Edward
by
Paul Southall
on 4th May 2018
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Edward Jones, employed at the farm for over 30 years, at the end of another busy week working for Southalls of Norchard. The cherry trees are in full blossom and have freshly painted trunks to keep the bugs at bay. Our Eastern European workers staying on the farm will be firing up the BBQs over the Bank Holiday weekend and will make use of the freshly mown football pitch.
Courgette Planting
by
Paul Southall
on 4th May 2018
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A few dry days and the farm team get cracking on planting courgettes. The plants have been grown for us by a local nurserey and post-planting we will cover them in low cloches. The plan is to start cutting by mid-June. Courgettes are a great substitute for pasta when spiralised and increased sales have been the result.
Cattle at Elmley
by
Paul Southall
on 28th April 2018
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On the way back from watching the first of the carrot harvest I spotted this nice bunch of cattle grazing in front of Elmley Lovett church. Until the 1800s there was a grand house in this field until it was burnt to the ground one evening. On the farm we keep on drilling and planting when we can. Our theory is that at some stage the sun will shine and it will stop raining incessantly.The earliest peas, broad and runner beans are up and growing, so fingers crossed!
Wet Weather
by
Paul Southall
on 11th April 2018
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The rain continues and was heavy enough to lift this manhole cover. Despite this, Swallows arrived in good numbers yesterday, and the first Bluebells are coming into flower.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
by
Paul Southall
on 31st March 2018
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This male Great Spotted Woodpecker had been drumming loudly on the plastic box fitted to the telegraph pole. It is another sign that this years slow transition from winter to spring is gradually happening.
Asparagus Crowns
by
Paul Southall
on 30th March 2018
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It's Good Friday and we are using a few dry hours to plant some nice Gijnlim asparagus crowns that arrived a couple of days ago from Holland. We intend to harvest these for the first time in 2 years time so we are investing for the future!
Peregrine Falcon
by
Paul Southall
on 21st March 2018
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It is estimated that Peregrine Falcon breeding pairs have doubled in numbers in England since 2002. This success is particularly down to lowland birds that are using man-made structures to nest upon. This bird was using an electric pylon on the farm to look out for its next meal.
Kennels’ Broads
by
Paul Southall
on 20th March 2018
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I was checking the young Broad Beans in the Kennels Field today and picked up 7 golf balls that had caught the Beast from the East wind from the 16th at the nearby Ombersley Golf Course. Thought the view from the gateway deserved a pic.
Coltsfoot
by
Paul Southall
on 17th March 2018
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These Coltsfoot flowers are an early splash of colour in the wildflower meadow, and also a nectar source for early flying insects. The old boys used to smoke the leaves of this plant when they were short of tobacco.