The flock are thoroughly being spoilt with a selection of summer grazing paddocks now being offered. The recent weather has kick-started the field and it looks as though we will be able to cut and bale in July.
We are set to shear in the coming weeks. We have a mixture of ewes and yearlings to shear, which when done makes them look like skinny goats. The weather changing again will cause us a headache as the summer grazing has no field shelter and the fleece needs to be dry to be cut. These days we use the fleece for matting and weed control as it is difficult to sell, as there is not much demand – a sign of the times in which we live.
Did you know that fleece stops slugs and snails as they will not crawl over it? It contains moisture in the soil and stops it drying out, and the natural nutrients in fleece are a natural fertiliser.
Rounding them up will require the rails to be moved to make a race to feed them through – it is a good time to check them underneath for injuries, ticks and abnormalities. The sheep become remarkably compliant when being shorn, almost as if they are ready to lose that heavy coat – it must be a relief. The ginger biscuits help, of course, too!
I am off to harvest the elderflower in the next few days, best harvested before the sun gets too hot when the buds are freshly open. I am making cordial. The smell of the flowers soaking overnight infusing before using is so summery. The surplus flowers can be added to fruit when cooking, adding a taste of summer to crumbles, and also fried to make elderflower fritters. Elderflower Gin is becoming popular and looks easy, so I might diversify this year and try that, too.

Him outdoors is about to get busy on other people’s fields, now baling hay and dodging the rain. We have just acquired a new bit of kit which will make cutting our own field much easier. The old baler always managed to miss tying the string in the sixth bale and I would end up running after it, scooping it up to put back in the row for the tractor to pick up again. Walking behind the baler is a thankless task, usually baking hot, dusty and hard graft. The thought of some of that elderflower cordial chilled and waiting for me will keep me going, I am sure.
The ewe lambs have now had their lambs weaned and are enjoying the peace and grazing on the hillside. The lambs remain at the field and have chosen me to be their token human, often butting their heads for a tickle – sheep love head rubs.
One of our best ewes has sadly passed away due to complications from mastitis, one of the downsides of multiple births. The sheep have such big personalities and it is hard to say goodbye to a favourite. She leaves behind the legacy of three beautiful lambs and will never be forgotten. It caught us by surprise as the lambs were six weeks old – she put up a good fight but the infection became too much for her in the end. There is much sadness at the field but hope that the lambs remain strong and the grass continues to grow. That’s farming.

by Tria Stebbing