Burns Real Food For Dogs
The Holistic Approach to Pet Health and Nutrition
Updates from Penlan Farm
Last updated 26th March 2010
Part of the ongoing habitat enhancement work at the Penlan Estate, involves measures to increase the populations of a range of mammal, bird, invertebrate and plant species. We have, as part of this programme, started to erect nest boxes for various bird species. The workshop carpenters have made a start, creating both internal and external nest boxes for barn owls.
These lovely owls can be seen at Penlan, so a series of boxes have just been
sited around the farm. It’s thought that barn owls prefer to roost for part
of the year in one location, and then move to a different one to nest. Four
external boxes are up, and a similar number will be put in some of the traditional
buildings around the Estate, along with sites inside the new barns recently
erected.
Using modern farm kit to erect the boxes, for a bird more usually associated with traditional farming methods, the barn owl. A range of smaller nest boxes were also put up, including several in the surroundings of the office complex of Burns Pet Nutrition. Some of these small bird boxes were left open fronted, others had a ‘hole plate’ entrance fixed. We eagerly await the arrival of any ‘new tenants’!
Conservation Updates - January 2010
The final Conservation Project of the ’09
year was the planting over approx. 7,000 hedging plants. This involved the preparation
of almost 1.5 miles of new hedge-banks (trimming back grass) before a mix of
blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, guelder rose, dog rose and holly were planted by
local hedging craftsman, Trevor Davies. Using the experience gained over a lifetime
of countryside work, Trevor and his assistant were able to complete the job in
just 4.5 days.
These new hedges will provide valuable new habitats for a wide range of species,
along with shelter to the adjoining fields. The shelter aspect is much needed
on some of the upper fields, and it’s possible that the growth patterns on
these banks will be slowed, because of their exposed location. Plans are in
hand to place some fence posts in the hedges, creating perches for bird species,
until the shrubs are sturdy enough to provide suitable points. The sides of
the banks were sown with wildflower seed last season, with mixed results. Some
species will return this spring hopefully, so that these hedges should quickly
add to the habitats already at Penlan.
Brown Hares
There was lots of excitement just before Xmas, when several of the farm staff,
including the Farm Manager Richard Gough, reported sighting an animal which
has small populations in Wales, but is certainly classed as a rarity, this
side of Offas’ Dyke.
Note the distance between the two sets of hare tracks in the first two pictures. This hare was at top speed, as the two sets are 2.75ms apart!!! Hopefully the fox (I’m guessing), that put this hare to flight, was well behind.
Brown Hares are usually associated with the eastern counties of England, so the confirmation of them at Penlan is very important. The change of the farming system to include a significant arable acreage is undoubtedly an important factor, and everything possible is going to be done to increase numbers. A quick visit and recce in the recent snowy spell, showed tracks in several stubble fields. The regular security patrols ( at the poultry units) should also mean that the poaching threat is minimised.
September 2009
Well Its Sunday 13th September 11pm and I am just about to
start my eighth week as farm manager, the time has just flown by but haven’t
had a chance to think about it as we’ve been so busy. In the last eight weeks
we have knocked in over two hundred fence posts put up eight and a half kilometres
of fencing wire taken delivery of a thousand free range hens and currently
we are three days into our wheat harvest. The summer has finally arrived this
last week and despite being about two months late we are making the most of
the sunshine. This week (weather permitting) should see us harvest all 170
acres of wheat and bale the wheat straw for using in our nesting boxes.
Working late this week gave me the chance to see a beautiful sunset from the top of Penlan Isaf overlooking Kidwelly and out to sea one of the perks of this job. Another perk is being surrounded by wildlife today we were joined on the harvest by a buzzard scouting around and swooping ten feet away looking for field mice no doubt. There is also lots of insect activity this time of year and the wild flower margins planted earlier this year are working well with bees, butterflies and lots of ladybirds attracted by the flowers.
