Duck Launching

2006 will go down in my memory as the return to "Flaming June". The weather really has been fantastic over the last few weeks in particular. Long days of unbroken skies, light breezes and heavy dews has meant that the growing season has now taken off in earnest.


One of the best years for the May Tree blossom too; it really is stunning with the rich scent and vivid white emblazoned on the landscape.

Last year we were cutting hay by the second week in July, but looking at the fields now, I think we are not far away from having to make a start. This year we are planning to make small bale hay and sell some of our surplus. Nowadays it is very hard to find farmers who are still making small bales - they all prefer to do the large round bales which is all fine and dandy if you have all the heavy tractors and forks to lift them. For horse owners in particular this format is completely unworkable. The top fields now produce some really lovely hay; when you consider our first season saw just 1000 or so poor bales, this year should reap nearer 5,000 and the smell - well, there's just nothing quite like it.

After a clutch of Aylesbury Ducks finally hatched out a couple of weeks ago, we had been keeping them in a stable whilst they were so vunerable, but today Henry and I transported them in buckets to "launch" them on the pond. They loved it and hardly got out all day. As their mother was fox fodder just before they hatched out, they seem to have been "adopted" by a broody goose whose eggs all went bad, so things have turned up trumps for all concerned.


Henry and I made a treck over to Emsworthy afterwards to check out the Dartmoor Pony herd. We had a ramble en-route in the mire which is looking stunning with all the rare orchids and bog flora. We found nearly 10 varieties of frog in the reeds and lots of the saught after Marsh Frittilery Butterflies. Damsel Flies and Dragon Flies could also be spotted flitting from leaf to leaf.



Those of you who are following the progress of Batty Two after her unfortunate episode with a bog, will be relieved to hear that she is now well on the mend. She had a plate put in her leg at Bristol Vetinarary School and it is healing well. We had to rush her back up there last week as an absess had developed under the splint, but that seems to be improving now too.

Copper and I went out for a ride this evening but momentarily parted company when we were set upon by a herd of "playful" cattle. Stampeding towards us, Copper took off in the other direction and I was not as prepared as I should have been so ended up on the deck. Fortunately she didn't tank off too far and I was back on before long, but I know I will be feeling it tomorrow and the "Deep Heat" has just run out!

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