PIP'S PAGE Spring 2009

Dear boys and girls,
It really looks like spring has arrived. The daffodils down the farm drive looked lovely against the newly laid hedges. The birds are really grateful to have such a tightly woven hedge around their nests to protect the fledglings from predators like jays, sparrowhawks and magpies. A tightly layed hedge is a great stock proof boundary for a field, shelter from either good or bad weather for the sheep and a whole range of creatures can live in, on and around this wildlife corridor.

The lambs started being born quite late this year, just as well really as the winter was so long and so cold that the grass has taken a long time to start growing. We had a few casualties this winter amongst the older ewes. However the new lambs are doing fine and we only have one orphan and one whose mum didn't want it. The students from Rossendale Alternative Learning Programme have enjoyed feeding these lambs on bottled milk.

On Easter Sunday we had a family open day and there was plenty to do the weather was lovely and warm. Children explored the farm including the tremendous tree house and then decorated eggs and made cardboard baskets to put them in. The following Wednesday we were supported by the Green Partnership and had a another family open day with 2 willow artists Helen and Clare they organised the families to make an amazing fire breathing dragon growing in our magical hedgerow. We had about 30 families throughout the day helping to weave the body framework and head then make ears. Children can wriggle through the dragon's belly pretending they have been eaten and are waiting for St George to set the free! The structure should live and eventually sprout all the varieties of different coloured leaves. The finished result is breathtaking.

Primrose our cow didn't calve until after the open days. She had a bull calf which we were disappointed with at first. Jersey bulls are not in demand, they don't ‘fatten' up and they are really mean and bad tempered. We knew we would have to sell Primrose as we have no farming partner now to milk her or to put extra calves with her. However all was much better than we thought. The cow and calf have gone off to the same farm! Primrose is with a small batch of other first calving cows within a bigger herd near to Clitheroe and her calf has gone there as well. When he grows up he will be used on the Jersey heifers (young cows) on that farm. We will go and see them and take some photos to record how she does. Watch this space.

As usual our volunteer gardeners Ann and Mike have done a wonderful job in our vegetable garden. Teachers and children can see what can be achieved on a small plot. Five families can have vegetable box from this plot from late spring summer until late autumn.