Mosses provide a good indicator of air pollution. They absorb nitrogen but if overloaded they can quickly deteriorate. Moss can cleanse and oxygenate the air and they also absorb moisture – and moss is pretty to look at and soft to sit upon. I’m a convert.

I’m adding some photos that friend Sammy took three weeks ago. She photographed all the animals and they are superb pictures.

Little Miss Pretty has had a difficult winter. Plagued with hoof troubles we regularly brought her into the barn for treatment. Then, when her hoof had healed, she gave birth to a stillborn singleton lamb. she was sad and lonely. We put her in with Tufty and they kept each other company until all the ewes had lambed. Now the flock has been reunited and Little Miss Pretty is surrounded by growing lambs. Yesterday I noticed that she was once again limping. We have brought her into the dry barn where we will look at her hooves and treat them.

Better news came for me by way of an unexpected text from…… my HAIRDRESSER! Yes, she is booking in appointments for April and I have grabbed the first date she had available. No more dark roots and a much needed trim – here’s hoping!

My friend stopped at the gate on her way home from walking the dog. With very little hesitation Nigel appeared and told the German Shepherd dog, “The Gables is my territory – keep off!” Zola, the well behaved canine, backed away.

In the paddock Jeremy was busy digging out straw from the goat house and loading it into the trailer

When I got home Di and I fed Lambikin his bottle and then gave the flock their concentrates

There are two “owl” boxes attached to two sides of the stable block. I’ve never seen an owl on or in either box but every year pairs of Stock doves eye them up and nest in them.

I put lots of fresh straw into the poly tunnel as the chickens really enjoy scratching around. No one escaped this afternoon