Summer and the learning is easy?
What a memorable summer, when the sound of machinery busily making haylage started in June! It’s a reminder that farming remains a lottery from the weather to politics and everything in between. In these challenging times efficiency and knowledge are increasingly important and our farmer training is aimed at maximising skills. Our summer events focus on sheep with ewe condition scoring, lamb grading, dipping training and sheep handling. Working in partnership with AHDB and the Wool Board this will involve national experts and will be hosted on Dartmoor farms. We also have a wider offer of heritage skills training aimed at anyone with an active interest in rural life. This includes boundary skills from stone walling to hedge steeping and the art of traditional gate-making using local timber. There is also a one-day course on scything and a taster day for prospective beekeepers. For further details or to book a course please email hfp@dartmoor.gov.uk or call 01822 890913.
The Art of Scything (£20) – August 2nd, Dartmeet
Ewe Body Condition Scoring – August 7th, Hexworthy
Sheep Dipping Course (NPTC - £218) – August 15th, Sheepstor
Newtake Stone Walling (£60) – August 17th / 18th, Gidleigh
Lamb Grading & Performance – 12th September, Widecombe
Sheep Handling with Miriam Parker – 20th September, venue tbc
Hedge Steeping (£60) – 21st / 22nd September, Scorriton
Bee Taster Day for Beginners (£15) – 22nd September, Buckfast Abbey
Devon Stone Faced Hedgebank Repair (£60.00) – 27th /28th September, Throwleigh
Traditional Gate Making (£150) – 19th – 21st October, Moretonhampstead
*All prices include VAT