The goats are finally here! We have now had Christina and Phyllis for a week. They are both very young only 5 and 7 weeks old. We are bottle feeding them 4 times a day, so it’s pretty full time at the momnet, no more family days out for a while! So far they have … read more…
Category: What’s going on at the woods
A diary of how projects are developing at Higher Crochail woods. Path building, the hydro scheme, finding water, thinning the woods, wildlife and much more…
Good to be home
Christmas is over and the new year is here. We are back at Higher Crochail after nearly a month away. It is lovely to be home. We were lucky enough to have various sheep sitters looking after our girls. The most shocking thing about our return, was a gift from our resident Pine Marten. She … read more…
Getting ready for winter
Alex and I have been sorting the barn and getting ready for winter. We have taken down Ellie and Craig’s Ger, dried it out and packed it away. This week Alex got started on our goat shed and fencing. It looks pretty appealing so far, I’m even thinking a slightly larger model would do quite … read more…
Outdoor Wild Cookery this summer
We have had a lovely summer of prehistoric cookery day and weekend courses. Outdoor wild cookery is perfect for the spring and summer months. Although we had the Mongolian Ger this year (in case we got really rained on or off!) so far we have not really had to use it and we have mostly … read more…
Learning to hand shear
Hand shearing This week it was definitely time for Winnie and Frank (our tame cheviot sheep), to lose their fleeces and the perfect opportunity for Alex and I to have our first lesson in hand shearing. Bruce did a fantastic job and straight away it was obvious to me what a skill it is. He held … read more…
Iolo’s new cooking tripod
The new cooking tripod We are now lucky enough to have one of Iolo’s bespoke tripods and griddle. We tried it out on on of our May Prehistoric cookery days, it was great and makes boiling the kettle so easy. We even made Gorse flower drop scones on the griddle after supper, they were perfect and … read more…
Getting ready for the summer
For the last few weeks Alex and I have been getting ready for the season. Our friends Ele and Craig have lent us thier Mongolian Ger (Yurt), which we put up with the help of Julie last weekend. It was a last minute decision, as it looked like the weather was going to turn for the rest … read more…
The wildlife camera
Stag at night Last month we set up a wildlife camera in the woods. It has been brilliant, meaning we have been able to take photos and films of animals which are using the woods. The camera has infra red so it can also work at night. It is sensitive to movement, so at first we … read more…
Growing Things!
At last we have our Polytunnel and it’s going up. It is amazing how many parts it came in. Luckily Alex neatly laid them all out in the barn and has systematically put it all together, adding his own little bits and bobs here and there. Before the skin was on Our soil has only … read more…
Wintery walks in the woods
After a two days of snow up here everything has changed! Otto went mad this morning when we let him out, I think it happens to us all the first time we see snow. Alex has spent most of the day clearing the track, today we were going no where….
