Another dry month with only 43mm of rain yet it seems to have just arrived at the wrong times to allow us to really get on with the field work.

Richardsons have emptied the slurry store again this time on the Humpety Back and Peacocks fields, here is Chris in action.

It was dry enough during the first week to plough the Milestone field this is to be sown with spring oats and grass and here is Graham in action with the plough.

The weather seemed to promise us early sowing but the next day’s pour down stopped that and he rain since has meant at time of writing the seeds are still in the bags un-sown.

We have however been carrying on with the work to prepare the nature trail and here is Perry our latest works experience “victim” helping me to put in a gate by the pond.

The gate will allow access to the soon to be built dipping platform allowing safe pond dips for visitors. We have also put down stone to create a drier surface.

Next was the platform we hired a JCB digger and driver from local firm Winsford Plant hire and besides clearing a pile of soil near the new picnic area we used the digger arm to bash the posts in to hold the platform.

It was as you see a very wet day (yeh I think he fell in the pond:-) and here I am holding a post together with a damp Peter and Natalie who also assisted.

Next was to attach the timbers which carry the deck and here is Simon in action with the drill and finally the floor is nailed on.

We only need to put on the safety rails and it will be finished.

The picnic area is now levelled and we are putting up the Pagoda with the aid of Simon Wood our countryside ranger friend pictured here bolting the roof on.

The area should be nice when we have fenced it off.

We have had four calves born this month from three cows all are Angus bulls and all doing well.

We are currently testing our latest equipment, a PC linked weather station, and a link to the test page should be available soon.

Spring is with us and these wild Primroses were pictured by the pond early in the month when Perry and I were putting in the gate. For more see our nature report

 

 

See you next month PHIL.

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