What a difference yesterday was in terms of weather. The field that took three years of clearing is starting to reveal new plant life. Here are just some of the photos taken: the mess of canes are either wild raspberries or Logan berries; There is now a huge amount of violets and bluebells everywhere along with Stitchwort;; Creeping Cinquefoil; Stitchwort with pollinator #sustainablelifestyle #thegoodlife #treesforlife #pollinators #wildflowers #ancientpasture #smallholding

The veg garden has been temporarily ( I hope) wrapped up again after forecast of snow and minus temperatures over the next few days. As the potatoes are in raised beds; it is harder to 'earth up' so i cover them with straw. This year we have Earliers and 2nd Earlies so they can be grown closer together. They have had an extra layer of straw to help protect from the frost. Unfortunately the peas will have to take their chance as the pea sticks are in place. Hopefully there w

The Swamp Field. This area floods, hence it's name. We decided to work with nature and over the past three years we have planted: Alder, Downy birch, Rowan, Willows of all colours, and Black Poplar. The sycanores have been allowed to grow again. Pictures are not great, but hopefully gives you an idea if what we've been up to. #treesforlife #makespacefornature #woodlandcreation #woodland #ecofriendlyliving #sustainability #radnorforest #radnorforestwales #smallholdinglife

While i was away the OH has been very busy finishing clearing a very steep part of the holding. This has been an on-going job since we arrived nearly three years ago.The sheep do not tend to go up to this part as it is full of brambles, bracken and gorse. The brambles tend to catch the sheep so they get stuck; the gorse can prick little noses and cause a disease called Orf, which is also passed to humans; the bracken harbours ticks and the spores are believed to be carcinog

Lovely home produced Hogget; boned breast rolled with a herb stuffing. #growyouown #gyo #jacobsheep #welshjacobsheep #jacobsheepsociety #sustainable #goodforyou #nofoodmiles #slowfood #smallholders #welshsmallholders #smallholding #welshsmallholders #welshsmallbuisiness #instragramsmallholders www.theforestsmallholding.co.uk

Making a Hay feeder. This is the fourth husband has made. The original idea is from the fantastic smallholders book 'The Smallholders DIY' by Michael Roberts. Husband had done some modifications to the original, ie making the overhang of the roof bigger. Sheep love it. Now to let the sheep in the field. #smallholdersdiy #hayfeeder #feedinghay #feedinghaytothesheep #sustainability #smallholder #smallholding #welshsmallholding #welshsmallholders #instagramsmallholder

We have holiday cottages along the track from us. We received these lovely drawings from the children who stayed there recently. It was a pleasure to show them around and tell them about the animals. Lovely drawing of the sheep and a pig. Thank you #carefreedays #welshholidaylets #radnorforest #jacobsheep #freerangepigs#sustainability #thegoodlife #smallholding #smalholders #welshsmallholders

"Marmite! It's 31*C where you are! Are you mad?" Think, just a few weeks ago my old pygmy goats were back off to Africa in search of warmer and sunnier climes. No need to go now; therefore helping to reduce global warming; as Africa has come to Wales... My mate, Marmite, my old pygmy nanny is the only one of the gang appearing to enjoy this heat. It obviously reminds her of her ancestral home of Africa. Bovril is in the shade, sensible boy. Rodney Kitten (9 years old, d

Thistleing. What you do when you find thistles in your pasture meadows THAT SHOULD NOT BE THERE! Thistles that are not in the pasture meadows are welcome to stay. . Today launched the first day of the Thistleing Season. Four large bags of thistles achieved today. Thistles are not good for livestock as they can spread a virus called Orf. The sheep, when grazing, gets pricked around the muzzle; then another sheep also gets pricked by the same thistle; and so the Orf virus spre

The OH, commonly known as 'He That Can Build Things' came up trumps again with two new compost bins for me. The old one is full and needs turning and now it can + a spare one! Compost will be moved once the rain decides to stop ... #smallholding #smallholder #compost #makeyourowncompost #GYO #growyourown #veggies #vegetables #Wales #welshweather #theforestsmallholding #radnorshire

Building of shelters is ongoing. Although we have a lot of trees and hedgerows; give sheep a shelter and they will use it. So the OH / 'He That Can Build Things' is busy constructing shelters. And here it is 4th one done; only 2 or 3 more to go!. Sheep have already christened it during the rain last night. Just keep telling myself when mucking it out: 'its good for the garden ...' #shelters #diy #100usesforpallets #sheep #sheepshelter #jacobsheep #wales #Radnorshire #Rad

Here they are! They have started to expand their range and have now discovered there is more to the woodland than their ark and the immediate surroundings. They all have their own personalities; one of the gilts appears to be the boss. #theforestsmallholding #Welshsmallholding #smallholding #smallholders #thegoodlife #growyourown #largeblacks #welshpigs #freerange #slowfoood #woodland

1st June dawned. Today was 'Pig Day'. Five lovely piglets from a local breeder. Large Black Welsh cross. We have 3 boars (boys) and 3 gilts (Girls). They appeared quite happy in the trailer and did not want to get out. #piglets #weaners #pigs #largeblackpigs #Welshpigs #strawbed #woodland #smallholding #smallholders #welshsmallholder

Well, its the Smallholders and countryside Spring Fayre at the RWAS in Builth Wells. I wnet off to have a look around, while he manned the stall. 'Dont spend too much' was ringing in my ears. A small Acer tree was calling me to take it home, so what could i do... He seemed fine with the purchase of my tree; he had just bought five piglets. #Wales #RWAS #Builthwells #Springfair #smallholdiersfair #smallholder #smallholding #trees #japanesemaples #Acers #piglets #pigs #large