Gwion & Louise Llwyd Byrdir, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd. LL44 2EA Web. http://www.byrdir.co.uk Email. louise@byrdir.co.uk Tel. 01341 247 200 Fax. 07092 20 30 20
June The biggest job on the farm this month was shearing our flock of 300 welsh sheep. A hard task in the summer sun but with the help of Dylan and Meirion, two local contractors, we managed to get them all done in a day. Unfortunately the price we get for the wool these days does not even cover the cost of shearing, but the sheep always look a lot more combatable afterwards and the job is essential to maintain their wellbeing. Earlier on in the month we also spent some time inspecting and cutting back the sheep’s hooves. They are prone to overgrowing especially when on soft ground and a quick manicure ensures that they don’t get lame. We also had to trim the horn of one of the rams. The Welsh ram has distinctive and impressive curling horns but these can on occasion push against the rams head. The horn can, luckily, be easily and completely painlessly removed with a tool resembling a cheese wire. Persuading the ram to sit still while this is done isn’t always as easy however. We closed off the hayfields ready for harvesting. Some of the better fields are kept free from any grazing for about six weeks. When enough grass has grown its cut and bailed to provide feed for the animals over the winter months. We’ve also been busy cutting or ‘topping’ some of the unwanted thistles and bracon in an effort to prevent their proliferation. A machine which spins a series of chains mounted on a drum is fixed to the back of the tractor. The chains are more effective than a blade in this instance as it allows cutting over rough and stony ground. June is also a busy month for our native wildlife. Shelducks on the estuary and the noisy Redshanks on the marshes are busy looking after their young. The Jay or ‘Sgrech y Coed’ in welsh, is our noisiest neighbour however. It’s welsh name is superbly apt as it means the forest scream or screech. An unnerving sound as you walk through the shady wood nearby. The beautiful and rare wild orchids are in bloom on the dune slacks. Brian Macdonald of Wildlife Wales reliably informs me that the Early Purples and Marsh species are nearly over but the Helleborines are just showing and the Bee-Orchids are to come. Oh, and we’ve been to the beach a lot. Well it can’t be all work can it?
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