A blustery rainy day with the occasional burst of sunshine.

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Flock

All nine grazing happily, Pixie thinks there may be treats available, she wandered off when none was forthcoming. Cut the hedges and started emptying the shed ready for dismantling and delivery of the new one next month, would be good if it could be reassembled in the square paddock and used as a sheep shelter. The big willow tree is browning off at the top, it lost a few twiggy bits in the wind so the donkeys and sheep enjoyed eating those. A cool blustery day with the occasional sunny spell.

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Willow

The tree next to the fallen oak paddock is out of reach for the sheep, so a branch has to be pulled down for them to eat, Elton gained extra height by jumping on top of Bianca and they all had their share before wandering off to graze. The donkeys were pleased to see us back from a few days away, wandering up the avenue to say hello, they recognised the sound of the car so were watching the house from the paddock. A cloudy day with light winds.

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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.

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Willow

Collected from the side of the road on the way back from cycling it’ll be a treat for the donkeys. They spent the afternoon in the square paddock running around while I poo picked. The ride from Shroton to Sturminster Newton and back was hard work into the wind, which always seemed to be against us, luckily it didn’t rain. Last night was so windy the chairs in the garden blew over and the oak leaves spread far and wide, no wonder it kept me awake. A sunnier afternoon with a cold wind to end the day.

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Willow William

William and Toby love eating willow, it’s medicinal aspirin for them so the quantity needs to be sufficient without promoting an overdose. This small branch and a few smaller pieces came down in last nights storm, the sheep ate some of it out of curiosity and left this for the donkeys, with William getting first bite. The rain was torrential this morning so mucking out was a little delayed and the donkeys had made a mess of their stable, which is unusual. Washing the hardstanding was easier and the day brightened to allow apple picking in the sunshine. More rain after sunset, the days are definitely drawing in, time to light the woodburner.

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Ouessants

The new sheep are really cute, have had them a week, now, Tatty Bianca bleats loudly every time she hears a gate open or sees me in another paddock. If I talk to them they all come running over to see if there’s any food available. When there’s no food they stick around for a while nibbling at your clothes and prowling around, three of them will eat out of your hand, Pixie is still too timid, so she hoovers up anything spilt on the ground. Walter likes a bit of a scratch. They return to their shelter often and like chewing the cud and resting in the shade of the willow tree. A hot day so watered everything, hope to have more beans ready tomorrow.

Walter at the front, then left to right, Tatty Bianca, Pixie and Nola