Having spent a relaxing Christmas Day with Melissa and her family, Boxing Day was just a little more energetic. Early in the morning I was called to ask if I would like to accompany Melissa and the twins on a pony ride. I arrived at their home to find my mount, their fell pony Muzzy, groomed, tacked up and waiting (growing older does have some benefits!). We spent a very pleasant hour riding along the country roads nearby, with the highlight being the sighting of five herons in a field on the edge of Biddestone. We also saw a pair of buzzards in another field before a large, 'croaking', raven flew overhead.

The weather continues to be dull, often rather windy, with more rainfall than previous weeks. We had a total of 40.25mm, most of which fell mid-week. The temperature during the week has been quite mild for the time of year, with a top evening recording of 13.4C, but one early morning frost saw the temperature dive to 2.4C, although it very quickly rose again.

Despite the wet weather, everything has run smoothly here, also on Stowell and Chuggaton Farms. On Manor Farm six cows have given birth to Aberdeen Angus x calves and I am pleased to say that all mums and babies are doing well. Adele, Steve, Dominic and Bethany, from Chuggaton Farm, were able to join a large family gathering here on December 27, as their part-time workers were happy to look after things on the farm that day.

In between some time off with their families Kevin and Mark have been busy doing sheep work. The two small flocks of ewes and rams, grazing here on Manor Farm, have been taken back to Stowell Farm. Kevin and Mark used one of the sheep dogs, a Bearded Collie called Pepper to help gather the sheep and then load them into a stock trailer. This process was made easier with the use of an "alligator handling system", which basically consists of a set of aluminium hurdles, transported on wheels behind a towing vehicle, which can easily be assembled into a corral when needed.

On arrival at Stowell Farm the rams were removed and put with others, already penned together and will receive some tender, loving care. The ewes were unloaded into barns, where they will remain with the rest of the flock until their lambs are born in March. At the moment the ewes are being fed twice a day with an equal mixture of grass and lucerne silage plus minerals. However, a flock of 400 ewes has been moved to a drier area of pasture which needs grazing. We still have two groups of wethers (castrated lambs) left on Manor Farm, although they will be leaving soon. On Stowell all the wethers have been moved to fresh grazing areas, as have the ewe lambs, which will be kept for breeding. Due to the current low lamb price, Kevin and Mark are deciding if they will finish the wethers or sell them on as stores.

Early next week all the pregnant ewes will be scanned to find out how many lambs they are carrying, after which they will be sorted into groups expecting singles, twins or multiples.

On New Year's Day I went for a walk around the farm. The ground is very wet with large pools of water standing in places and ditches full to bursting, but few signs of life in the dull, damp conditions. We did, however, have some unusual visitors that day, three young mute swans. Swans are a close relative of ducks and geese, usually only found in temperate environments. They are almost entirely herbivorous, eating roots, leaves, stems and tubers of aquatic plants. Mute swans have a lifespan of about 10 years and although they are not fully mature until they are over four, will often pair for life from 20 months.

May I now wish you all a happy and healthy new year.