We started the new term at our lovely site....but still waiting to finish the log cabin.  All structural work is done, the decorating's done.....just the floor to go in and the Air Source Heat pump to be plumbed in and we will have a wonderful cosy building.

Everyone is coping brilliantly with all the work going on around them - we have our break in the barn with Manny our horse at one end, and us at the other!

We've had several groups of volunteers here over the last two months, helping to make raised beds, sort the poly tunnel out, painting etc.

PIG NEWS!

Firstly, some sad news…..i’m afraid Sandy our original sow is no longer…we had to have her put to sleep.  A momentous occasion as she had been with us for so long.

We are hoping to buy in another sow to be with Tigger (a different blood line) and meanwhile we have Reggie the boar back with Tigger, and hope to have a litter in January 2020!

SHEEP NEWS!

The lambs have all been weaned, wormed and drenched and have gone up to their lovely pasture at Woodmancote.  The ewes have moved onto new pasture to dry off before we put the ram later this month

Dennis arriving!

We are off to buy a new ram on Friday – Dennis…he’s a pedigree Wiltshire and are looking forward to meeting him.  He will be going out with his girls on 21 October

VEG PRODUCTION!

We have the poly tunnel nearly sorted - lots of raised beds made by Zurich Insurance, and outside we have an area for vegetables - raised beds made by Ecclesiastical Insurance.

Our HQ is nearly ready!  The plumber is there putting toilets in the newly converted porta cabin.   The main log cabin is painted and the floor's nearly finished and we are busy sorting out furniture for it.....hopefully we will be using it post half term break (early November!)

nearly summer holidays!

We have sold 3 of Tigger's weaners.   The two boars are going to the Rare Breed Sale at Kempsford on 2 August to sell, and we will probably keep the other two gilts to sell later.

i've been wallowing!

Enjoying the peace and sunshine!

We are also taking Barnaby the Wiltshire Horn Ram as we have used him for the last two seasons, and now need a new ram.

The log cabin - just waiting for the french windows to be fitted

The pipework for the under floor heating being installed

We finish for the summer holidays next Monday with our end of term celebration lunch and certificates.

We then run sour holiday activities for children in August 

News!

Pig News!

excaping piglet!!

 All 7 piglets are doing well now and Tigger is feeding them brilliantly. They are due to be weaned this week, and we have got 3 gilts booked to sell already

Sheep News!  We have been busy worming, vitamin drenching and spraying our flock with fly repellent …this weather is playing havoc!  And.....we had another lamb arrive last weekend!!

such a good mum ....her first lamb!

unexpected arrival!

can you spot the ducks?

filming for Dementia training

 Hens & Ducks!

The ducks and hens are settling into their new location – although the hens have gone off the lay a bit. 

Vegs / Salads

The poly tunnel is up!  We have lots of broad beans, and salads so if you would like any veg get in touch with us

Feel Good dementia mornings – we had a visit from the Big Lottery with Dementia Adventure last week, as our Care Farm has been chosen as one of the best providers for dementia – Big Lottery have been funding the three year training programme.  Dementia Adventure are coming to make a short film in two weeks.   If you know anyone suffering with Dementia who would like to come and join us, we have a small group visiting with their carers, every Tuesday.  

HALF TERM!

We have not stopped for half term this May, as we have been shut for 5 weeks; whilst we moved everything (well most of it) from the old site to the new site!

Tigger happily wallowing with her piglets!

The students are all back, and very excited about our new location!  We had an induction the first week, in order to show them the ‘danger’ zones; where builders are working on the new building – along with any other potential hazards.

The Lord Lieutenant chatting to our students

The electricity is being installed the second week of June, which will be a great help…as we are bringing in thermos’s for our break at present!

Pig News!

Tigger has farrowed!  She had 10 piglets, but sadly managed to squash three the first couple of nights.  I think she was extremely tired and perhaps a little confused with the moving to her new location.   However, all 7 are doing well now and she is feeding them brilliantly.

Our stand at Oxtalls Big Health Check
Day

Sheep News!

We took the three triplet ram lambs, and one other orphan lamb to the BIG HEALTH CHECK DAY today at Oxtalls Tennis Centre in Gloucester.  It’s an event we attend every year, and is now in its fourth year.  The event hopes to bring together as many different community provisions as possible under one umbrella, so that adults and children with learning difficulties can see what’s out there. 

Vegs / Salads

We have masses of seedlings planted out and lots of broad bean plants blossoming.   The poly tunnel is due to be moved this week – so it will be all systems go from then onwards.  Do get in touch if you would like a veg box Emma:07966 255 631

nEWS!

Pig News!

One of our boars is off to Ireland to be part of a special AI (artificial insemination) programme for rare breed pigs!  He’s gone into quarantine for a month first before being shipped off!  The other boar is going off to the butchers next weekend.

We are expecting Tigger to farrow the first week of May, so are busy trying to get the nursery set up over at the new site in readiness!

Sheep News!

Lambing is progressing SLOWLY – the ram was out with the ewes for way too long, and we will have some arrivals as late as May I reckon…we have had to take the triplet ewes off Scarlet, as she was getting too sore with constant sucking and very sharp teeth – they had nearly eaten through one of her teats!

Hens & Ducks!

One of our lovely Dutch cross bantams has hatched 7 chicks – we are keeping them in the poly tunnel as it’s too cold yet for them out with the others.

Vegs / Salads

We are potting up / planting out as much as we can in portable pots/troughs so that we can just move them across later on to plant out in the raised beds.

Volunteer Groups!

St James Place arrived with 14 willing volunteers, on another lovely sunny day, and helped clear a lot of stone over at the new site; filling in holes, clearing an area for the farrowing pen, and sawing lengths ready for the raised beds!

this blackbird decided to make
her nest inside a bridle in our
tack room!

These are her offspring
just hatched!

Work is progressing with our building on the new site!

Spring Quiz!

Our Spring Quiz was a great success and we raised over £400 during the evening.  If you haven’t ventured out for one of these historic events do make sure you book in for our Autumn Quiz in October!

Pig News!

Reggie has gone back, and one of our young boars is off to Ireland to be part of a major breeding programme.  He will be one of the best examples of blood lines from Oxford Sandy and Blacks along with other rare breed examples.

We are taking pigs to the abattoir on Sunday – some are going to Taylors the Butchers in Minchinhampton, and some will be coming back here.

We will have more pork available mid April– ready for Easter.

Sheep News!

lambs out grazing

Lambing is underway – so we are exhausted!  we are using our newly erected barn at the new location!.  Scarlet who was scanned for twins had triplets this week!  I think she’s been in shock ever since, and hasn’t had quite enough milk so I have been topping her lambs (all three are ram lambs) up with bottle milk.

We have had 7 ewes lamb so far.

Hens & Ducks!

We have hen, duck and bantam eggs for sale - some at Jolly Nice at Frampton Mansell - they have our duck and bantam eggs

new arrivals!  we are keeping them
in the poly tunnel for now!

Vegs / Salads

We are potting up / planting out as much as we can in portable pots/troughs so that we can just move them across later on to plant out in the raised beds.

Work has finally started on the log cabin....but of course the weather went on the turn this week - so it's slow, but the fencing is going up speedily all round the site!

view early in the morning at new
site

work starting on the log cabin!

we found this in the tack room!

Pig News!

Reggie is ready to go home …..we definitely think Tigger is pregnant but not sure if Sandy will be – however we should have piglets in Mid May …..at their new location!

We should have pork available end of March/beginning of April – ready for Easter.

Sheep News!

The Ewes are looking great and thoroughly enjoying being back on the Bank field.  Lambing is due to start second week of March

Hens & Ducks!

The Hens and ducks are finally laying again ….although the ducks are a bit sporadic …think it’s the dreaded weather!  

Vegs / Salads

We are potting up / planting out as much as we can in portable pots/troughs so that we can just move them across later on to plant out in the raised beds.

We have a few salads now, and a few vegs but should have more by March.

Visitors!

We were lucky to have a visit from Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, just before Christmas.  He came to visit when Paternoster School were here, and was very impressed with our set up – it helped that we had fantastic feedback from the teacher!  Today we were honoured to have the High Sheriff visiting – Charles Martell!  It was lovely to show him round with the students, and talk about all the animals here.  We took him over to show him our new location and it was quite magical….no wind, beautiful sunshine and so tranquil – cant wait till we are actually open up and running later in the year.

a present from the High Sheriff - we made sure all students, volunteers and staff had a slice to take home!

Our Spring Quiz is on Friday 22 March at North Cerney Village Hall – 7.30pm further details opposite!

OPEN DAY AT SCF – Monday 18 March – if you would like to see what we do first hand, please come and see us – we only ask that you email/ring before so that we can tell students ….and make enough cake!  gerry@scrubditchcarefarm.org.uk

the barn going up!