The air is beginning to get an autumn feel. Temperatures have dropped to a more enjoyable level which enables autumn gardening to get underway.

On the last day of the week the temperature in the early morning was the lowest it has been for some time and heavy dews are becoming frequent. A mixture of sunshine, cloud cover and some rain made up the weather for the week, but only 4mm fell on Manor Farm.

We have had an early spring but with trees shedding their leaves due to the lack of water, autumn seems to have arrived.

Ian hired a large manure spreader, a very large beast that enabled him to clear field stacked manure heaps very quickly, spreading onto stubble following harvest , then incorporated into the soil as a valuable source of nutrients for the next crop. Also organic material added to the soil helps aeration and water retention, encouraging soil organisms to become an integral part of a healthy soil structure. However the amount and timing of manure spreading is controlled, as leaching of nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates into water courses can occur if care is not taken.

Once all the in-field heaps of manure had been spread Ian took the spreader to the stone barn where Kevin housed his sheep last winter. Then Kevin loaded the spreader with manure straight from the floor . At last all the barns on Manor Farm are clean, even the last polytunnels are clean and tidy, ready for our beef cattle and sheep to be safely housed through next winter.

Apart from daily checking of all livestock there has not been any other work involving our animals. However I have been told that the tups (breeding rams) have been working well. This is evident from the colour markings on the backs of the ewes. Melissa told me the colours make the flock look like a rainbow. Apparently after being with the ewes for 10 days the tups have mated with at least half the early lambing flock.

During the week 30 Beaufort Hunt Pony Club children took part in a fun ride. This was kindly allowed by the Beaufort Estate, Melissa organised the ride which was split into three groups, those children on lead reins with Melissa in charge on foot, another group assisted with a mounted coach and the third and largest group enjoying a longer seven-mile ride around the estate, also with a mounted coach.

On the same day there was a Carriage Driving UK event being held. There were 10 carriages, each drawn by a team of four horses. The vehicles were coaches, with seating inside and on top.

The drive started from Badminton House to Worcester Lodge (situated at the top of the estate) and back. Melissa said it was a splendid sight and I always think of all the hard work to prepare horses and carriages for such events .

Recently Melissa found an exhausted racing pigeon on the farm. It was very weak, so it was easily caught. She then made a note of the number written on a ring attached to its leg before phoning the Royal Racing Pigeon Association. After being given a contact number, she called them and was told to cage it with water and food, wheat being good. The pigeon was a young bird born this year and the owner was pleased it had been found, travelling from Birmingham to collect it.

I would like to remind horse owners to pick up acorns, which are already falling from oak trees. These contain toxic tannins, which can damage internal organs if eaten. Sycamores are also dropping seeds earlier than usual. These too are poisonous if eaten and have been found to be linked to a fatal muscle disease affecting the heart , breathing and posture.