End of Summer at the Farm New Arrivals, Green Fields and Spooktacular Plans

The end of summer always sneaks up on us, but this year it feels like it has arrived with dust still on our boots and sunshine still hanging in the hedges. What a summer it has been.

We have had long, hot days, brown fields, busy yards, fresh faces, a few goodbyes, plenty of muck, and more than a little madness. Somehow, in the middle of all that, the animals have kept us smiling, the volunteers have kept us going, and the staff have become almost brave when I walk in saying, “I’ve got a TikTok idea.”

Almost.

The fields are finally getting their green back after a very dry summer.

What a long, hot summer it has been

This summer has been one of those proper dry ones. The sort where you look across the fields and think, “Well, that used to be grass.” The ground went brown, the paddocks looked tired, and every bit of shade became prime real estate.

We were lucky, though. Very lucky.

Even with all those hot days, we did not have to feed too much hay. Anyone who keeps animals knows what a relief that is. Hay disappears fast when the grass stops growing, and once you start dipping into stores, you can almost hear the winter bills clearing their throats in the background.

The animals handled it well. There was plenty of checking water troughs, watching grazing, keeping an eye on condition, and doing the daily mental maths that comes with farm life. Too much grass is a worry. Too little grass is a worry. The wrong grass at the wrong time is a worry. If you know, you know.

Then, just as the weather started to turn, the fields got their treat.

Where there’s muck, there’s brass

We used all of last year’s muck heap to spread on the fields.

When I say “we”, I do of course mean Daz.

There are some jobs that sound grand when you say them quickly. “We spread the muck heap” sounds like a team effort. In reality, it was Daz doing the hard, smelly, never-ending part while the rest of us admired the result and said helpful things like, “That’ll do it good.”

And my goodness, it has.

They say, “Where there’s muck, there’s brass,” and looking at the fields now, I believe it. The grass has come back so green it looks like money in the bank. After weeks of brown, dusty paddocks, seeing that fresh growth has been a proper mood-lifter.

Of course, good grass brings its own set of headaches.

The lammies have been walking a very fine line. Letting them have a nibble without letting them think they have won the lottery is a skill. A stressful skill. They need to eat, but they absolutely do not need to demolish the electric fencing in the process.

There is nothing quite like watching a small pony eye up fencing with the confidence of a professional escape artist. You can almost see the thought bubble:

“I could have that down by tea time.”

So we have been juggling grass, fencing, turnout, and temptation. The fields may look beautiful, but behind every green patch is someone muttering, “Please don’t break that. Please don’t break that. Please don’t break that.”

A good muck heap has worked its magic on the grass.

New arrivals have been settling in

We have also had a few new arrivals, and they have already made themselves part of the furniture.

First came the stunning Eclipse. She really is a beautiful girl, and she has settled so well. Some horses need a little time to work out where they are, who is who, and what the routine looks like. Eclipse has taken it all in her stride.

She has been calm, kind, and very easy to fall for. No surprise there. She already has people coming to view her soon, so we will be keeping everything crossed that the right match comes along. The best homes are never just about looks, even when the horse is as lovely as Eclipse. It is about fit, patience, understanding, and that quiet feeling that this is where they are meant to be.

Then we welcomed Brandy and Rocky the Shetland, who came in a couple of weeks ago.

Brandy has gone out with the big boys and is enjoying getting some green grass. After the summer we have had, who can blame her? There is something very pleasing about watching a horse tuck into a fresh patch of grass when the fields have finally bounced back.

Rocky went in with the little ones, and he has wasted no time finding his place.

He loves a bit of play fighting with Woody. A lot of play fighting, actually. Woody seems happy enough to join in, but I do think Sampson finds Rocky a bit much at times. You can almost see Sampson’s face saying, “Does he ever switch off?”

Shetlands may be small, but they do not come with small personalities. Rocky is proof of that. He has arrived with opinions, energy, and the confidence of something twice his size.

Little Roxy found her home

One of the loveliest updates from the summer has been little Roxy the Shetland.

Roxy came in, stole hearts, and then went out to Telford to a wonderful family. They have had one of our horses for years, which always makes these moments extra special. There is something very reassuring about seeing a pony go to a home where we already know the care, commitment, and love waiting for them.

They now have a little and large pairing, and from what we hear, it has made one little girl very, very happy.

That is the bit that keeps us all going.

Yes, the days are long. Yes, the mud will be back before we are emotionally ready. Yes, there is always another fence post, another feed bucket, another water trough, another job that somehow needs doing immediately. But then a pony like Roxy finds her family, and suddenly it all feels worth it again.

Those matches matter. They are not just rehomings. They are fresh starts, for the animals and often for the people too.

Little and large pairings are always special to see.

Mimi and her girls are loving outdoor life

OOOOhhhhh, we also had Mimi the sow and her girls arrive.

What a joy they have been.

There is something wonderful about watching pigs discover proper outdoor life. Space to root, snuffle, potter, flop down, get up again, and accept attention as though they are visiting royalty. Mimi has absolutely loved all the fuss from visitors this summer, and the children have adored her.

She has been a big hit, and quite right too.

Pigs are such characters. They are clever, curious, and full of expression. Mimi has brought a whole new sort of energy to the place. She is gentle, sociable, and very happy to be admired. Her girls are settling into the rhythm too, learning the sounds, smells, and routines of the farm.

Seeing them outdoors, with room to live like pigs should, has been one of the nicest parts of the season.

The chicken flock is growing

The chickens have been busy too.

We have grown our flock with bantams, and we have hatched out 7 of our own babies. Watching chicks arrive never gets old. Tiny feet, tiny beaks, huge determination. They are little bundles of fluff with far too much confidence for something so small.

Bantams bring their own charm to a place. They are pretty, busy, and often convinced they are far more important than their size suggests. We are very happy to have them as part of the flock.

The new babies are doing well, and as always, everyone has their favourite. That is the danger with hatching. You tell yourself you are being sensible, practical, balanced. Then one tiny chick looks at you in a particular way and that is that. Sensible has left the building.

A huge thank you to our summer work experience team

We had the best bunch of work experience students in this summer.

They were fabulous.

Not everyone expects the reality of farm life when they sign up. It is not all cuddles and cute animals. There is sweeping, poo picking, carrying, cleaning, filling, scrubbing, checking, walking, listening, learning, and occasionally wondering how one place can produce quite so much chaos before breakfast.

This group got stuck in.

They joined in with all the madness that goes on here and did it with good humour. That makes such a difference. A farm like this needs people who can notice things, ask questions, step up, and laugh when the day refuses to go to plan.

To every one of them, thank you. You were brilliant, and we hope you left with good memories, muddy boots, and maybe a slightly more realistic idea of what animal care involves.

Our volunteers and staff have carried us through

Our volunteers have been amazing, as always.

They have worked tirelessly to keep us going through the heat, the dry fields, the new arrivals, the visitors, the daily jobs, and the unexpected bits that appear from nowhere. We say thank you a lot, but it never feels like enough.

Volunteers are the quiet backbone of places like ours. They turn up. They help. They care. They do the jobs that have to be done, not just the ones that look good in photos.

And our staff have been fantastic.

They have coped with the long summer days, the animals, the jobs, the visitors, and me arriving with ideas that begin with, “Right, hear me out"

That is progress.

There is a particular sort of bravery in working here. You might start the morning thinking you know what the day holds, and by lunchtime you could be moving fencing, meeting a new arrival, holding a chicken, helping with pigs, explaining to a Shetland why rules apply to them too, or being asked to take part in a video.

They take it all in their stride, or at least they pretend to, which is just as useful.

The summer has only worked because so many hands have helped.

Spooktacular half term is on the way

And now, just as summer starts to close, we are looking ahead.

We are now booking our Spooktacular Half Term events, and we cannot wait. There will be autumn air, farm fun, seasonal silliness, and plenty of chances to enjoy the animals as the year turns again.

Half term always has a lovely feel about it. The days are shorter, the coats are coming back out, and everything starts to smell faintly of damp leaves, straw, and hot drinks. It is the perfect time for a bit of spooky fun.

And for all of you who say, “I don’t need a costume to be a witch”...

Shame on you.

Get the costume. Join in. That is the rule. Well, not an official rule, but definitely one I support.

After the summer we have had, a bit of fun feels very welcome. The animals have given us plenty to talk about, the fields have finally forgiven us, and the farm is ready for the next round of visitors, laughter, muddy footprints, and memories.

Here’s to the next season

Summer has given us plenty this year. Brown fields, then green ones. New arrivals finding their feet. Little Roxy heading off to a happy home. Mimi and her girls enjoying outdoor life. Chicks hatching. Bantams joining the flock. Work experience students throwing themselves into farm life. Volunteers and staff giving their all, day after day.

It has been hot, dusty, busy, funny, tiring, and full of heart.

Now autumn is tapping on the gate, and we are ready for it. There will be more mud, more jobs, more animals needing care, and very likely more questionable TikTok ideas.

But there will also be more moments that make it all worthwhile.

Thank you to everyone who has visited, helped, supported, shared, laughed, and cheered us on this summer. The fields are green, the animals are settled, and the Spooktacular plans are brewing. What more could we ask for?