Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Spring primroses


Well we have primroses in abundance on the farm - took this picture between the showers!

Soil washing away


I took this picture of a field drain at the weekend during the heavy rainfall. It shows the amount of run-off from the fields. The soil that is also being washed off is bad news for the farmer because we need the soil in the field to grow good quality crops. It is also bad news for the water companies if the soil fills up the reservoirs further downstream with silt!

The wheat is growing


The wheat that was planted in the autumn is growing in the fields. With some warmth and spring sunshine it will be well on track!

Friday, 7 March 2008

Spring is finally coming


This week the hedges are starting to thicken up and spring finally feels like it is coming. We had a lovely walk after mothers day lunch and enjoyed the natural renewal of the farm as we look forward to another year. The gales had had their impact in the wood with the upper limbs of some trees torn off and others uprooted. Another storm is due this week. Hopefully it won't do too much damage.

Saturday, 1 March 2008

Spring blossom

Rather a strange sight - blossom but no leaves? I have tulips in flower; daffodils in abundance and it is the end of February!

Litter everywhere



We went for a walk up our lane and were appalled by the amount of litter that people had thrown from their cars into the ditch and grass verge in the space of 300 yards. This included used disposable nappies, black bags of rubbish, electrical cables, and fast food packaging. The nearest fast food restaurant is twelve miles away! Litter is becoming an issue everywhere in Herefordshire as people just throw their rubbish out of their car windows. In such a beautiful county it is so sad that people pay it so little respect and don't take their rubbish home with them!

March folklore

Well, as I write this post March is certainly coming in like a lion! The wind is gusting around the house and whirling in the chimney. This got me thinking about old sayings about March. These are my favourites:

"When March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb; when March comes in like a lamb it goes out like a lion!"

"A dry March and a wet May fills the barn with hay!" or "So many mists in March, so many frosts in May".

"March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers!" and last but not least

"As mad as a March Hare"