In March I had great fun helping the tourism team at the
National Park with advanced promotion of their Lost Sheep in Pink Jerseys
campaign. Asked if it was possible to create a live pink jersey sheep I quickly
said yes. That said, I could not remember BATA stocking a pink spray!
The solution was a hairspray from Superdrug’s on-line
shop. It took a few cans but we got enough spray on to one of our Whitefaced
Woodland girls. The can states that it washes out in the shower… Well, the rain
will need to do that job as I have no intention of shampooing a ewe!
Residents, businesses and organisations across the North York Moors can register now and display a sheep in a pink jersey between 20 June and 20 September.
Residents, businesses and organisations across the North York Moors can register now and display a sheep in a pink jersey between 20 June and 20 September.
Visitors
will be asked to spot at least three lost sheep around the North York Moors and
coastal area, enter the details online with a chance to win a large selection
of prizes. They'll be able to enter as many times as they like, so there's an
incentive to spot the sheep in different places.
All of the details can be found on the Park website:
northyorkmoorstourism.com. We certainly did something right, the pink sheep and
I made the front page of the Yorkshire Post!
Last month I wrote about soil, grass and the part they play
in the success of the farm. One key element of pasture health is drainage.
We have already spent a great deal of time and effort
installing and repairing drains. I have always admired the effort that prior
generations invested in their construction. To walk out of the house every day
to dig, by hand, a metre under the surface, over 400 metres to move water away
is an awe inspiring achievement. Even to mend a broken drain leaves me with a
sense of a job well done, perhaps not immediately but over the following days
and weeks as a field dries. Of course it is more than likely that a mini-digger
is involved nowadays.
The picture shows a clay pot pipe drain that was found and
exposed to clear a blockage. The water is now flowing and this summer the same
dry grass area will contribute to a better hay crop.
Lambing Live is back on television. Lambs are due here in
early May so, attending various veterinary workshops I have been refreshing my
knowledge of the techniques/drugs that are available. The evenings are a good
opportunity to talk through challenges; a key discussion point being whether to
dip or spray iodine on the navel of the new born lambs. Which will be more
effective at controlling infection..?
Originally written for and published in the Esk Valley News, April 2014 issue.
