Farm Update November/December 2021

The weather at this time of year is always a challenge. Torrential rain, extreme cold and wind, made it more difficult to keep the animals, as well as the students and staff, safe and warm. So we deep-bedded our animals pens and turned up the heating ready for when the winter actually arrives.

After our piglets left, we reintroduced our two sows back in the same enclosure. However, Big Pig, who gave us our piglets, was having none of it....we think she is enjoying her 'me' time. We are intending to put them back together at some point, if only to give them extra warmth in the cold weather.

We were disappointed to learn that bird flu was back in the UK and the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone came in to force on 3 November 2021. As we had feared, following previous outbreaks, this was extended to include housing measures on 29 November 2021. However, due to past experience we had already confined our poultry to their houses, including our latest addition, Henrietta the peahen who arrived in October, and they will likely remain there until the Spring.

On the plus side, four gorgeous Hereford heifers arrived on site in mid-November, as we are housing them over winter for a local farmer. They are 18 months old and called Tulip, Buttercup, Daisy and Lily. Photos will follow when we can get them to all pose together.

We were delighted that St James' Christmas Tree festival took place in Trowbridge from 30 November - 3 December 2021. We were very pleased to be invited to display a tree again, especially as the festival had to be cancelled due to COVID restrictions last year. Lucy, one of support workers and stock people did a fantastic job decorating our tree again with the help of some of our students.

We are all counting down to Christmas, which hopefully, we will be able to celebrate in a little more style this year, restrictions permitting. It may be a little early but we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas; take care and stay safe.  Hopefully, we will be open once again to visitors some time in 2022!