Registered Charity 702287
01386 834500
83May 2018
Newsletter Spring 2018
GREETINGS FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS, YOUR DONATIONS, YOUR GOOD WISHES, GIFTS FOR THE ANIMALS AND STAFF, AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT, WHICH IS SO MUCH APPRECIATED.
It hasn't been the easiest of winters. Snow, thick frosts, storms, heavy rain for days on end. On its way to the river Avon, the little brook that divides our farm overflowed its banks several times, it began to look as though we were Eveshams' answer to the Lake District. The rain changed to snow and everything froze. Getting water to 500 plus animals took a fair bit of muscle and a lot of cursing. All outside taps and water troughs were frozen solid, the only way water could be sourced from the house was to push a hosepipe through Lewis and Stephs' bathroom window and attach it to a partly demolished shower unit, hence
Patron: Joanna Lumley OBE
the cursing. No more showers for Steph or Lewis until the thaw. The geese were happy, waddling off for a refreshing swim each day. The pigs had fence to fence wallows and so much straw in their beds they were hidden from view until they heard meals on wheels approaching. Grunting snouts emerged from straw nests as hungry pigs wearing yesterday's mud wellies smelt a hearty breakfast. Pig nuts, embellished with a variety of home grown fruit, topped with stale cake and doughnuts. Sheep who, up until then had been living happily in one of the sheltered fields, stood at the
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gate staring towards the barns, taking it in turns to bleat until the noise level reached such a pitch we couldn't hear ourselves speak. The gates were opened, a jostling army of determined sheep raced up the track, into the yards, a sharp turn right and they squeezed themselves into the big barn, joining other refugees from the storm. Then we had snow. Last years lambs, all grown into sturdy, healthy yearlings were still out in one of the back fields. Lewis, Steph and I were the only people at the farm, snowdrifts and abandoned cars made anyone else getting to us impossible.
www.thefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk
Registered Charity 702287
01386834500
May 2018
The first ewe to be fitted with the harness even managed to produce twins before the harness was removed. Healthy, full of life, baby animals, with a future to look forward too. These "aged" ewes, who would almost certainly have been sent for slaughter as "cull" ewes, e.g. past their best, are the most amazing, brave and caring mothers. They will confront any predator who threatens their young, foxes, dogs. The one predator they're not able to protect them from is the human species.
New Arrivals Shortly after buying his ewes we found that the owner, despite the Court ban, had hidden away an old ewe and a ram, he had every intention of continuing to breed sheep. We had to catch him actually physically having contact with the sheep, who he had signed over to his wife, before the RSPCA could haul him back into Court again. We couldn't follow his movements as that would have been a contravention of his "human rights". He wasn't an approachable man, he tended to shout loudly and flail his arms around when confronted. I happened to bump into him one late evening after I'd caught him in the field with the sheep; I was looking for a public footpath at the time. We exchanged a few words, to our joy the following day he'd changed his mind and we were able to buy the last two sheep, who we named Harold and Hilda. Harold has had his pockets picked and will no longer be fathering any lambs, he deserves his retirement. But well done Harold, despite his age, his lack of feed, basic care, his lambs are beautiful.
Next to arrive was a little Muscovy duck. She was found sitting in the middle of the A47 just outside Gloucester, where she appeared to be very happy to sit and watch the traffic thundering by. A passing motorist realised that her days, or hours, or even minutes were numbered if she decided to stand up and take a little stroll. She was taken to a nearby Veterinary clinic, on examination she was found to be unharmed, just a bit tired. The Vets delivered her to us where she's happily part of our other small duck flock. What do you call a duck who takes a break in the middle of an A-road at rush hour? Daffy?
Patron: Joanna Lumley OBE
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www.thefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk