The much-needed faithful friend…

When you see farmers at work, you usually expect to see them in wellies, flat cap, overalls or waterproofs covered in a light splattering of soil and cow muck. They might have a stick, be on a quadbike, horse, landrover or tractor, but more often than not they will be accompanied by something else…no, not a smell that would be unwelcome in your kitchen (although that is often the case), but a trusted companion whose loyalty is never in question. Most farmers, especially livestock farmers, have their trusted sheep dog just a few feet away from them at all times. They are the oil in the engine of any livestock farm and very often the most valuable worker in the team (don’t tell Graham). Only a whistle away and ready to jump into action. We could not handle our livestock (especially the sheep without our team of sheep dogs. They can be a motley bunch -  they sleep outside, usually smell, have been known to have a ‘dust up’ with the neighbour’s dog from time to time and they usually have the postman’s mud flaps in their kennel too! But almost without exception they live and love to work.

I have been lucky enough to have had some fantastic dogs on our farm over the years and I can honestly say I spend more time with them than I do anyone else at work. Those of you who have been unlucky enough to pass me in the lanes will be very aware that there are always two dogs on the back of my quad bike, leaning into me, waiting for that whistle to leap into action. Well those two dogs for the last nine years have been two sisters called Meg and Ness. They are both amazing dogs and have allowed me to handle sheep and cattle around the farm with ease. But recently I have had a massive wake up call. I made the mistake of relying too much on this fantastic pair and didn’t have a new puppy in training. So, when Ness got injured a couple of years ago and had to effectively retire, I began to struggle and Meg had to work extra hard. I have since taken on a new puppy, Flo; we have been coping while she has been learning, and she is improving all the time and now coming up to full working strength - but it takes time. With Meg getting older I have also taken on another puppy, Honey, who is six months old.

The week before Christmas, Meg injured one of her back legs and had to have an operation.  She is currently on bed-rest for six weeks. So, as you can imagine my work life has suddenly become a whole lot tougher! Poor old Meg and Ness both want to work but currently aren’t able to and Flo and Honey are on a very steep learning curve.  Fortunately, at this time of year the sheep don’t want too much hassle as they’re in lamb, but spring and lambing season are just around the corner and I am just praying Meg makes a full recovery.  This spring could be very hard work otherwise!

On the farm we move our focus to the spring and all the new life about to appear. Lambing as usual will start in March and with several hundred ewes to cope with it is always a testing time.  We are trying to keep the ewes fit and in good condition to be able to cope with motherhood and ensure as many lambs as possible are viable. As usual and for some crazy reason, as well as everything else we deal with at this time of year, we are once again running our ‘Greenwell Lambing live’ event. We welcome the public, schools and colleges to visit us for the annual guided tour of our lambing sheds at Greenwell, to get an idea of what we do on a livestock farm on the edge of Dartmoor. It is a great opportunity for us to talk about what we do and why we do it, and we hope to educate, inform and hopefully persuade you, ‘our customers’ to buy local and support your local farmers. We look forward to seeing many of you then. Email greenwellfarm@gmail.com or call 01822 855535 to book.

Mat Cole

Greenwell Farm, Dartmoor