The unbearably hot weather -in the upper 20s to lower 30s - remained with us over the weekend, after which daytime temperatures fell by 10 C or more, with welcome cloud cover. On Manor Farm one storm deposited 11.5mm of rain, however on Chiverlins Farm measured rainfall was 38.5mm. What a difference with farms only about five or six miles apart as the crow flies. There was distant thunder, but not the severe storms which can follow a prolonged heatwave. Longer periods of sunshine on the last few days, accompanied by a fresh breeze soon dried the already parched ground.

Following completion of harvest, except for one remaining field of lupins, there were only some bales of oat straw to pick up and haul back to the farm. It will be about a week before the lupins will be ready to harvest, already on their way, turning from green to golden. As with our other crops they will be ripe a few weeks earlier than usual.

The peas yielded more than expected, so we have sold a lorry load (29.5 tonnes) and Kevin has bought the remaining 17.5 tonnes to feed to his sheep this winter. Our spring barley also yielded more than average for our ground and when tested was found to be malting quality, which will give us a better price when sold.

It has been surprising how well our crops have done this year, both in quality and yield. Ian told me he thought that we had a good season, because conditions were right at sowing; the young plants were not drowned during the winter; our fertiliser was applied and washed into the soil; it was sunny during flowering and conditions at harvest were good. I believe many farmers have been surprised with the way their crops have performed this season.

Our field of maize also looks to have grown well and be in good health. It is tall, looks a good colour and the cobs are maturing properly. Ian told me it was planted early, so established well before the very dry period, although it looks as if it will be ripe for silage at the end of August, at least two to three weeks early.

Kevin, after mowing and baling hay out of the grass on the environmental stewardship area of Corsham Parks, has brought the large bales back to the farm.

During the week 20 selected rams were put with 500 ewes, after the teasers had been removed. These ewes will give birth to their lambs next January. The rams were fitted with raddles. These are devices holding a colour marking device,which is fitted to the tup's brisket (between his front legs). A tup is another name for a ram. Four different raddle colours were used: red,orange ,blue and green, each colour put on five rams. Raddles are used on tups so that when they mate with ewes ,some of the paint will rub off and will be clearly visible. This will enable us to see when and how many ewes have been mated with .

Much of the wildlife around seems to have enjoyed the summer, as long as there was access to water. I have had a hornet in my bedroom, a leveret in the garden and a few weeks ago, Kevin's father Francis saw an English Partridge with chicks. It is also known as the Grey Partridge and has become endangered, declining from the 50s due to the change in farming practices. It is a bird of old-fashioned farmland with hedges. I have also seen many species of butterflies including Red Admirals, Tortoiseshells ,Gatekeepers and Commas, not forgetting an abundance of Large Whites, that despite netting managed to lay eggs on my cabbages and cauliflowers, the larvae devouring the leaves at an alarming rate. In the end I decided to let them enjoy their feast. I have also seen a variety of moths including Magpie Moths, Angle Shades and the latest a Heart and Dart. The Angle Shades folds its wings in a unique way, making it look like a dry, dead leaf. The markings on the wings of the Heart and Dart , as you may guess, resemble a blackish heart and dart.