Newsletter Summer 2010
Lambing
We had our most successful lambing ever, the ewes lambed first and it was like shelling peas. The 16 hoggs (last year's lambs) which followed had a few problems, but they should be better next year. Unfortunately our sweet Beltex tup (ram) died, which was a great shame as the ease of lambing was probably down to him.
The Beacon
Whereas this area is a wonderful place to be at any time of the year, the local wild areas of common land are better explored in the summer, with less chance of sinking in the mires!
Beacon Hill is a unique place, owned by The Crown Estates, subject to rights of “common” whereby local landowners (including Richard’s brother-in-law) are given rights, for example, to graze livestock and cut bracken or collect stone, as well as a place on which individuals have open access for quiet enjoyment. It rises to 1,800 feet, and from the highest point you can see Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons. Radnorshire Wildlife Trust’s conservation lease covers 5,000 acres, with the mission statement “to preserve, maintain and enhance the landscape, historic and archaeological interest and flora and fauna”.
The Beacon is criss-crossed by miles of footpaths and bridleways, where only the wind and birdsong disturb your thoughts, and has over 400 archaeological sites, the oldest dating back to around 450 AD.
Why not take a trip to The Beacon and experience its beauty for yourself!
Daisy
Our oldest resident is Daisy, and after a bit of a health scare last autumn, she wintered really well, possibly due to the dense polar-bear coat she grows. She tends to hang on to her winter woollies until midsummer and as it gets a bit itchy, I gave her a good grooming with a curry comb. After half an hour the yard was ankle deep in fluff with no discernable difference to Daisy. Six year old Emma decided to finish the job, and thanks to her diminutive size, was particularly effective when brushing Daisy’s tummy.
Daisy and Emma
Hatched, Matched & Despatched
We have sold Eve, our potential show jumper, to a wonderful competitive home. She came third in her first competition, and she won the second! One of the teenage daughters is going to Hartpury College in September to do Equine Studies, and is taking Eve with her.
Our aim is not just to sell horses, but to place them in the right home, and it’s so nice when it works out so well.
Cara, one of our paying guests – a skewbald mare of sofa-like proportions, died in February, following a short illness.
Download the Summer 2010 newsletter (pdf)
Check out the Newsletter archive.
Springtime orchid.
New Cwm Farm from Bettws Wood.