THESE are two pieces of equipment that are essential for good grass management, the first for general treatment and the second often to prevent the spread of broad leafed weeds from challenging the good grass, for the nutrients, in particular areas of
THE possible need to keep poultry 'indoors' or under cover due to bird flu can bring enormous problems for free-range flock owners. Interhatch have the solution in their made-to-measure tunnel covers fabricated from white Loktex netting which incorporates
THE top campaign group for common land, the Open Spaces Society, has called for speed restrictions where unfenced roads cross common land. The society has written to transport ministers in England and Wales advocating a universal speed-limit of no more
THE top campaign group for common land, the Open Spaces Society, has called for speed restrictions where unfenced roads cross common land. The society has written to transport ministers in England and Wales advocating a universal speed-limit of no more
WILL my article reinforce the old adage to 'eat your greens', although green brassicas are still having a hard time of it, they could still be our saviour. But boiled soggy cabbage and sprouts are hardly appealing. Many new varieties are sweet and tasty
SPEAKING to Tom Hart Dyke you want him to succeed. Tom Hart Dyke also wants to succeed and he is doing everything within his power to make his vision come alive. The subject of BBC2's Return to Lullingstone Castle (Monday's at 8.30pm), Tom has already
AS a person of a certain age, I remember, many years ago, watching The Good Life on television at about the time that hippies were "reverting back to nature" in the hills of mid-Wales. Neither were taken very seriously by the general public, in a world
GEORGE Ewart Evans was a pioneer in the field of oral history (or "spoken history" as he preferred to call it) who from the 1950s recorded interviews with people in rural areas. He taped interviews with many people including blacksmiths, ploughmen, drovers
BIRDS Red Kite (Milvus milvus) Since this issue has a Welsh emphasis the red kite is an obvious choice. The red kite was once a common bird across Britain but its range contracted, because of persecution, to mid-Wales by the mid 20th century. With
FOR the last few years, the pig section at the Smallholder and Garden Festival has been housed in the Showground's Fur and Feather Building and has proved to be very successful. At this year's show - on May 19 and 20 - it is again in the same building
AFTER over 100 years in London, regrettably due to current health and Safety Legislation the London Harness Horse Parade has moved to a new venue. The Parade still takes place every Easter Monday, but now at the South of England Centre in Ardingly,
BY the time you read this in April, many larger seeds could already be in the ground. But it is not too late! What all seeds require to germinate is a moist environment at the right temperature. Most prefer to be in the dark too. Once germinated, seeds
ONCE the decision has been made to keep some turkeys, how they are obtained then needs to be addressed. Where the birds are bought will depend very much on the purpose for which they are being kept and the type of turkeys you are after? There is definitely
RATS and mice have always been the plague of all animal keepers as livestock seems to bring the inevitable pests which appear out of nowhere and can cause untold damage to both buildings and livestock. It is also generally believed that rats in particular
LIVE birds at shows were a nineteenth century innovation. Birds became part of the great exhibitions, part and parcel of the showcase of the imperial world. Game cocks were removed from the cockpit (cockfighting became illegal in 1849) and, although
ALMOST without hesitation most gardeners will list slugs and snails as their number one pest. Slugs are basically in simple terms snails without shells. These slimy creatures belong to a large group of animals called molluscs. They take on many different
THINGS have been a little bit busy on the allotment front, and on the home front the chickens and ducks have also started to produce their little packages of goodness! The chickens are getting on a bit (at least four years old for three of them) and
"GLOBAL warming is no longer some distant threat in the next century but has already begun according to 2000 of the world's expert climate scientists meeting in Rome. . . . It means that the world is beginning to change radically. The average temperature
INTEREST in vintage agricultural and horticultural machinery, together with ancillary implements and equipment has increased dramatically in recent years. In part, this is due to the increasing numbers of smallholders who can still make efficient use
DO you want to live in the country and start a rural business? The first searching questions to ask yourself are, perhaps, what do I actually mean by this? What do I mean by the country? And what do I mean by 'rural business'? To some people, rural
Free Donkey Care workshops Whether you are an experienced equine owner, have newly acquired donkeys or are thinking of purchasing one of our four-legged friends - this workshop is for you! Don't miss this opportunity to challenge your thinking, boost
Pygmy Goat Hi I wonder if anyone has experience of a Pgymy Goat that doesn't want to eat. She went off her food very suddenly and although she appears to be interested in whatever she's offered she refuses everything. With the exception of Ivy (which
DOMESTIC chickens are typically fed commercially prepared feeds that include a protein source, vitamins, minerals and fibre. This usually takes the form of crumbs, pellets or mash but, although there may be certain exceptions, generally all types of poultry
YOUR foal has arrived safely, so congratulations as that is not always the case. What happens now? If you have had your own children then think back to how you felt about everything just after they were born. For my unfortunate daughter, I tried to
IT is important not to forget why you're keeping your pigs. They aren't pets. They aren't part of the family. While you have had them they should have had everything they needed for a happy healthy life, they should have been properly cared for, free
THERE is an old saying that one sheep is another's worst enemy. As far as worms are concerned, this is often devastatingly true as any flock owner who lets his worming programme lapse will testify! The reason being, infestation spreads very quickly
