Happy New Year!

Well we are now all getting used to writing 2023 instead of 2022! With a new year often comes new year resolutions… not something I’m  great at but I’m going to make an effort to be more consistent at writing a monthly blog!

January can be a difficult month, the changing climate from freezing to warm and wet doesn’t suit our animals. Our little goat Nessa struggles in the cold and doesn’t always make great choices such as going into her straw filled barn to keep out of the cold and wet! She is now sporting a cute little goat coat which seems to be doing the trick.

Our hens are spending another winter in the barn, all birds in England and Wales have to be housed to protect from bird flu. We are never quite sure how long this restriction will last, when the days begin to lengthen it seems sad to see them ‘cooped up’, currently they are probably enjoying the absence of wet, soggy feet! They are none the less gracing us with a few eggs which are always very much appreciated.

Farmer John of Grown & Made is busy planting the last few bulbs, rose plants and foliage shrubs in anticipation of a colourful blooming year ahead. The Christmas wreath making workshops were fabulous, I was allowed to squeeze on one of the workshops and produced my own wreath that I am so proud of… so much so that I can’t bear to part with it, it is now hung to dry in a warm shed. For those of you who would have binned theirs at the end of the festive season Grown & Made wreaths are totally compostable and will go straight in the green bin or your very own compost heap. Remember when visiting Gruff there are always treats to be found in the Grown & Made horse box at the farm entrance.

We are really looking forward to welcoming our mini farmers back to Gruff when we open our doors for 2023 at the end of February. In the meantime we have a couple of exciting new activities for the Gruff play garden to create!