A New Hobby! Proddy Mat Making

On Sunday I went to Killhope Lead Mining Centre in Weardale to take part in a Proddy Mat Workshop.  I absolutely loved it and brought home a part completed mini mat which, when finished, will become a wall hanging.  When making proddy mats you work on the reverse side so this is what you can see in the photo.  Its great when you turn it over and see all the colours fused together.  The finished result will (hopefully!) be a dales scene complete with meadow, river, fell and sky.  I can't wait to get started on it again but have to wait until I can borrow a frame.  Once I get going I will need an endless supply of wool coats, wool jumpers or fleeces to cut up to make the 'clippies' so please don't throw anything away that I may be able to use.   

Twins Calves Again

This morning twin calves were born outside in Firs High Pasture.
Unusually, this is the second set of twins born on the farm this year.

It was a bright morning but a bitterly cold north wind blowing so Chris decided it would be best to bring cow and calves into the buildings. Also this way he can make sure that both calves are feeding and doing well.  Chris is makes the job of moving the cow look easy in this photo but don't be fooled!  Cows with new calves are not to be trusted and Chris was exercising extreme caution.  She soon realised that something was up when the tractor and trailor and quad bike appeared in the field and the darker calf got seperated from its Mum.  I stayed in safety of the bike trailer and left the fun and games to the men. Once or twice she looked as if she might run at them and they got out of her way very quickly indeed!   

When she had both calves with her she settled down and was soon loaded into the trailor.

Red Sky at Night, Shepherd's Delight

Sunset over Hill Top

 

Haymaking with Clive the 35!

At last we have been promised some fine summer weather so it is all hands on deck to get the grass cut and made into hay.  Chris attached the Krugger to Clive the 35 who does just as good a job in the hay fields as our modern tractors.



Hay making in the field opposite Pry House

  

Clipping



The sheep are gathered off the fell or brought out of the fields and driven down the road to the farm to be clipped



Chris and Ray shearing the ewes.  The clipping machines are attached to the tractors and run off the tractor battery.

The fleece is kept in one piece during clipping.  Chris, Ray and Andrew have around 1500 sheep to clip.  Each fleece has to be folded and then packed in special wool bags.  In September they are collected by the Wool Board.  Swaledale wool is coarse and has little commercial value but it is essential for the welfare of the sheep that they are sheared every year. 

Making Silage at Wains Wath

Today it has been dry (well almost).  This field was cut this morning and then tossed about and spread out to dry.  The weather  is so unsettled that we can't risk leaving it overnight as it is forecast to rain (again) tomorrow.  We would rather make it into hay but that requires a minimum of 3 perfectly dry, sunny  days (in succession).  That, as I'm sure you are aware, would require a miracle!!     

So it has been made into round bale silage which we will feed to the cows during the winter.  Here Andrew waits with the baler while his Dad makes the grass into rows.

Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre Farm Walk

Part of the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre event programme was a Farm Walk.  Chris kindly volunteered to lead the walk through our upland hay meadows and then onto the moor and up to Birkdale Tarn.  After taking in the panoramic views and vastness of the open fell the walk decended through our sheltered pastures where some of the Pry House ewes are rearing twins and finished with a stroll along the banks of the Swale.  Although the event wasn't well supported Mr & Mrs Hunt from Low Row thoroughly enjoyed the experience.