A Month on the Farm

by Lisa Buchanan

~ December ~

November has been such a surprise! After the seemingly endless rain, the dry weather arrived and what a difference it has made. We were managing to keep the cattle out even in the rain, but only by moving them every day from paddock to paddock. As the weather changed, so the land dried remarkably quickly, and we have been able to slow down the movements although we have also begun feeding them hay. Now this is a good work out! The bales are big round ones four foot across and we roll them out across the fields so the cattle don’t stand in one place eating the hay, which severely damages the soil. Leighton can do it by himself – smarty pants! I need help! But it really is a joy to see the girls still out – it is so much more natural, and dry and cool is heaven for them. And it saves us money too – and that really matters.

Meanwhile, the excessive rainfall created a very singular occurrence on the farm. A very large water blister suddenly appeared on the edge of a field. About a foot high and nine foot by three foot. Put your foot on it and it wobbled like a jelly! Quite why, no-one knows. Sheer quantity of water and probably a clay cap in an odd place or something. It is gradually disappearing now, but one of those wonderful natural phenomena that few seem to have seen before.

We are having another stretch of hedge laid. It was a particularly poor piece of hedge – thin at the top growing out of knuckles interspersed with dead ash. The brilliant David Dunk has been demonstrating his astonishing skills creating a gorgeous laid hedge which will be wonderful for the fauna and flora, while also looking beautiful. Should you walk across the footpath, you will pass right by it.

I know November has been grey, but I think it has been simply lovely. The cloud cover seems to have encased us in cotton wool. It has been magically quiet and peaceful. The bird song has been wonderful and it has felt a little like time has been standing still.

I am writing this on Remembrance Sunday after a remarkable Service when it seemed more people than ever – and of all ages – came to Church and gathered around the War Memorial. As I walked around the animals this evening, I thought of those young men, so many of whom had worked the land around Fletching, worshipped in our Church, went to our village school, drank in our pub and fell in fields far from home – for us. And then I thought of Ukraine, where it is happening all over again. We are blessed indeed to live where we do and I give thanks for it every day. But we must never forget.