Archived News

25th March 2012

Christopher checked the conformation of the ewes beneath the thick fleece and noted that the  girl carrying triplets needs additional rations (not the one he's marking below!). They have a mineral lick with lots of tasty vitamins and minerals, but extra sheep nuts will be given to the old girl.

Despite Guildford Borough Council (GBC) deciding to sell Tyting Farm about four years ago; for which we tendered, they eventually did a U turn and decided they would only lease the farmland and buildings. At that point Laurence’s tenancy proposal was accepted subject to final heads of terms and the agreement was for 125 years which is not unusual as this allows the farming family to invest in the land. 

Things have changed once again and GBC have withdrawn the buildings and currently rent the fields to us for a period of 12 months; so it’s very difficult to plan ahead. The land is very poor, so we have re-seeded about 40 acres of grassland to the south of the bridleway and these fields have recently been fenced by Sam and Amanda. We had the hedge laid alongside the bridleway during the first winter when we were still under the illusion that we would be improving this area for many years to come.  However without a purchase or a sensible lease agreement that encourages investment; we are still really no further forward and it’s been a costly process preparing tenders for both farm purchase and lease despite having neither agreed.

Finally with drier weather, contractors have cleared the remaining hemp straw from the fields and the bales have been stacked until they are sold by GOODOIL.

Liquid fertilizer is being injected in the fields off Raikes Lane prior to ploughing and drilling with maize and hemp in early May.

There’s not sufficient grass for the cattle to grow and finish and we’re almost out of home grown food, so 100 store cattle have gone to market and have been bought by farmers who will take the cattle to finish over the next four months.  Another 50 have been sold on to a farmer via a local cattle dealer. 

Hopefully if we have plenty of rain (not at harvest time please!) over the next couple of years we will be in a better position to feed future store cattle, which are the calves recently bought from local dairy farms.

Tomorrow morning 35 ‘fat cattle’ (finished cattle) are off to the abattoir destined for Sainsbury’s.

David has been busy fertilising oilseed rape and wheat and he has prepared the ground for fodder beat with potash.

Normandy has been cultivated and left fallow for ground nesting birds.

Field headlands around the farm have been drilled with cereals; they’re unfertilised and won’t be harvested.  Instead these crops will remain standing as an overwinter seed crop, a food-bar for birds!