New Life for 2020
At the time of writing, the lingering mists of winter cling to the leafless woods. Rain, ever present in the South-west, rendered the heavy clay land useless for a trial of keeping our 16 strong herd of Devon Ruby Cattle out and about. The aim had been to open up the whole farm so they could forage the woodlands, meadows and wet fens. Not so. And with one particular field under a “Culm Grassland’ restoration scheme, it became clear that, despite best made plans, and more rain than Noah might have seen on the first few days of the flood, we would be forced to bring them in to see out the the soaking weather; their feet action, when too numerous, poaches the land which can then become compacted and refuses to accept rainfall like it should.
The Atlantic stream of wet did ease slightly just before Christmas, and, as we are currently working hard on our house (Nature Barn), we pressed on with lots of re-pointing and repair works in time to down tools before the festive season.
Nature Barn after some serious TLC and re-pointing. Now ready for the timber frame corner.
It is strange how sometimes just seeing a few days of sun during winter can remind you of what the spring will hold. Frost seemed to evade us when the sun did shine, which was perfect for our lime mortar, but there is a particular brilliance to a morning when those perfect little crystals cling to everything. It has an ephemeral charm that nothing can match. The earlier you see in the day, the more perfect it seems to be.
Christmas and New Year came and went in their traditionally manic fashion, and after 4 months of solid building, this one was really needed. Bella and I escaped to Norfolk to my old home and spent many hours walking and conversing with the family. The ever present deliberations of how to offer wildlife a long term future in our countryside and cities was one of the richest topics; the choice of books reflecting this. It seems important in these times to never stop learning. For transitioning to an ecologically based model requires careful thought and perpetual iterations. No one is perfect, but together we will do it.
Returning to Devon, and on a sunny morning the day after New Year, Jackie came down from the cow barn with big news.
“You better come quick.. We’ve got a new calf!”
Totally unexpected. A little Bull. It seems that it was wet for a reason.. as we would never have found him if they had still been foraging the landscape.
More to come.
Toby