'Lambing Live' at Overbury

Well here it is, I have finally got round to blogging again after a very very busy few weeks.  On Sunday  17th April we had our annual 'Lambing Live' event at Park Farm, home to our flock of Mule and Mule x Texel ewes.  We were very lucky with the weather with hot sunshine all day for our visitors.  In total somewhere between 850-1,000 people turned up to learn about our sheep flock and how we manage the farm and the conservation on Bredon Hill.  I managed to get some video footage early in the day which can be seen here on the blog.  It will give you an idea of the event and what can be seen.  In addition to the clip we had Paul, Rod and Tom our Gamekeepers talking about life as a keeper.  At the village hall we had lots of displays of local food including the very first opportunity to purchase cotswoldflour and lamb burgers being sold by our great friends at Eckington Manor Cookery School

Open Farm Sunday Training

Yesterday Suzie and I visited Aston Hall Farm, on the Spetchley Estate, for some up to date training on hosting an Open Farm Sunday event.  It seems  long ago since we hosted a training event at Overbury and I just wanted to make sure we were not missing a trick or two.

The training was being delivered by Tom Allen-Stevens and Robert Kynaston, through LEAF.

The theme for this years event is 'Discover Life on Britain's Farms' and really opens up our farms for a great day out for all of the family.  But how do we get our visitors there?  That was the first part of the training.  Depending of the size of event we wanted to host, there are lots of tools in the box; from parish magazines and postcards for small local events; through posters, banners and local newspapers for medium events, ending up with a chart topping national event using national media, tv and radio, the choice is ours.

The second aspect of the training, was once the visitors are here, what do we do with them?  We looked at activities engaging our main senses, not just sight, but smell, feel, taste and hearing.  How many people just stop in our busy lives and listen?  The blackbird or the skylark singing proudly as it rises from the field, the sound of a far off child laughing at a new discovery.

We learnt how to make a visit personal, "this is my farm", "this is how we do things here on our farm".  Engagement that's the key!

After a great game involving, leaves, roots, fertiliser, pooh and grazing cows, (I will blog about that another day), we went onto a health and safety (fake crime scene), we were the CSI farmers.  Different aspects were explored within our scenario and how those risks can be managed. Don't forget farms are dangerous places and we should never underestimate the risks that we all face every day.  But there are simple ways to avoid or reduce the risks.  Fencing off areas that you don't want people to explore, putting up signs and moving machinery inside and locking it away.  We must also remember the hand washing facilities that are required, liquid soap, running water and paper towels. 

The final part of the warm spring afternoon looked at getting the message across.  How to be positive about being a farmer and not using too much agricultural jargon.  Outside an arable meeting who would understand the expression, "using pyraclastrobin to help control septoria?" sounds obvious but I know.  I use too much jargon at times when I 'speak out'.  As the message says on Roberts shirt, visit a farm, most farmers are happy to take people around their farms and are very proud of what we as an industry do.  If you are looking to host a farm event on Open Farm Sunday please get involved and get in touch with LEAF there are lots of resources available and I know there are still some training events planned with spaces for everyone.  Put the date in your diary Sunday 12th June 2011

Integrated Farm Management Training with LEAF

Today I am at the Royal Agricultural College near Cirencester with managers and lecturers from many Agricultural Colleges around the country. The idea of today's training is how we can use the tools developed by LEAF to educate students, of any age. Tools such as The Green Box (which Caroline Drummond LEAF - CEO is holding up), Speak Out Training, LEAF Audit, notice boards and the LEAF Marque can have a real impact on farm about getting our message across. The message is summarised with 'LEAF on every plate and every gate'.

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Archaeological Anticipation

Over the past month we have been paying special attention to one of our Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM) right on the summit of Bredon Hill.  The Kemerton Hill Fort is thought to be about 2700 years old and was built in the Iron Age period of time.

Over the years the field has changed with some quarrying taking place, to provide local stone, maybe for houses or stone walling.  As a result we have an area of erosion, where the land has slipped away.

The erosion was uncovering some very interesting changes in soil type, colouring and even an old bone or two.  The erosion here has been caused by heavy rain, sheep movements and general wear and tear.  The dark area of soil (left) is thought to be a hole for a post, maybe a fence for corraling cattle or even part of a house.  There are other areas of the hill fort that are suffering from erosion by mountain bikes, (we will tackle these bits another day). 

Under our HLS agreement we have secured some funding to repair the erosion scar's, thus protecting the archaeology for future generations.  Adam (Worcester Archaeological Service) was  employed as part of the repair to survey and record what was being uncovered, before the face was sealed up again.  GPS measurements, readings and photographs where all taken as an official record of the event.

After the excavations had been completed the repair work could begin!  Leigh Watts, who is a local landscape gardner, was detailed with the prescription to repair, as detailed by English Heritage.



Stone from the quarry was used to build up the main layer and the final dressing of soil was collected from within the field boundary, by collecting up mole hill dirt!  We actually collected a JCB bucket load, it took a while but luckily the moles obliged!  This dirt was then spread over the stones and within a plastic mesh to stop further erosion until grass can establish.  The grass seed will be collected later this year again from within the field boundary, although I'm sure there will be some seed from within the mole hill dirt that will start the process off.  The sheep netting is a temporary boundary to stop unwanted feet and mouths disturbing the fresh soil.  The final picture shows the half compeleted repair but you will be glad to know that it is now fully restored!

LEAF Training Day Success

Yesterday was a first for Farmer Jake.  I was asked by LEAF to give a talk about blogging and twitter to a group of 10 farmers as part of a funded two day course.  The course was aimed at giving these farmers the skills and tools to host inspirational farm visits.

I was taking part in day two of the training session along with Susie and Patrick (from Green Shoots Media) who were talking and demonstrating photography and film.  This picture shows Susie going through a selection of photographs giving tips on light, shade, framing and many other tips, the paparazzi hold dear to their hearts!  I spoke to the group for about 20 minutes explaining, how I started blogging and tweeting, who inspired me and when I started.  Then the group split up for a more in depth discussion about how to blog, what skills are needed, how long it takes and so on.  We talked for a while about twitter as well, and I see a few more followers for No1FarmerJake (thanks) I had a really great morning, engaging with a wide range of people coming from different farming backgrounds.  They all had one thing in common, wanting to enhance the experience of visitors onto their farms and for that I applaud, each and every one of them.  I look forward to reading some new blogs and news from each of the farms as and when they start to appear.  Good luck everyone.

Test Blogging From Iphone

For the last couple of months we have been keeping pigeons at bay with many different tactics. This one is rather fun, it's called 'Hawkeye' and it rotates in the wind, reflecting sunlight with the reflective strips. They work well as part of the overall mix controls, these have to include gas guns backed up with shooting. It is important to protect the crops from these pests, whole fields can be decimated by large flocks. The value of rape is being pushed up again following the oil price and world supply and demand issues. As spring crops are planted and different food sources become available the pigeons will migrate away, and the crops can then hopefully grow away from any damage caused.  Well this seems to have worked well.  back in the editing suit (AKA-The Office) just a few changes and to let you all know that I have set up a youtube site which will be showing video footage of the farm and the activities that we do.  Click HERE if you would like to have a glipse, then hit the subscribe button to keep upto date with our activities.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Orchard Planting

Phase 1 of our Orchard Restoration has begun!  After a very hectic couple of weeks organising, planning and re-planning we have finally planted a few orchard trees.

For this first year we have chosen some 'Off The Shelf' varieties grown in Worcestershire as a starting point.  As a result of some research, in conjunction with John Clarke from The Kemerton Consservation Trust, we have chosen to plant the following apples: -  Adam's Pearmain, Ashmeads Kernel, Blenheim Orange, William Crump and Worcester Pearmain.

This year 50 trees are to be planted in two orchards around Conderton.  Once the spacing had been figured out (this came from Rob at FWAG's Orchard Report-see previous blog 20th Jan 2011) and the stakes hammered home the trees and tree guards are erected.  They should support and protect the trees for the next 15 years or so.  The main pests will be sheep and deer, rubbing and trying to graze through the mesh, and voles nibbling the bark on the ground.  Squirrels could also be a problem we will need to watch out for.  

A mixture of soil and mushroom compost is returned around the root balls.  This combination should provide a breakdown of organic matter that will provide nutrients for the young trees.  This organic matter should also help retain moisture for longer periods of time through the summer.

A generous helping of bark chipping has also been applied within the tree guards to stop grass weeds from competing for moisture and nutrients

I guess in reality once the trees are planted the hard work will begin.  There will be annual pruning to encourage the trees to grow upwards and out from the top of the guards.  This pruning won't start for another 12 months or so which will allow a little bit of time to read up on the subject and maybe even get some training!  For the time being though we can assess the trees development through their first year and look forward to some tasty eating and cooking apples in the years ahead!