During winter the hazel and willow trees growing on Gyrwe will be coppiced. This provides long, flexible rods to weave into the hurdle fencing you can see surrounding the fields. Even on our fairly small farm, a vast amount of hazel and willow is needed to keep the fences in good condition and animal-proof.

We will also be busy planting hedges, which will eventually reduce the amount of fencing needed.

SPRING CHICKENS
As the daylight starts to increase after the midwinter solstice, it is time to look forward to new springtime arrivals.

We hope for goslings, ducklings, chicks and lambs. Come and see if we are lucky enough to get them!

GOLDEN GRAINS
Hardy crops and vegetables are still growing out on Gyrwe, despite the onset of the cold weather. In the vegetable garden you can see kale, cabbage and leeks.

In one of the paddocks we have planted Maris Widgeon and Square Head Master, both old varieties of winter wheat. These varieties grow taller than modern bread wheat. As well as grain for flour they provide long straw, still used today in thatch.

Our pigs spent part of the summer in the paddock and ploughed the soil up nicely by rooting around, which we hope will have improved the soil to give a good crop of wheat.