Farm activities are now gathering pace due to the time of year and the (finally) improving weather.
Our second round of lambing is now well underway. The new arrivals are monitored carefully for a while indoors before being let out onto the pasture. While sounding idyllic, lambing is hard work and my thanks to the farm team for covering the full 24/7 between them. The same can be said for calving, now in progress and with 4 new arrivals at the time of writing.
Out in the fields, our contractors are making the most of the improved conditions, working down the ground in preparation for drilling Spring beans and barley.
Across at Battlefield we watch the weather just as closely as on the farm. This helps us plan many aspects of the business from what cuts of meat to put into the butchery counter, staffing levels in the café, dishes to prepare in the kitchen, to when we can mow the grass!
Looking back across the month, we enjoyed a very busy Easter. Thank you all for your support over the Spring break and well done to those of you who took up the Easter trail challenge searching for chicks, eggs, and rabbits! The conditions weren’t exactly favourable; however, we were delighted to see so many new faces around the site.
Similarly, our first pop up forest school was a great success with over 40 children turning up to learn bush craft skills, toasting marshmallows on the fire, and creating artwork from natural resources. More sessions are planned for the summer season, please keep visiting the website for further dates.
Looking at the calendar ahead, May 10th sees us welcome Tots and Tuffs to Battlefield 1403, a messy play activity group for 0 to 4-year-olds. Their theme for this event is of course all things farming and will be held in the visitor centre. Please email totsandtuffs23@gmail.com for more details or to book a place. The following day, Plant Hunters Fair returns to the courtyard bringing a sea of colour and scents as a selection of the best independent plant nurseries from across the country set up their stalls. I would highly recommend a visit.
Slightly further on still we will be hosting the 2024 Open Farm Sunday, showcasing how we and others farm, go about producing food and managing the land in an environmentally sustainable way. Preparations are well underway and I’ll keep you posted with this, and other exciting developments, in the weeks to come.
I look forward to seeing you on site soon.
With best wishes,
Jeremy
