AUTUMN TERM BEGINS!

Dear all, after the hottest summer on record, we are now starting our next term.  During the summer holidays Tigger (yes the runt of last year's litter) had her first brood - 9 gorgeous piglets!  They are all doing well, although we do seem to have Tigger no. 2 who is quite a bit smaller....we were worried we would lose her during the first 24 hours, and ended up giving her 'lamb quick start' as we didn't have anything hand for piglets!

We took Tigger,  her piglets, our halter trained ewes, Beatrice & Alice, and 3 bantams to a Fete last weekend - they all behaved beautifully, and caused a real stir in the grounds of a beautiful house in the Cotswolds!  Tigger managed to kick over her water and make herself a wallow...and of course the piglets all joined in....hopefully that small bit of garden will grow back again!

The lambs have all been weaned, and the ewes are getting ready to be 'flushed' on some lush grass before we put Barnaby the ram out with them again in October.   He had to have a quick operation in July as his horns were starting to grow round into the side of his face.......there was a lot of blood when the vet sawed them off (having first given him a pain killer) and i sat astride him to keep him still!  They look fine now....and he looks in peak condition.

The ducks seem to have gone off the lay again sadly.....it happened last year - let's hope it's not for so long this time.   Hens are laying a bit, but the bantams also seem to have stopped - i think it's the changing weather....

Our funding Appeal is still going strong - we are nearly there, and hope to start work before the end of September, on the entrance to the new site.

We have been running a very successful weekly dementia session, and will be continuing during the Autumn - anyone with dementia (and their carer) is welcome.  The sessions are similar to those we do with our students - feeding the animals, planting and picking produce, and having a chat over tea and coffee (with cake of course!)

Yet again technology has got the better of me, and the photos i was hoping to upload still appear to be in my phone....and not in my dropbox as i thought - next time !