A Week on the Estate: February Calving, Clever Recycling & Night Hiking

There’s been plenty going on all over the Estate this week. In the Walled Garden, Kickstarter Paris Layzell planted two new strawberry trees. We might be competing with the blackbirds when the trees start fruiting. As well as pruning straggly shoots off mature trees in preparation for spring, the Saturday Club found time to take recycling to the next level.

After log deliveries, the team tackle the woody scurf and grime left behind. They start by sieving it all for good old-fashioned dirt that can be used to fill holes in the Walled Garden. Next, the remnants go into a barrel of water to separate wood from stone. The floating woody fragments are skimmed out and will be dried and used as garden chippings. The barrel is then emptied and the stones will be added to the stash we use for driveway maintenance. Thanks to Clint Coughlan for sharing his wisdom with the team.

We’ve even been busy after dark. The Kraken Explorer Scouts tackled the Skipwith Stride by night and only got slightly lost. They ended up in Brinkhill but it only cost them half an hour. The team did their best to photograph their exploits, but night-time is not the right time for landscape photography. If you’ve snapped some lovely panoramas or funny selfies while exploring our walking trails, we’d love to see them. Take a look at the photography competition currently pinned to the top of our Facebook page.

At Brinkhill, local shepherd Ed Bray turned out some of his sheep to graze the stubble turnips. Nearby, Andy and Ian were photographed toiling away at the end of a very long line of hedging plants. Those kilometres of hedgerows won’t plant themselves and we’re sure the local wildlife will be grateful.

Finally, we enjoyed meeting our lovely customers so much at December’s Click & Collect that we’re making it a regular event. You could grab some flavourfully succulent Lincoln Red beef online in our early spring sale and collect it from the Estate on Saturday, 12th February.

While stocks last, the sale includes:

– Offal Box for £25 (RRP £65)

– Variety Box for £40 (RRP £65)

– 2kg diced beef for £12.50

– 2kg minced beef for £10.00

Our galloping gourmet Mark Vines will greet you with complimentary tea, coffee, soup and our famously moreish warm beef rolls. It’ll be cupboard-love at first sight and you’ll get to say hello to the Estate team while helping us reduce our food miles.

Click HERE to find your bargain. To find out more about our heritage-breed, pasture-raised cattle, click HERE.

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