Monthly Update - October 2024
It is now 10 years since Steve Waters and his family took over farming the land at Rushall Farm. Cattle and sheep still stock the farm, with arable cropping of organic oats, barley and wheat. During my time here the farm buildings were regularly broken into, resulting in a long list of painful insurance claims; a quad bike, farm pickup, a Landover, telehandlers on two separate occasions and a power washer. We eventually installed an expensive camera system with alarms on the workshop (I still have the gemmy bar used on the last break in), immobilisers on the tractors, and lighting. We also built a bank to make a secure machinery area. Steve’s answer to security is to have more than one sheep dog ready to make a lot of noise if anyone walks past or enters the yard. It’s worked so far, and the bonus is that the deer population, which used to graze in the surrounding ancient woodland, tend to stay away.
The bulk of our woodlands are oak stands with an underwood of hazel. Hazel is always putting out fresh shoots at the base of the plant and deer love grazing them and nibbling the bark on older growth. We have had to fence around this growth to preserve the trees. The new situation here, coupled with wetter summers, has resulted in loads of new shoots which are growing vigorously. We have also been cutting out very old growth from these stools to stop them collapsing, resulting in very good growth of straight poles. Hazel is used here for stakes when laying a hedge, the binders which tie in the top, and thatching spars. We also supply Englefield Garden Centre and others with bean poles and pea sticks. In the past bundles were put together, left to season and used to burn in bread ovens, bringing the temperature up very quickly. Volunteers helping us include Thatcham Green Gym, Bradfield College, CROW (which is Conserve Reading on Wednesdays) and the West Berkshire Countryside Society There is always opportunity to join these groups, learn new skills and meet up with others in the beauty of the countryside. The results of this ongoing work can be seen in the hedge being laid up Scratchface Lane, or just take a walk along the footpaths in the woodlands. Come and see. You are always welcome, especially now with the autumn colours at Rushall Manor RG7 6DS.