Far Lands

For the last few years we have had very few strawberries, beaten by weather, slugs and mice. But this year looks like being our best year since we moved here. The weather has helped as has the change to growing the plants in raised beds surrounded by chipping. But the weather was OK last year, and we had raised beds then too. Last year, however, the strawbs were stolen. Not by our neighbours, but by mice. This year, we have fought back with traps. And so far, we have caught 9 of the greedy devils. So, we're winning that war. But losing others - our egg count is down, right down. Only one yesterday. I had a few theories, and this morning I hung around after opening up the chicken house. One chicken went straight up to the top of the paddock and disappeared. I found her sitting on 2 eggs. I have a feeling that due to the upset caused by the 2 chicks and the bantam sleeping in the nest boxes that the older chickens would prefer somewhere nice and quiet to sit and lay. I

At least, they are here at Farlands. We have had none here (honey bees, that is) since our colony died during the Winter, following the layer workers fiasco (see previous blogs). Then last week a friend called to ask whether I wanted some bees; the only problem was that he was getting them from another friend and he (my friend) wanted the hive. So, I had to find another hive. Last Sunday I collected the new colony in its very smart WBC hive - this is a traditional looking hive, and is double layered. It got me thinking that this extra protection from the elements (the cold, but especially the damp) might be the answer for us at Farlands. So, at the moment I have 'borrowed' that WBC hive. So, that was the first colony. Not without its issues, of course. A new Queen, possibly unmated. Plenty of bees, and plenty of honey. But on my first inspection I could not find any eggs or grubs so the Queen does not look she is laying. The problem of laying workers was, phoenix-like,

This morning we opened the front door to an extraordinary sight on the lawn . . . . . . I had been expecting trouble.. I had been expecting sheep. I had noticed that my step over fruit trees near the veg garden had been nibbled. Sarah suggested caterpillars, but when we looked closely whole leaves were missing and there were no caterpillars. Then I found damage in the hedge outside the veg garden, at the top of the bank leading down to the river. Another fruit tree, also with its lower leaves nibbled off. Also, the surrounding brambles were all missing their tender new shoots. Sarah then found sheep droppings on the lawn. Somehow, I thought, a sheep must have got through the fence from the bank next to the river. We've always had problems with sheep on our bottom bank. But I couldn't find a hole in the fence. And then this morning, I opened the door to see ...