Autumn Nature Notes

The fruits and berries in the hedges are now ripe and the wood pigeons feed on the elderberries and acorns. By the third week of September the swallows will have left on their annual journey to Africa. There is a golden glow as the leaves change colour and in November it is dark by 4.30pm.

Animals

Autumn is the season of sheep sales and fat lambs and cattle continue to be sold each week. As the fields get wetter the cattle are brought inside and the outside cattle get extra food and silage.

Winter Nature Notes

The first frosts and snow leave the hedges and trees bare. It is a good time to see things usually hidden from sight such as the remains of a bird’s nest. Wood pigeons are busy looking for food and the tawny owl may be heard in February looking for a mate.

Animals

Feeding the animals takes more time now and there is always indoor maintenance – the sheds need to be cleared out of muck and it is stacked ready to be spread in the Spring. A cow produces 3 – 4 tonnes of manure in a year!