Bog Myrtle & Peat

It was extremely satisfying to spend some time with the cattle this morning under beautiful blue skies and the ringing cheer of birdsong. Usually I just rush up, spread their hay and check that all is well before dashing back to work again, so it was nice to share the field with them for a few minutes.

I hadn’t realised that a significant element of keeping livestock is in building personal relationships with the animals – this develops into a swell of pride and pleasure when they turn out in good heart and healthy condition. This has not been a hard winter by any stretch of the imagination, but it has held some foul days of miserable weather. We’ve been through it together, and at the risk of being sentimental, there is a pleasing glow of satisfaction at seeing them come through the other side and into the first throes of spring. They will soon find so much fresh grass that they will ignore my hay, and from that point on, the living should be easy.