Archived News

7th May 2009

The smiling faces of Granard Primary School

Twenty nine boys and girls from Putney, soaked up the sights and sounds of farm and countryside today. They were a super group of children asking endless questions which linked previous school work with all they saw today. I think there will be a lot to talk about for weeks to come!

I admired the way in which the children helped each other as they searched for wildlife on their nature walk and they came running to show us what they had found, including this banded snail pointed out by one very enthusiastic child.

Time went too quickly on the nature walk and the children asked if they could return one day to see more. I'm glad that they have positive and enthusiastic teachers who enjoy bringing nature into school where they grow herbs and have a pond.  This enthusiam and stimulating teaching is clearly helping these children to learn about the natural World in the open spaces of the countryside today, but also around about them in the city.

On the whole, all our tractors and tele handlers are in use every day and when something breaks down, it has a knock on effect to field work or animal husbandry which is dependent on good timing and of course the weather.  Like all aging vehicles, maintenance becomes time consuming and costs will only rise. 

Each year Laurence weighs up the pros and cons of keeping or replacing machinery and monitors the effect on the efficiency of the business.

Our tractors and matbros have now been sold.  Eight machines were loaded onto three lorries, leaving Manor Farm this evening for the final time.