Hazel, willow, beef and storytelling from Bedfordshire

Posts tagged Grass

Beef days at Wassledine, 19 July and ...

Beef days at Wassledine, 19 July and 26 July

It’s been a while coming, but we are very pleased to let you know that we will soon have fresh beef to sell once again, produced from the Wassledine herd of Red Poll cattle. After  almost three months out on the grass the herd is looking great – glossy and gleaming, especially after recent rain.    […]

Freeing the young stock

Freeing the young stock

The bitter north-easterly wind leaves your face painfully cold; more January than April. The ground’s really soft in places, but drying – slowly. And that made today just a bit of an anti-climax. We got the young stock out onto grass this morning. Usually there’s warmth in the air, sun on your back, working through layers of […]

Who’s afraid of tractors?

Who’s afraid of tractors?

Two days in the saddle; well ok the tractor seat. Being bounced around, deafened and frustrated by bits falling off and mechanicals failing to work. I’m not a great fixer of engines and the internal fury of my 1974 Leyland tractor holds no particular excitement for me. I know that being male and doing farming (albeit part-time), I’m expected to be able […]

The story of N

The story of N

We have two grass fields that aren’t in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. One of these, this year, we have top dressed with nitrogen in order to ensure we get some hay. The other grass, especially the new pasture, is suffering from reducing levels of that most vital element. The grass may be struggling, but, and this is in […]

The cattle are out

The cattle are out

Young stock out on hardly any spring grass What joy! There were some pretty excited and rather dangerous jumping and kicking going on on Friday as we released our young stock and beef steers onto grass after five months inside on a diet of hay and straw. Before they could enjoy a taste of liberty there were two eartags to […]