Brambles

Another storm, but this time, today, with sunshine.  It does feel as if we have not seen sunshine for many many days.  Today the wind is from the north, and the sea is a vibrant turquoise with white horses and rolling waves breaking on the rocks below the house. I am grateful that we have new double glazed doors on the front of the house, it would be freezing without them protecting us from the wind. 

It has been a hard winter for the sheep this winter. Usually our ewe hoggs thrive over their first winter enjoying the feed they get each morning.  But this winter they are not looking as good as they usually do. Farmer is dreaming of being able to keep them in next winter, so that they don't have to weather the wind and the seemingly perpetual rain.  I can't remember what the percentage of energy it is that out wintered animals use just keeping warm, but it is considerable.

Every morning they wait for the sound of the Farmer's quad bike.  Today at least their backs are drying after the sleet and snow of the last few days.

Farmer has to check every clump of brambles in the field at the moment to make sure none of the hoggs have got stuck in them.   Over the last few years of more strict conservation management grazing times we have seen the brambles increase, because of the timing of when the cows can graze particular fields. I might be partially to blame too, as I might ask that the cows be kept out of certain areas because of the wild flowers, which means the brambles get more out of hand.