September 2011

The dry spring inhibited grass growth and we feared that the volume of hay and silage would be well below our requirements. However, thanks to early summer rain, we were able to complete 3 silage clamps. The weather conditions in September have stimulated grass growth and, most unusually, we have been able to make an additional clamp of silage, which will leave us better prepared to cope with inclement weather this coming winter.

Harvest yields have been better than we had anticipated earlier in the year, although the wet weather over the summer has made it a struggle to bring it in. Cereals were completed by early September but we are still attempting to finish the vetches. The promise of a window of fine weather should see us finish later this week. We are endeavouring to take a very late hay crop although we are relying on the ‘Indian summer’ which has been forecast.

The animals are all enjoying the autumn flush of grass and the dairy cows are milking extremely well. We have purchased a new mill for the production of animal feed and this will be installed in the next couple of weeks.

There has been a great improvement in the number of yellow wagtails this autumn; approximately 40 have been spotted around one of herds of cows. There were many grasshopper warblers in the last fields of oats. These birds stay in the middle of the crop and are very loathe to leave it; when eventually forced to do so they could be seen diving for cover which could be the nearest hedgerow or even into the lines of straw left behind the combine.

Now begins the long schedule of autumn work as we try to have all the winter cops sown before the beginning of November.

Summer news by Henry Edmunds

Summer rain and a touch of seasonal warmth have at last combined together to persuade our faltering grass to grow. White clover, lucerne and sainfoin are providing carpets of nutritious fodder for our cattle and sheep.

Silage making is again on the go with wide corridors left for our nesting corn buntings. Most chicks appear to have fledged and gone, but a couple of pairs are still holding territory. We now have a significant proportion of the total Hampshire population of this rapidly declining bird so every effort is being made to ensure breeding success.

One pair of Lapwings has two unfledged chicks which are being protected by an electric fence run around the periphery of their nesting area. Without this protection they would have no chance against the marauding foxes which abound in this area. I sleep with my fingers crossed every night in the hope that they survive for the following day. They still have about 18 days to go before fledging. Will they make it?

Large aggregations of a very small bee called Lasioglossum are gathering on the heads of a Bromus grass, for unknown reasons.

I should be interested to hear from anyone who can offer an explanation. Please contact me by email:
Admin@cholderton-estate.co.uk

The cereal harvest is really upon us and we are desperate to try and complete silage making before we start combining.

Stubble turnips are being sown on ground previously growing oats and vetch for silage. These will provide autumnal grazing for the cattle and sheep.

Summer 2011

A further spell of dry weather over the past few weeks accompanied by cold nights combined to inhibit grass growth. However, the pastures have responded to the recent rains and the general rise in temperature. Grass cutting is underway and one clamp of silage has been completed. The start of the second clamp has been delayed slightly as we identify the nesting sites of Corn Buntings prior to cutting the grass.

The dairy cows are milking well even though the grass is quite short. The first few batches of crossbred and Hampshire Down lambs have been sold. There is good demand for organically grown lamb and Cholderton produce features in a top grade London outlet. Yesterday the first Cleveland foal of the season, a filly, was born. There will be more to come.

The spring barley is looking remarkably good considering the unusual weather pattern of the past few months and compares very favourably with the conventional non-organic crops on neighbouring farms. The winter oats have profited from the recent rains.
The 5 pairs of Corn Buntings on the estate are more than have been seen for years and considerable care is being taken to ensure that their breeding cycle is completed successfully. The Lapwing flock is now growing. The 41 counted last week have increased to 52 including 17 fledged juveniles. One unfledged juvenile is in the same field. A Red Start and a newly fledged chick were spotted a few days ago. The Stone Curlews have bred again this year and the chicks are prospering in the areas set aside for them.

Last weekend we hosted a visit from members of the Reading Natural History Society. They spent the whole day touring the estate seeing how we protect wildlife habitats and promote biodiversity within the context of managing a commercially viable organic farming enterprise. Next week we look forward to welcoming the Hampshire Organic Gardeners to the estate.

Late Spring 2011

Thanks to the clement weather earlier in the year there was a very successful lambing season with minimum fatalities and few predations. Shearing of the Hampshire downs and crossbreds stared earlier this month and will be finished by 14th May.

The very dry weather in April retarded the growth of the spring grass. The decision was made to retain the cattle in their barns with winter feed for longer than usual. However, the much needed recent rain has accelerated grass growth and the cattle are at last in the pastures.

The very early sowing of the spring cereals turned out to be an excellent decision as the rain in March stimulated growth. The rain in the last 2 weeks has come at just the right time and the fields are looking very healthy.

The Cleveland Bays wintered well and 2 pure-bred foals are eagerly anticipated in the next 2 to 3 weeks. A stallion was entered in the King George Vth Cleveland Bay Stallion Champoinship Show at the University of Lincoln.

This has been a wonderful spring for wildlife. Hares abound all over the estate and migratory birds are back in numbers. Next time we hope to report on the progress of our lapwings and of course the stone curlew pairs for whom special breeding areas have been set aside.