LOCATION!

We are located 4 miles north of Cirencester, between the villages of North Cerney, and Woodmancote. From A435 you take the turning towards Bagendon, go up past the Church to the T junction. Turn right towards Woodmancote and Scrubditch Farm is approximately 100 yards on the right. The Care Farm is situated down the drive, up the track on the left.
From A417, turn off at Perrotts Brook/Daglingworth, and proceed towards Perrotts Brook. Just before the A435, turn left towards Woodmancote. Go for approximately 1 1/2 miles and Scrubditch Farm is on the right, just past the Bagendon/North Cerney Cross Roads.

Thursday 31 March 2016

LAMBING HAS STARTED!

We had our first set of twins at around 2am Tuesday 29th March!  I came out to check the ewes in the yard (we bring them in each night now so it's easier to keep an eye on them / keep them warm) and there they were...clever mum!  We have had a lovely big single ewe lamb, and one other set of twins so far....two or three others look very close and with the lovely sunny days we are having they should arrive soon (I hope,  as it's exhausting getting up in the night twice for days on end)
Mike at one of our Easter
Parties

Sad news, a good friend, and former volunteer passed away recently; Mike Hyams.  He was one of our first volunteers here at the Care Farm, and will be sorely missed.  He also helped out at the RDA at Coates, nr Cirencestser, and was the most gentle of men, and always got on so well with everybody.
Gerry and i represented the Care Farm at his funeral this week.
Mike working with Mark
fixing our recycled hay rack

Gerry and i went to a very interesting talk and presentation last weekend, on the history of Oxford Sandy & Black pigs...so we now know how the breed was started,and all the finer points on 'breed standards'!  We also picked up some 'Vorwerk' eggs for our incubator - let's hope we have better luck this year than previous years....watch this space!

Off to check on those ewes again now.....

Thursday 24 March 2016

Happy Easter!

We have had a really busy couple of weeks, starting with our Open days last week.  The students were great showing our visitors around ...they are really proud of what they accomplish.

This week, we have been moving our livestock around - firstly, we moved Perry the boar in with Hazel...she was thrilled (not so sure about him...) although they seem very settled now.  Sandy is having a lovely time on her own and putting on weight - so hopefully piglets towards the end of April.  We will leave Perry in with Hazel for at least six weeks, to make sure she is covered.

We then brought the 14 lambing ewes back up to the farm.  They are amazing....coming to call and walking back across the fields with the students; straight down the track and into the field here!


Sunset at the Care Farm

Alan on duty!
Yesterday, we took the Annabel and Alice to a 'transition event' at the National Star College for the day, along with 4 hens and the bantam and her chicks...!  Gerry, and Alan were on duty with two regular students - they all behaved beautifully!

The other two ewe lambs that we are training have gone down to join their friends at Perrotts Brook for a week or so and then we will move them back to the bank.

The ewes should start lambing this weekend, so we will bring them in each night from now onwards.  They are having two hard feeds per day (approximately 1 1/2 lbs each) and hopefully that means they get enough to support the growth of their lambs.

Today to end the term we all had a picnic....in the poly tunnel!  It was the largest space inside and warm - we are thinking of loaning it out as a venue now....all the tables and chairs down the centre and a 'pick your own' salad each side!  Thank you to all our staff, volunteers and students that supplied cakes and salads.

When we start back again on 11 April, we should have lambs!  Happy Easter everyone!


Monday 7 March 2016

photos!


one of our bantams getting a bit too friendly!
feeding the pregnant ewes

Patch!