Welcome to our Winter newsletter. It has been great to see so many of our members at the farm throughout the autumn and we would like to welcome our new volunteers. Our team of volunteers make all the difference to the successful running of the club and each of them brings a wealth of talent and expertise. Thank you one and all.
We are producing newsletters quarterly to tie in with the seasons. If you have anything you would like to add in, please do let me know and please share this newsletter with your friends and family!
Club members will be getting a letter with dates for the next three months from January These may be subject to change, but we will do our best to keep you up to date on what is happening. We will hand these out in December. Please contact us if you would like to come and have a look round. We always welcome all new enquiries.
Why did the pig dump her boyfriend?
Because he was a real boar.
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny a ha’penny will do, if you haven’t got a ha’penny, God bless you!
Our weather station, cleverly crafted out of an old louvre door. We will now have proof when it’s freezing!
Our latest calf. Mum is called Kylie, so of course the calf is called Lucky (lucky, lucky, lucky!)
Bonny Sartin was a welcome visitor back in the autumn.
The weeds.
Another lovely poem from our very own Dave England.
I be glad I didn’t pull they weeds,
Tho’ they neighbours said I should sell the seeds,
Now all the snow lay o’er the land, To cover up the evergreen,
Nowt but white can be seen.
When sun do shine over garden shed,
To show the green on nettle bed. A thinner carpet on the flower bed,
And then the weeds did show their seeded heads,
Birds did flock from early morn, Till all the seeds were gone,
I be glad I didn’t pull they weeds.
A much needed tidy up in the allotment before the start of winter!
Out and about.
The dry autumn gave our farmers a head start on preparing the ground for drilling and for harvesting the maize. Now the hedge trimmers are out, tidying up the lanes and fields before next spring.
Winter Time Quiz
- Complete the rhyme: “the North wind doth blow….”
- How many sides does a snowflake have?
- What is the name given to the shortest day?
- What was the name of Bernie Winters Saint Bernard dog?
- In which land is it always winter but never Christmas?
- How do you traditionally preserve carrots and other root vegetables for the winter?
- When is plough Monday celebrated and what does it mark?
- What is black pudding made from?
- What species of bird is a greylag?
- Where did Molly Malone live?
- Ermine comes from which animal?
- Who first had a hit with the song “Walking in the air”?
- Which famous Scottish poet is celebrated on his birthday on January 25th?
- What is the common name for the plant Galanthus?
- Which British mammals hibernate?
Harry had a great birthday cake!
So much talent!
Tom meets Ginny whilst filming 
Filming on the farm for Escape to the Country 
The cameraman made a good back scratching post for the donkeys! 
Always a hungry mouth to feed! 
Steve presents Naomi, president of Stalbridge Youth FC with his fantastic artwork 
Harvest celebrations on a fine autumnal day, led by the Rev’ Richard Kirlew.
Answers.
- And we will have snow and what will the robin do then, poor thing?
- 6
- Winter solstice
- Schnorbitz
- Narnia
- In a clamp
- Celebrates the start of the farming year. Ploughs used to be taken into church to be blessed.
- Pigs blood
- Goose 10.Dublin 11.Stoat 12.Aled Jones 13.Robert Burns 14.Snow drop
- 15.Bats, dormice, hedgehogs.
The back page
Christmas is fast approaching and we are organising two separate afternoons of celebrations. We are trying to limit numbers to keep us all as safe as possible and this is why we have decided to have two separate dates. These will be on December 21st and the 23rd. . Everyone will receive a letter to inform them of their date and details of the event. We really do hope that you will be able to join us!
Finger food and refreshments will be provided and there will be the usual cost of the session for the countrymen.
We are not sure if we will be allowed to sing, but if the weather is dry we may be able to finish each session with a few carols in the carpark!
Dates for sessions from January to March will also be sent out by letter.
If you have dates that you know you can’t attend, do please let us know and we will do our best to change them for you.
Next year is the 10th anniversary of the Countrymen’s club. We have a few ideas for celebrations! Any ideas for fundraising or supporting the club in any way are gratefully received.
Thank you all so much for your support throughout what has been a tricky time for the whole country.
We are also changing the way we collect payments. Julie will be sending out a letter to explain how this will work.
