September has arrived, and the misty mornings and cooler nights are part and parcel of this year’s steady march towards the cooler months ahead. The hedges across the farm are changing colour slowly, the berries hanging from the Rowan vibrant red, and the blackberries heave off their branches. Watching the Swallows gather on the line to discuss their journey ahead makes us feel a little sombre. We aren’t ready to let them go just yet!

A Kingfisher was spotted down at the bottom of field 7 this week – not seen in some 6 or seven years, this feels hopeful. Tom’s sterling work clearing the Himalayan Balsam was a very good first step to helping the Brook stay clean and inviting to these beautiful birds. Field 7 seems to have also attracted a Heron who visits awhile most days but has also been seen in the Orchard and Polytunnel garden. A Kestrel was spotted hunting over fields 7 and 13, and the family of Buzzards have been circling for the last few days calling to one another. Under today’s clear blue skies, it was a beautiful sight. It is mushroom season once more – another silver lining for the cooler, longer nights, and the harvesting of the Chicken of the Woods also allowed us to hear the Barn Owl family. We are so happy that the box was used so successfully in its first year.

The forecast frost tonight has necessitated some harvesting – our rooves were white over this morning, and we are expecting a ground frost tomorrow, so feel fortunate for the bounty we are still able to enjoy. The Autumn Raspberries have been so good this year. The Sweet Peas seem to rally every time we give them up for the season. Our tomatoes and cucumbers have been slow, but we did have three nights of frosts back in June. We don’t have many, but what we have is delicious. The apple trees are laden, their aspect determines their sweetness. As for the Beetroots… Nasca in the photo helps show the scale of some of these whoppers!

The slowing vegetable garden means we have the space for gathering together to fill the horns for our preparation 500. These are now buried to be dug up next Spring.

The cows are seeing fewer cases of New Forest Eye, but whether that is because of the cooler nights meaning fewer flies we can’t be sure. Hopefully the parasitic wasps are also helping. With all our uncertainties after the many tests were inconclusive, we will focus on clostridial vaccinations for all the cattle.

The lambs are looking well. They were definitely livelier after their worming. Our new Lleyn ram Lloyd has arrived, and he and Super Ram are becoming acquainted. So far, they aren’t sure! Dougie also safely arrived, the new ram for the Shetland flock, is close by, watching on.

Finally, this week, despite the, at times, torrential rain and the high winds, the film shoot for the SCBS was able to take place on Tuesday, and the clouds even cleared for the golden hour and a beautiful sunset.

September by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Lo! a ripe sheaf of many golden days
Gleaned by the year in autumn’s harvest ways,
With here and there, blood-tinted as an ember,
Some crimson poppy of a late delight
Atoning in its splendor for the flight
Of summer blooms and joys­
This is September.

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