May is one of our favourite months on the farm. After the very long cold winter at long last it feels like spring! The trees and hedges look spectacular at this time of year.

We are currently having College Farm surveyed for breeding birds by a local RSPB volunteer. We will let you know their findings over the next month.

All of the main crops have now been planted into good seedbeds helped by the prolonged winter frosts.

Our next crops which will be planted over the next week or so will be grass/clover mixes on Organic land to build fertility and wild bird mixes to provide winter food for birds.

April was very dry with only 30% of our average rainfall. Irrigation will be a priority on the potatoes beginning next week if little rain falls between now and then.

Potatoes are now emerging and we are hoping to miss any frosts forecast over the next few weeks. Sugar Beet and Onions are at last beginning to grow following milder weather of late.

Weeding organic crops is keeping our team busy as weeds are rapidly emerging following recent rains.

Our attentions are turning to the open afternoon at the farm on the 13th June as part of Open Farm Sunday. Preparations are going well with lots of activities planned for a fun afternoon. Fingers crossed for good weather!

We would like to welcome Ralph to the farm and hope he enjoys life at Russell Smith Farms.