SBS Farm Blog May

So much has changed at the farm during the Easter holidays – the main boundary fencing is up with the unexpected bonus of a new gate into the farm area. Plans are in hand to erect a sign above and to grow a willow arch over the gate. Mrs Strugnall reported that all is almost ready to move in in the 18 moth old pigs – Ethel and Mabel, who are currently on a short holiday at a nearby alpaca farm. Mabel is black and Ethel sandy brown and these are hairy little kunekune pigs, originally bred by Maoris in New Zealand and a breed developed over centuries to be friendly and easy to manage!

Six brown rescue chickens have already taken up residence in the chicken coop and have quickly settled in – they are already laying eggs (which are delicious and have the lovely orange yolks) and I can confirm that they are settling well – chatty and busy! Each class will adopt a chicken and choose its name as well as checking on its progress and wellbeing.

The seedlings in the mini greenhouse and raised beds, planted by children in after school club, are doing well and they are busy developing new ideas, making signs and finding out about caring for the animals.

The garden area is looking beautiful with all the trees in leaf, most noticeably the fig trees and the willow circle. The palisade fencing will be extended all around this area to match the fencing by the woodland school.

Mrs Strugnall would like to pass on a huge thanks for all the donations and is hoping someone might have a shed to re-locate. If the cabin plan comes to fruition, she would like this to house tools, after school club resources and equipment for use by the children with another smaller shed for tools that only adults can access.

How else can you help? A working party will be arranged soon to take down a small section of old fencing that is not in the right place and to create a path through to the compost area – this will be bordered by a bank to help with drainage, and this will be planted out with bluebells and wild flowers to stabilise it. Dates will be announced very soon.

Suzanne – Nanna to Lara Rose in Gruffalo