Last week, I sourced a new (read good second-hand!) truck for the Sussex Pony Grazing & Conservation Trust. With two of us now job sharing the one truck, we desperately needed a second pair of off-road wheels. Just as well, for last week the current truck developed some nasty rear suspension problems together with the prop-shaft having to be removed and sent away to be repaired. Both vehicles should be on the road again very soon… Think we’d better pass the hat around for some pennies!
We’ve had an unprecedented number of enquiries recently for pony grazing in various diverse locations. I’ve now got to try and work out how to best satisfy these new requests and work out additional numbers of new ponies.
2014 would appear to be a good year for orchids judging from sightings and conversations. Alas, from a grazing point of view, ragwort has started flowering in some places – perhaps earlier than usual? Pulling ragwort is always a chore of mixed blessings; legally, we are obliged to control it. On the other hand, it’s a brilliant plant for insects. So, we’ll clear the worst of it but leave some. Horsey-people get so emotional on this subject for it is very poisonous to equines. We’re not too bothered by it as the ponies always have plenty of other herbage and they instinctively know to avoid it. (I suppose if horse’s are in a bald paddock, the temptation might be for them to eat it).