The Golden Square Smallholding
End of year update
Our Shetland floc of sheep have done well over the year, the lambs are growing nicely
and the ewes have been introduced to our ram again after he has been away at a neighbouring farm.
This is how the lambs looked at Easter, they have come along way.
The Shetland ram looking neat with his new shaved coat.
The goats have moved mostly into their housing to get away from the cold but still enjoy exploring the orchard.
Swallow in the barn getting ready to fledge.
Wagtails in the log piles.
We have a small flock of red hybrid chickens that are a good dual purpose bird with nice orange eggs when they feel the weather is warm enough for them to lay and also they are quite attractive for a chicken.
Our new vegetable garden has been very productive over this summer 2023. We have had an abundance of fresh veg through the season, I'm sure the great summer we have had has helped.
We now have a couple of bee hives with swarms captured from nearby farms. With the help of my neighbour we collected 3 swarms from the local area (2 for me) all requiring tree climbing and precariously balanced ladders while angry bees buzz around us, now they are here they have settled down and seem quite happy. They managed to produce us 7kg of honey in the 2014 summer which kept our porridge sweet for a while.
The 2 hives have managed to get through the 2014/15 winter alive as now the weather is warning up they are out and about collecting pollen. The bee hives are still currently occupied in 2024 and we hope to see them more active as the weather warms up.
The 2 hives have managed to get through the 2014/15 winter alive as now the weather is warning up they are out and about collecting pollen. The bee hives are still currently occupied in 2024 and we hope to see them more active as the weather warms up.
Inside of the hive, bees filling there frames with honey.
Feeding on some buddleia,
