They are arriving at a steady trickle ………lovely new born lambs. It never ceases to amaze me how new life is as thrilling now as it was when I started shepherding millions of years ago. I think the rams must have taken it a bit easy, hence the steady flow, in fact they must have had a few days off for sure as we haven’t had a lamb born for a few days now. After the terrible winds and rain, we have just turned out the first few ewes and lambs and, as you can see from the photo, its heads down straight away for the ewes as they haven’t seen a …
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We deserted Devon in mid-February for a 70th birthday celebration in a cottage at RSPB Arne in Dorset. The weather was marvellous and we saw many of the species for which this reserve is renowned: Spoonbills, Dartford Warblers, Goldcrests, Firecrests, Sika Deer, the strange woolly coated Mangalica pigs and a few thousand over-wintering Avocets. Returning via Weymouth we met up with our co-grandparents. Here there are two urban bird reserves, Radipole and Lodmore, and quite unlike most RSPB reserves, you can actually get close to the birds. We …
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Last month, joy was unconfined (again), when three other local WIs joined us in answering quiz questions on subjects from mushrooms to cheeses and beers. Cornucopias of cake were eaten with enthusiasm, then more questions were asked. Not many people knew that. The Many a mickle makes a mickle, and if anyone knows what this means, " We'll take a right good willy-waught, for auld Lang syne," I'll be very grateful. April 9th at 7.30 pm at Broadhembury Hall It's that time of year again!!! The annual meeting is here, and we shall bid goodbye to …
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Valentines Day has passed me by yet again, but one can continue to hope. The trouble is, the word “hope” always has “less” added onto it. At least the 14th February is not a one off and there’s another ray of hope for next year. But with that disappointment gone and forgotten, there is real hope around the corner as we start lambing at the beginning of March. The ewes are now in and looking extremely smart as I hope the photo shows. We had them dagged out recently so that their rear ends are free of wool which means we have lovely clean sheep …
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We spent most of January in Ethiopia and my thoughts keep returning there. One vivid memory is of a young barefoot boy, dressed in rags and none too clean. We had stopped at some random location in the rocky highlands and, as always happened, people just materialised out of nowhere. He was not begging but merely sought the comfort of standing next to someone other than from his own tribe. His life is harsh. He lives, as so many do in those remote areas, in a thatched, mud hut bare of anything except for a cooking pot and some bedding. His first …
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Did you know that the River Exe estuary is a RAMSAR site? This means that it is a wetland area of international importance and to visit the river in winter will immediately make you understand why, as the estuary is a major refuge for tens of thousands of birds. Make no mistake - this is a world-class bird location, and one which is right on our very own doorstep. The most important winter inhabitants are the Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits and they can number about 1200, whilst you also expect to see hundreds of Avocets, Brent Geese and …
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I have just returned from my morning walk around the farm to check the stock. Everything was in order and it is pleasing that the cattle are still out and not being housed early like last year when it was so very wet. The weather has been a real challenge this year and I hope that 2019 might be a little more true to form without the drastic wet followed by the long hot summer – there’s no pleasing some people ! With 2018 coming to a close we are very much looking forward to a productive 2019 on the farm and will strive to keep this small rural …
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We recently managed to get away for a short birding break in Hungary. This was a mixed experience – the birding, with a few notable exceptions, was poor and led me to ask myself if this was a vision of the future. The Great Hungarian Plain seemed largely devoid of wildlife and diversity and, dare I say, driving across it was at times tedious and monotonous? It was a welcome relief to drive up into the hills, where the autumn colours were magnificent. We added on a couple of days at the end to explore Budapest and, although I am no lover of …
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