DESPITE the constant changes to the weather, with almost another inch of rain falling over the last week, our swallows have arrived on time and a thrush seems to spend the days singing from the top of a tree in our garden. We have had a day or two of sunshine but the chilly days are never far away. I walked to the farm buildings to have a look at the two herds of heifers, being very aware that the minute they saw me may signal their return to the great outdoors.This proved to be the case as the second I came into view they all stood up and came rushing to me. Unfortunately the grass is not growing well and the ground a little wet for them to be allowed into the fields, but hopefully turnout will be soon. There is other work that needs doing: the fields to be planted with maize are waiting to be cultivated and some fields of winter cereals need spraying with herbicides and fungicides, as advised by our agronomist following our crop inspection.

However, there are always plenty of jobs to do. Nathan, our part-time student studying at Lackham College, has mucked out the bull pen and the bull has been moved from a barn he has shared with the heifers back to his pen next to the milking cows. When the cows are turned out he will join them in the field. Richard and Ian have been doing some foot trimming using a cattle crush, where the animals can be safely restrained and the hooves held in place with a number of supporting straps. Ian and Nathan have put the silage sides on one of the trailers to be used to transport the grass back to the silage clamp, when silage-making time arrives. They have also been checking fences, repairing any that are broken, especially electric fences damaged by deer over the winter.

During the week Adele phoned to say that they had passed their farm assurance inspection and that they were hoping to turn their milking cows out the following day. The 18-month-old heifers have been out for a week as they have more grass than us. Adele also told me that the last calf to be born has now left Chuggaton Farm, so no more calves to feed til next autumn!

Steve is waiting to put some nitrogen fertiliser onto a field of wheat grown for wholecrop silage and the maize has to be planted.

Richard and I recently attended the 4th Annual Spring Celebration of The Marlborough Downs Nature Enhancement Partnership (MDNEA) held at Marlborough Golf Club. Unfortunately the three-year funding for the Nature Improvement Areas, of which the Marlborough Downs is the only farmer-led site, has finished, but there is great enthusiasm to continue to build on the achievements so far under the watchful eye of Dr Gemma Batten.

During the evening, which included a delicious supper, presentations were given on the benefits to flora, fauna and the community as a result of the partnership. These included an update on the state of the tree sparrow and other farmland birds, also an extremely interesting talk about pollinators highlighting the importance of solitary and bumble bees, which belong to the family of wild bees. There is a programme of events being held within the MDNEA throughout the year to suit all ages and abilities.

Mid-week Richard and I were stewards at a Field to Food learning day held on the Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet. It was the first time the society had held such an event, which involved a considerable amount of planning, with nearly 1,000 eight to 11-year-old schoolchildren attending the event. It was a bright, sunny day and although everything was under cover, some of the teachers choose to take their classes out onto the grass for a picnic lunch. The day ran very smoothly, with the stewards guiding their classes around a large number of fixed displays, where farmers were on hand to talk to the children and answer questions. Next week I will tell you what was on display.