We have started this year’s hedging. A little early as there are still leaves on the trees, but the hedging window is so small down here in sunny Devon, and the buds appear on the trees as early as January. But the leaves are dying back (how to spot Ash die back when there is every tree die back going on?)
So we coppiced some willow, and put them through our leave removal system. Also known as: the sheep.
We are two sheep down this week, well we still have them, but as mutton in the freezer…, and this leaves us with our old girl Sharona, Betty of little brain, and the three Shetland ewes. It could get difficult next year as we now have the five sheep we really want to keep – views on this might change as there will be less grass and they get hungry through the winter – this always brings out the worst behaviour. If the Shetlands, with their browsing tendencies break out and eat the woodland, or Betty of the little brain continues to climb over the fences to eat the hedges and getting stuck, well opinions might differ. Sharona is a known entity, she is stiff and aged and grumpy. Mostly grumpy.
So, we dragged the trees over in a pile for the sheep to scoff, and cut lots of bramble and piled it high on the bonfire heap and opened the gate and let the sheep, now salivating on the other side of the gate – well Sharona and Betty of the little brain know the sound of sawing means tree food – the Shetlands thought the other two knew something. In rushed the sheep. Sharona and Betty OTLB scoffed leaves, and the Shetlands climbed the bonfire heap and ate brambles. I swear they are goats in disguise.
But saying that, a sheep that browses more than grazes could be a good thing – I watched one munching nettles today, so maybe the hungry winter will prove them to be keepers after all.
