Dorset lifestyle
Donkeys and sheep meeting in the same paddock, the sheep were curious, especially Walter, and the donkeys happy to be in close contact. The sheep wandered through into their own paddock after a few minutes. Laid a few more mud mats and sorted a woodpile, coming to the end of this year’s logs, will have to cut more in the summer. A cloudy, cold, day with light winds.
Toby making use of the brushes fixed to the gate post. He’s worn away a patch of hair on one side of his head rubbing in the same place and so has William – they did the same last year. Cleared the square paddock of surplus wood and pallets, the sheep shelter is finished so it can used elsewhere or cut for the woodburner. A hazy, cloudy, cool day with late sunshine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
William and Toby enjoying a handful of hay in warm midday sunshine, I had an ice-cream on the terrace. Collected oak leaves from the bottom paddock, there’s a boggy patch in the centre but the edges are ok, may let the sheep run there in a few days if it drains a little, the spring is running into the ditch and down the lane. Moved some wood from the pile behind the stable, ready for cutting, stacking and burning next year. A mild day with sunny spells and light winds, watched the owl fly across the field at dusk.
The sheep have enjoyed their time in the square paddock and especially liked the new wood and stone obstacle area that held their interest for at least half an hour….! The grass is getting shorter so they’ll soon be moved into oak paddock where the grass is much longer, it mustn’t get too long before they start to graze or it’ll become too tough and they won’t eat it at all. Straw delivery today, 24 bales unloaded and stacked in the dry before 0930, which should last the donkeys until mid November. A sunny start to the day with rain later, picked tomatoes, runner beans and Bramley windfalls.
