Hungry sheep go into hiding
The hot dry summer has caused the grass in our sheep fields at Noakes Grove and Kings Field to grow slower than the sheep were eating it. So our 23 sheep have all left our nature reserves for temporary quarters on three private pastures. Both we and the sheep are very grateful for the field-owners' hospitality.
The breeding ewes and the ram should be back at Kings Field in November and at Noakes Grove in early spring
The price of hay
Grass is the main part of the diet of our sheep but they always need some hay and extra sheep nuts in winter and, this year, will need more than usual. Because everyone with horses, donkeys, cows or sheep is in the same boat, the price of hay has doubled: usually about £3 a bale it now costs £6. If you would like to buy a bale the sheep would be very pleased. Each sheep needs about three bales to get through winter. |
Bales of hay at Noakes Grove awaiting their journey to the sheep
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In the absence of sheep at Noakes Grove, why not enjoy a visit in search of edible fruit? |
Blackberries
Eat raw or, with some sugar, make a blackberry tart. Also they make nice jam or jelly but need some crab apples mixed in to make it set |
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Dewberries
Use like blackberries.
Photo by Wikicommons. All other photos were taken at Noakes Grove by David Corke |
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Sloes
Try biting into a ripe sloe to discover just how sharp tasting they are. Your whole mouth will feel dry. The classic use for sloes is to convert gin or vodka into sloe gin (or vodka). Pick now and you should have some sloe gin ready by Christmas. Recipes online. |
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Haws
Country children ate the spring hawthorn leaves ("bread and cheese") and then, in autumn, the flesh of raw haws. Combats followed, to see who could spit their pip the furthest.
Adults can mix them with crab apples and make a jelly that is good with cream cheese. |
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Rose hips
In days gone by, when the NHS was new, every pre-school youngster was given free rose hip syrup as a source of vitamin C. All this Delrosa syrup was made in Britain from wild rose hips harvested by children for pocket money.
You can no longer buy British rose hip syrup but it is fairly easy to make (recipes are easy to find online and involve only sugar and rose hips). |
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Elderberries
These can be mixed with blackberries to make jelly or fermented on their own to make good hedgerow wine. |
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Crab apples
These make an excellent jelly on their own or mixed with other fruit as a setting agent, Also they make good, sharp cider. |
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Acorns
Pigs like them raw but humans don't. They are too bitter and the only real use for them is to make a caffeine-free substitute for coffee. Chop the kernels, roast, grind up, roast again, then make the coffee. In view of the current price of coffee there may be some who are prepared to give it a try. It was used in WW2 when real coffee was unobtainable. Most coffee lovers were pleased when the war ended,
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Work Party at Noakes Grove
Third Sunday (21st September)
Tea/Coffee/Biscuits. Bring your own lunch
Varied work:
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Attacking bramble that is encroaching paths
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Checking lizard mats and arranging them better
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Management of the inside of the roadside hedge
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Guttering and door locks on barn
10am to 3pm - come when you like |
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Copyright 2025
Organic Countryside Community Interest Company
Trading as Walden Countryside
Company number 06794848 - registered
in England
VAT No: 947 3003 31
23 Tye Green, Wimbish CB10 2XE
01799 599 643
Updated 14 Sept 2025 |
