Last weekend was a typical busy 'Open Day' weekend. In addition to all the preparations for our visitors on Sunday, we said 'Good Bye' to Sherry and Baileys who have gone off to Hall Farm Park at South Kelsey - http://www.hallfarmpark.co.uk/ They have joined a large variety of other animals at this working farm where school parties and summer visitors will ensure that they have more than enough entertainment throughout the next few months.
Unfortunately, this means that JD is the only one of Delila's litter remaining at RectoryReserve. And didn't he let us know about it. All day long! Although we put him in the paddock with Bonnie, Clyde, T
weedledum and Tweedledee, he was not happy. We fed him lots; still he was not happy. The others, including Mangel next door, nuzzled and poked him; still he was not happy. He did eventually quieten down - by about dusk - but refused to sleep near his new mates. Next morning he was up very early, pacing around and looking up towards the pen he'd shared with his sisters and making sad little bleating noises. By mid morning though he was quiet - as if he'd worked out that his new mates were now his mates. Fortunately, as the week has gone on they have all gradually become better pals and now all pile up and go to sleep together.
weedledum and Tweedledee, he was not happy. We fed him lots; still he was not happy. The others, including Mangel next door, nuzzled and poked him; still he was not happy. He did eventually quieten down - by about dusk - but refused to sleep near his new mates. Next morning he was up very early, pacing around and looking up towards the pen he'd shared with his sisters and making sad little bleating noises. By mid morning though he was quiet - as if he'd worked out that his new mates were now his mates. Fortunately, as the week has gone on they have all gradually become better pals and now all pile up and go to sleep together.
With all the cacophony of JD's heart wringing cries punctuating the Open Day preparations and making us all feel very guilty, we were relieved to collapse at the end of the afternoon and relax with a glass or two - if not entirely in peace and quiet then at least in balmy sunshine.
When, gradually, we became aware of a not-so distant thrumming and rumbling in the surrounding countryside.................. the pea viners had moved in!
This is a truly wonderous sight: vast machines slowly march across the fields harvesting the peas
and off-loading them on to accompanying lorries which take them immediately to the factories to be frozen. The viners work 12 hour shifts and are accompanied - rather like a film crew - by lorries carrying loos and canteen facilities. When the field is finished, they all slowly move in convoy to the next location, repeating the process non-stop till all the peas have been harvested. All around the countryside, peas are seeded according to a carefully planned schedule. They then grow in sequence and are harvested in sequence throughout the summer months.
and off-loading them on to accompanying lorries which take them immediately to the factories to be frozen. The viners work 12 hour shifts and are accompanied - rather like a film crew - by lorries carrying loos and canteen facilities. When the field is finished, they all slowly move in convoy to the next location, repeating the process non-stop till all the peas have been harvested. All around the countryside, peas are seeded according to a carefully planned schedule. They then grow in sequence and are harvested in sequence throughout the summer months.The viners moved in, stripped the c. 20 acre field and were packed up and gone within three hours. Luckily the weather was sunny and the field was dry so they made no mess and left only pickings for the wildlife behind them -- rather than mud on the roads and quaggy fields - which would have been the case had it been wet.
The rain plays a key part in the pea harvest. Not enough of it at the crucial growing stage means the peas don't get out of the ground. Too much means the young plants can be smashed to the ground. Either can lead to a need to re-seed at worst or at best, the carefully planned harvesting schedule having to be re-jigged to allow for nature's influence on the plan!This inevitably leads to expensive frozen peas in the supermarkets. And the majority of consumers are blissfully unaware of the reason why.
The things we learn in the countryside.........!!!
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