Farm News
Swallow Chicks
June 10, 2011 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment
[Click on the pictures to enlarge them]
The swallow chicks have finally hatched. There regular visitors to the farm every year having travelled up from a winter spent in southern Africa. It’s great to watch them catching insects on the wing. Skimming along just a foot off the ground sometimes before turning and rising in an instant.
Their mud nest is just under the eaves of one of our studio cottages. A little awkward as we’ve had to put up a board to stop all the poo dropping onto the guests patio below. A little red start has also nested just around the corner on the same cottage.
Beware of the Alpacas!
May 20, 2011 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment
Two alpacas have been introduced at a farm in Nant Gwynant here in Snowdonia. The theory is that they help protect the new born lambs from foxes and other predators. They bond quickly with other grazing animals, have excellent eyesight and their protective instincts are well documented. Cases have been recorded in Australia of alpacas bravely standing in front of females and their young in the corner of a paddock fending off multiple animal attacks.
More locally I’ve heard how a donkey will protect lambs and chickens from foxes. I guess south American alpacas are probably more suited to our rugged terrain. So why not. Arwyn Owen, the farmer responsible, certainly seems convinced. [Read more...]
Harlech Triathlon
May 10, 2011 by gwionllwyd · 1 Comment
The Harlech triathlon celebrates its 10th year this Sunday the 15th of May 2011. We always have some of the entrants staying with us here on the farm. And they always say what a fantastic event it is. So, yes, I’ve finally got round to filling in the entry form. But no, I haven’t done a lot of training.
But anyway the event comprises a 400m swim in Harlech swimming pool followed by a 28k cycle from Harlech to the Wayside pub near Barmouth and back before finishing with a 6.5k run along the beach and up the very steep hill to the finish line at Harlech castle. It’ll be fine I’m sure. (Ohh nooo) http://www.harlechtri-entries.org.uk/
I did it. 2hrs 0mins and 40seconds. Not a particularly impressive time but at least I finished. It was a great day, and I enjoyed it very much. A little less chatting along the way next time perhaps and we’ll see if I can squeeze under the 2hr mark.
Melin Refurbishment
May 5, 2011 by gwionllwyd · Leave a Comment
We’ve changed things around a bit in Melin, one of our larger studio cottages here on the farm.
We’ve moved the stairs around, which will be a relief to our taller guests who kept banging their heads on a low beam half way up. We’ve also fitted a new kitchen complete with combination oven and dishwasher. But don’t worry the view is still fantastic.
[Read more about this property...]
New Piglets
March 26, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Some of our guests were lucky enough to be staying in Nant when Magldi, one of our Kune Kune pigs gave birth. A bit of a surprise as we didn’t know she was pregnant. We had borrowed Hafren, a pedigree Kune Kune boar from some friends before Christmas. His breeding abilities weren’t proven however and unfortunately he didn’t seem very interested in our girls. We tried playing a Barry White CD and introduced some soft lighting to the pig sty but eventually presumed that the ‘chemistry’ just wasn’t right.
3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days later (the length of a pigs pregnancy) and Hafrens credentials are irrefutable. And now that we’re paying a bit more attention our other sow also seems to be “in pig”. I’ll keep you posted.
Walking the Cambrian Way
June 29, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
As part of his attempt at walking the Cambrian Way, Richard Thomas (far left on picture) stopped off here at Byrdir. He managed to tackle the Cader Idris section and the Rhinog Mountains whilst staying with us. We were also happy to play host to his friends and wife who came to support him during what I think must be one of the more challenging sections of the walk.
The Cambrian Way is a fantastic concept. Starting from Cardiff, our capital city in the south then following a natural line of mountains that form a spine up the centre of Wales. The route has a fitting end, finishing in the majestic Conwy Castle in the north. I don’t think the walk is an official trail but is all the better for that perhaps. The walk remains under the radar to all but the most enthusiastic walker. The remoteness and quiet solitude is one of the walks greatest assets. ‘The mountain connoisseurs’ walk’
If you’re thinking of having a go yourself the CambrianWay.org.uk website is a good starting point.
10 Eggs in the Nest
June 28, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Gabriella, our female welsh harlequin duck is sitting on ten eggs at the moment. We noticed that she’d been around less frequently at the beginning of June. So we quietly followed her one day and sure enough watched as see crept onto her nest hidden within some brambles and ferns near the river.
I think ducks have an incubation period of about 28 days so will look forward to what happens at the end of the month. Some friends in the village have already put their name forward as potential foster parents. There will be a strict inspection process naturally.
Jul 06th, 2010 | By admin | Category: Farm News
A quick update on our ducks:
7 out of the 10 eggs that Gabriella our Welsh Harlequin Duck has been sitting on have hatched successfully. She kept them in their nest for a day before all venturing out this morning to the pond. The last duckling needed a little bit of help to catch up so we’ve brought him in for a while to keep warm next to the aga. We’re all very exited as you can imagine, Del included.
Green Coast Award
May 11, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Two of our local beaches, Harlech and Bennar Beach in Dyffryn Ardudwy, have won the ‘Green Coast Award’ again this year. The award is aimed at rural beaches which provide a “natural, unspoilt environment’ as well as the excellent water quality standard required to achieve the more recognizable ‘Blue Flag Award’. The award is given out by the nice people at ‘Keep Wales Tidy’ with financial help from Europe. It’s great to see that our fantastic beaches are getting recognition at that sort of level. But I guess the downside might be that if more people visit our beaches it’ll be harder no maintain the standard. So mum’s the word!
Permeable Membrane
April 23, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
The only thing I was going to try a little differently this year was to cover one of my raised beds with a black permeable membrane. The main idea being that it will help suppress weeds. So less work for me hopefully. It should have the added benefit of reducing evaporation and help keep the soil moist.
I suspect however, that the membrane will provide a great retreat for slugs. They’ll use it to hide from birds and the midday sun following their night time raids on my vegetables. The thought of them, gorged and satisfied under their blanket, as I survey my machine gunned cabbages is upsetting me already.
14 Peaks of Wales
April 18, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
There are 14 peaks in Wales over 3000 feet, or so I thought until recently. Apparently Tryfan’s credentials are under suspicion. Despite being one of the most handsome mountains in the Snowdonia National Park it’s height of 3002 feet has always meant that it only ever just scraped over the pass mark.
Three men, John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips are out to put the issue to rest once and for all however. They’ve already got form in this area having recently highlighting that Sgurr nan Ceannaichean did not qualify as a Munro Mountain. The Munro’s being the Scottish equivalent of the over 3000 feet club.
I for one really hope that one of my favorite mountains passes the grade. You can keep a track of the survey work by visiting the GandJSurvey channel on YouTube.
If you fancy having a go at climbing all 14 peaks the Snowdonia Society have put a great website together at www.14peaks.com . The record of 4hrs 19minutes has stood since 1988. Good luck with that!
