The family arrive.

As Christmas nears all the family have started to arrive in Cornwall. Matthew, Lauren and Chris have arrived from Essex.They are staying at the farm. My sister and her family, seven of them have arrived from Gloustershire and Devonshire. They are staying at Mum and Dad`s. We are having two Christmas dinners one in each house but we will be meeting up during the day for present opening and an odd drink or two. Of course all the animals have got to be checked and fed before the festivities can begin. We try to get as much food prepared on Christmas eve as possible. Then it`s just a matter of tipping the bags of grain and dropping in the big silage bales. Hopefully the first lamb will wait till New Years day, I have a feeling that it will be earlier though.

Christmas

Christmas is almost here and we are rushing around trying to get organised.There is so much to do.Not present shopping, I mean organising the animals. The first sheep flock who are due to begin lambing before new year are now housed. The individual pens for mothers and lambs are ready. We have bottles, teats and milk powder waiting. The pregnant cows are also in the sheds, every day their bellies seem bigger. New year should see the first calf born. We have had an electrician putting up some new lights. The cows always seem to wait for tyhe middle of the night.
This morning we prepared the geese for our Christmas dinner. I usually feel quite sad but last week one gander decided he would try to peck me. I just managed to jump out of the way.
Lorna has been getting in some practice as chief midwife to the ewes. Our neighbour`s ewes have started lambing already. Yesterday Lorna delivered a lovely double, the first lamb was coming tail first, this can be quite a difficult delivery. Luckily in this case it proved to be quite straightforward and the second lamb popped out on it`s own. Mother and babies are all doing fine.

The rain has started

All of a sudden the weather has changed from lovely Autumn weather to raging wind and rain. The cattle are in the shed luckily, the cows came in about 10 minutes before the rain began. We like the animals to come in with dry backs. We wormed them all last week this means that they will be worm free all Winter. Every day we will be unrolling large bales of straw to ensure the cattle have a dry clean bed to lie on. Their diet will be crushed grain and silage. The cows are be due to calve in January.It`s always exciting to see the new born calves. The mother makes a lovely quiet mooing noise as she bonds with her baby. The ducks and geese are delighted with this rain they are dabbling around all the puddles. The hens meanwhile are standing looking out of their house looking absoutly miserable. I suppose they will go on strike and stop laying eggs.

Barn owl.

We were sitting watching television. It was about 9.30.pm we heard a scrabbling noise at the window and a great flapping of wings.. It was a barn owl.We wondered what it was doing. Maybe it was attacking it`s reflection in the lighted window. The next morning as I went outside I saw the sweetest little harvest mouse,it was trying to hide in a tuft of grass. We realised that the owl must have dropped his supper as he flew over the house then tried to recatch it. We have a juvanile barn owl, it was a late hatching.It hasn`t quite got the hang of being an owl yet.When I was gardening one day it swooped low over my head. It`s flight was absolutly silent, it was so white and beautiful. I hope it can catch enough food to survive the Winter.

The big escape.

It seems that this week everything wants to escape, I don`t know why. The geese started the ball rolling one evening. Simon and Lorna went to their enclosure to shut them in for the night, they were missing. Luckily geese are very noisy creatures and they could be heard. One was in the cattle shed with the calves, two were in the yard and two had made a big escape. They were heard waddling down the road. Traffic was luckily slowing down as they passed them.Simon managed to arrest them about a quarter of a mile away. He picked them up one under each arm, it`s a good job he is big and strong. Two geese weigh quite a lot.Lorna offered to carry one so Simon passed one to her making sure that she had a firm grip on it`s neck. The goose couldn`t peck her then. Unfortunately as the transfer of the goose was taking place the other goose got a good grip on Simons arm.Lorna laughed as Simon threatened it with a visit to the oven.The lambs were the next escape artists. We had a phone call to say three lambs were seen in the road. We whistled for Henry the sheep dog and went in search of them.They were nowhere to be seen. As we were returning home we spotted something white in a garden. We went to investigate and sure enough there they were. Henry soon rounded them up and they were reunited with their flock. Of course we then had to go fencing to stop further adventures. I couldn`t believe my eyes the next morning when expecting to count forty one young cattle, the field was empty. Like geese they are very noisy and I soon tracked them down. A young lad staying in a nearby holiday cottage had opened a few gates. I can`t say if it was accidental or deliberate. May be they followed him as they do and he ran away, anyway they made the most of their freedom. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence we hear. They were very reluctant to be herded back where they belong. Chris and I have moved them to a different pasture this morning. People say things happen in threes so perhaps that will be the end of the big escape.

Sad day.

I took the little hedgehog to Sue the vet. She looked at the little chap. She said he was too injured to try to save. He would never make it and would suffer if we
tried. We were all very sad, hedgehogs seem so special.
The only things that threaten hedgehogs are badgers and cars. Why they have to cross the road so much I just don`t know.

Hedegehog.

Lorna was looking for a piece of string.She looked into a bag in one of the farm sheds. The bag was smelling of something horrible. She peered inside and saw a small hedgehog, about half grown. There were maggots crawling all over it.Lorna was sure it was dead. Simon picked it up and found it was alive. The poor little thing must have been hit by a car and managed to crawl into the shed to hide. I looked at the wound on it`s shoulder, it was very raw. We always keep some medicenes etc for the animals on the farm so I got a little maggot oil and poured it over the wound, they began to wrggle and squirm. The horrible things seemed to appear from all over the place. I found some tweezers and began picking them off. It seemed never ending some were as small as a grain of sand some were big and fat. as I worked a little bird joined me and began eating them as I threw them down.I have rinsed the wound with warm salty water and sprayed some gentian violet on it.At the moment it is wrapped in a blanket with a stone hot water bottle by it to raise it`s tempreture up.I am going to try and give it a drink with a pippet soon. It hasn`t unrolled yet, I don`t know if it is too sore to try or too frightened. If it is alive tonight I am going to take it to the vet.

Pigs and lambs.

It is always a sad day when animals leave the farm. You have loved and cared for them since they were babies. The fact is,if you are farmers you are in the business of rearing meat.
Last week the pigs were due to go. Lorna and Jess were very upset and decided to leave the farm for the afternoon. Julian arrived with his truck. We were expecting the loading to be very difficult, pigs can be so alkward. But they proved us wrong. They didn,t get stressed at all. A little crushed barley in the truck and they walked right in.
The lambs however proved to be more dofficult. Henry was sent to the pond field to round them up. Back he came with the flock and we shut them into the shed.
When we were counting them and checking that all their ear tags were in place we realised some were missing. Simon said to Henry that he was a lazy dog. Henry looked confused when he was sent out again. The field was obviously empty. Panic set in. Where were the missing lambs.A close neighbour has got a large flock of ewes nearby and we were a bit worried that they had somehow mixed in with them. That would be hard work getting them back. Then Simon heard a lamb bleat in the woods, the mystery was solved. Henry was sent into the woods and brought them back to the farm yard.
It was only just in time the lorry was driving into the yard.
We have only got twenty three lambs left to fatten now, then we will be awaiting the new crop in January.

Charlie the bull leaves the farm.

Charlie our old simmental bull is leaving the farm today. He has been a really good tempered old thing so we are quite glad that he isn`t going far.
In fact he is going to the adjoining farm. We have sold a belgian blue cow as well so he wont get upset travelling alone.
Julian a young farmer is buying him. He used to work for us so he knows Charlie and Star the cow well.
This morning I telephoned DEFRA and asked about getting a movement licience for a farm to farm transaction. Lorna downloaded it on the computer for me. It has been quite a worry not being able to sell animals in the last couple of months. I have also been waiting to buy some new rams. We had to use a couple of older rams we were going to sell in order to ensure that our lambing would begin in early January as usual. I am now hoping that three suffolk cross rams will be delivered tomorrow. The old boys are looking quite tired.

Back to square one.

I heard with absolute horror that foot and mouth was back yet again. Farmers are really fed up and desperate with this news.
I have 15 prime steers ready to go to the store market at Liskeard. We have just had a pre movement TB test done on them. These results stand for 60 days. If we don`t sell them in this time we will have to pay for another test to be done.
The older bull is due to be sold after spending 3 years with us. The young bull is now old enough to work and I never like to keep 2 bulls in case they get together and fight.
The foot and mouth have put a stop to all these movements.
I was hoping to bid for 2 new rams yesterday at the market but of course that was cancelled. Our 6 old boys need a bit of help with the ewes. They will just have to soldier on.
Simon and Nigel have finished harvesting the oil seed rape thank goodness. It is horrible stuff to handle. If you spill a little bit it runs away like water. It not only gets in your boots but in your socks as well. Hopefully a lorry will take it away quite soon.
I don`t think we will grow any next year I much prefer growing oats.

Educational access.

For the last two years Lorna and I have been doing educational access tours of the farm. WTheree are doing this through The Country Stewardship scheme. Schools, clubs and familys are all welcome. Visits are totally free. We like parties of six or more although if you are only two people we can usually find someone else to join you. Visits are casual, we can walk around the farm chatting about crops and animals as we go.Small children find the baby animals fascinating, especially the lambs in the very early Spring. The ponds are also very popular, it is quite amazing what can be found by just dipping a fishing net into the water.There are newts frogs and toads. Dragonflies are magnificent swooping around like little aeroplanes.
If you would like to visit when you are in Cornwall you can telephone Lorna on 01726 870655. We look forward to seeung you one day.

Adders and slow worms.

At my fathers house he has a large piece of slate propped up against a sunny hedge.Underneath is the home of a large family of slow worms. There are fat pregnant mothers, and slimmer males. There are also small babies two or three inches long and as thin as a piece of parcel string. One day I looked underneath and was shocked to see a dark brown snake. I jumped in surprise thinking it was an adder.When I had a closer look I noticed a yellow mark just behind it's head. What a relief, it was a grass snake. We have never seen one in his garden before and wondered what it was doing there.
I wondered if they ate slow worms. If so it would have to be relocated , perhaps to our ponds. We looked them up on the internet. It seems that mice, frogs ,slugs and snails are the favourite food so that was a relief.
Chris my husband and I went picking sloes to make some sloe gin for the Winter they are big and juicy this year, we thought we would pick a few blackberries as well to go in the apple pies.
We were happily pottering along the cliff tops picking some nice fruit when Chris said "Look out there's an adder" Lying curled up in the path was a large adder. It looked at us then slithered at speed into the undergrowth. They do look malignant. I really don't like them at all.
I thought to myself that the gin was quite drinkable without the sloes and the apples would be fine without the blackberries,so we went home. We have since been out picking but this time on a cloudy dull day when adders are in their nests.

Carnival Week at Fowey.

The week of Matthews party coincided with Fowey carnival week.
The week always starts with a firework display. Hundreds of people come for many miles to enjoy this treat. The setting over the river Fowey is fantastic.
Of course the sailing is very popular and boats come from far and wide to race.
Wednesday is carnival day. Various brass bands for which Cornwall is famous parade through the narrow streets. The carnival Queen looked very beautiful with her two attendants. All in all it was a noisy fun evening.
Thursday evening is the highlight of the week. The famous red arrows give their annual display over the harbour.
Cars began arriving at 1pm for the six o clock performance. Everyone wants to be sure of a good viewing spot.By 4pm the roads were almost gridlocked. Farmers opened fields to the public,there were thousands of cars.
At exactly 6pm the Arrows arrived swooping low over the river. They were soon into their heart stopping routine, criss crossing each other only a few feet apart. The unique thing about the display here is that you are looking down on the planes instead of looking up. It was fantastic. I am hoping someone has a good photograph I can post for you. I tried to take one but ended up with just the sky.
Another even bigger firework display ends the week on the Saturday but unfortunately it was a bit foggy this year and that marred the display somewhat.

The harvest is in.

The weather finally became sunny and the combine rolled out to work again. Nigel spent many hours a day in the combine harvesting the wheat.

The grain is smaller than usual but we have heard that it is the same all over the country. We are very relieved to have our grain safe in the store.at least we will have enough to see us through the Winter and some to spare.

Simon followed the combine with the baler. Straw will be in short supply as well this Winter so we wanted to make sure we harvested it before it rained again.



We have had a very busy week. Matthew came down from Essex to celebrate his 40th birthday with all his friends and family.

Lorna spent two very busy days cooking a magnificent feast for a hundred people. Friends arrived from London and Essex. Some camped on the lawn and some put a sleeping bag on the farmhouse floor.

The old grain store was brushed out and decorated with posters, it looked quite smart.

Julian brought his big gas barbique and Barry brought the music.

We all had a great time. The younger members of the family danced

until three am. I think there were a few sore heads the next day, and everyone was tired. Luckily there were a few pasties left so we finished them up for lunch.

Foot and mouth .

The dreaded foot and mouth has hit England again. I wonder who is at fault this time. No doubt the government will find someone to blame. Although we are a long way from the outbreak we are still under restrictions. Our main concern is that we cannot put cattle across the road to fresh pastures. They can see and smell the new grass but cannot eat it. They are pacing up and down the hedgerow, not happy animals at all.

Simon and Nigel are working all hours trying to harvest the wheat before the storms are due to hit us tonight. Last night the combine engine roared well into the night. There are three fields left to do and not many hours left.
The wheat sample is small this year but if it is going to be scarce every grain will count.
Simon is also trying to keep up with the bailing. He hardly has a minute to spare.
The dryer has been working day and night .The grain must be stored with a moisture content of less than 15% or it will heat up and spoil.
You just wouldn't believe it, the cantankerous machine that is the combine harvester has broken down. It's water pump has gone wrong the weather is going to win.

As I got closer it edged its feet over the edge and was going to jump. I decided I was going to take thr dogs back to frogmore and hoped that by leaving it to calm down it would come back from the edge. After a cup of coffee I went back and she was still threatening to jump, she was certenly going to be a problem. Her head was held very high and her eyes were very twitchy. This means that her calcium levels where dangerously low and any kind of shock would mean that she would drop down dead. A ewe can get very low calcium levels by being worried when they are pregnant.
I phoned Simon who was at Polperro and he came back at once. Lorna, Chris, Simon and I went down to lantivet bay with the tractor and ropes. It was pouring with rain and everywhere was muddy and slippery. I was quit worried about the whole thing. It wasn't any good calling the coastguard because if the ewe saw a stranger she would certainly jump.
Simon got over the fence and slid along on his stomach, the ewe looked back but didn't see him because calcium deficiency can cause blindness. He made a grab for her back leg just as she jumped, thank goodness he is really strong as he managed to hold on and gradually pull her up.
I had a large syringe of calcium waiting for her and injected it under the skin. We took her up to the farm and examined her. Her ears had been bitten and were bleeding and one will always be fat and droopy. She had an injection of penicillin to stop infection in her wounds. We will keep her housed until she lambs in February, hopefully they will be alive.
I have heard people say my dog wasn't attacking the sheep it was only playing with them. I wish they would realise that the trauma of being chased and cornereed is enough to kill them.
The cows are due to begin calving now; it's always worrying until you see the first safely delivered, hopefully without any help from us. I like to go early in the morning and hear the the lovely, gentle soung a mother makes to her calf. It's always exciting to see if baby looks like mum or dad, last year they all had a white face like the bull. We have bought a new young bull.
We bought his mother as well so his growth wouldn't be stunted by weaning.
He will stay and suckle her until he is almost a year old. That should ensure that he has strong bones. I have decided to call him Ronald. Next year when the vet comes to do our TT test he will put a ring in his nose. I hope he proves to be a quiet sort of chap!
The weatehr forecast is saying we are going to have severe storms and heavy rain followed by very cold weather. I hope it's not as bad as the forecast. We all have too many hills for snow and ice.

How we used to do it!

life on frogmore farm

Tom and Ronald.Two old farmers sitting on a bag of wool. They were telling everyone how the sheep shearing was done when they were young. no electric motors then, all done by hand.It now takes about 90 seconds to shear a sheep, it used to take at least 10 minutes.

After a nice restful Christmas lambing started with a bang. Two days early. This is not as the newspapers think due to global warming. The rams were introduced to the ewes on the 5th of August instead of the 7th. This was an accident. We must have forgotten what date it was. Our usual start date is new years day. That allows us all to see the new year in without having to see the sheep late at night. This year as the clock struck 12, I was in the sheep house picking up a new born lamb.One o'clock came and I was still there.

As I write we have forty-seven babies. Some need a little feed to keep them going until mothers milk begins to flow properly. And some are leaping and jumping within an hour of birth. They are all different. Some are real little characters and you can get very fond of them. We have oneat the moment and we call it squeaker. He has a cry like a cat. his mother had two lambs but she was rather thin because she had put so much effort into producing two big lambs. We decided toadopt one to another ewe who had a single. While squeaker was not happy to begin with and made such a din, everyone kept picking him up for a cuddle. Now if he sees one of us pass by he squeaks to get a cuddle. I am afraid he might turn out as a tame lamb. I hope he doesn't. Tame lambs are such a bind.
Over a holiday period hundreds of people took advantage of the mild weather and went for walks on the cliff tops. Some had a dog. Some had three or four dogs and we always hoped they would keep them under control. Unfortunately this year someone hsa not been careful enough. First of all someone came to Frogmore and said a sheep had been attacked in the Lantic Field dip. It was stuck in brambles and bleeding. that field belongs to Churchtown Farm and Mark and Charlotte had to search for it and treat it. last week I went to check the ewes in Lantivet Field and noticed one standing on the very edge of the cliff. It was very distressed. It had obviously been chased by a dog and jumped right through the new fence that the National Trust put there last year after a ewe had jumped over the cliff and had to be rescued by the coastguards.