Jul
14
2010
Large cash prizes are on offer in a national competition looking for the best photos of native breeds of livestock on nature reserves. The Wye Community farm cattle and sheep on the Devils Kneading Trough would make an ideal subject for this, to enter the competition visit:
http://www.grazingadvicepartnership.org.uk/news/gap_photo_competition
_free_to_enter_competition_focusing_on_native_breeds.html
Jun
30
2010
from: Fran Thompson, Denge Woods Project Officer, Butterfly Conservation
Celebrate Wye’s Woods was an afternoon of nature-related family fun at Wye National Nature Reserve on Saturday 26th June.
The sun shone, as guided walks led people around the nature reserve owned by Natural England, taking in magnificent views, fantastic chalk grassland and wonderful woodlands.
Children got to enjoy some of the marvellous moths Butterfly Conservation volunteers had caught the night before on the reserve, including the spectacular Poplar Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth and Lime Hawk-moth (which were later released).
Wicker-weaving proved very popular with giant colourful butterflies and flowers created, as did making butterfly kites and drawing with charcoal and chalk from the reserve.
The BBQ used charcoal produced from timber coppiced on the nature reserve, and sausages from pigs kept by Wye Community Farm, the local group who help graze the nature reserve. Charcoal-making is one of many traditional practices in our woodlands which once widespread, has all but disappeared in recent times. By buying products from our local woodlands, such as charcoal, you can help woodland wildlife, and keep a traditional practice alive.
Wye National Nature Reserve is home to 20 different types of orchid, and 30 different types of butterfly such as the dazzling Adonis Blue and the tiny and rare Duke of Burgundy.
The event was jointly run by Natural England, Wye Community Farm and Butterfly Conservation.
Jun
22
2010
The Wye Community Farm flock has been shorn; a welcome relief for the ewes now that summer has finally arrived. With some quality Portland and Dorset fleeces to hand, the farm is now starting a new group where our resident expert Della will give lessons in all aspects of spinning. If you are interested in attending please contact WCF for details through our website
www.wyecommunityfarm.org.uk or 813303.
Orders are currently being taken for WCF beef and lamb boxes, for an order form please see the website.
We are pleased to report that a grant has been received from
Kent Community Foundation, through their Grassroots Grants Fund, to support the farms after school club. The club meets every Monday during term time and new members are always welcome, contact us for further details.
Mar
29
2010
The Wye Community Farm herd of British White cattle are currently calving, and they recently gave us an eventful night. First Kalamar produced twins, which we found shivering in the straw as the whole event had obviously freaked this first-time mum out so much that she didn’t know she was meant to lick them dry. After plenty of rubbing down with straw and feeding with colostrum from a bottle they began to look a bit livelier, though it was to be several hours before they had the strength to stand. Whilst all this was going on Pentaphone gave birth at midnight, quietly getting on with it and having her calf up and suckling within half an hour.
As the photos show all are now doing well, though the twins do look dirty as they keep going up to the milk bar through the back door and getting a pat on the back from Kalamar. Thanks are due to Mike and Charlie, two experienced stockmen living in Wye who came out to help on the night.
Wye Community Farm will be taking some of their new born lambs to the Wye Farmers Market this Saturday. Prizes will be on offer for ‘guess the weight’ and ‘guess the breed’ competitions.
