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What's new
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| Home Red Poll Beef Willow & Hazel Storytelling About us Links Contact us Ordering |
Beanpoles and pea sticks - order now Are you ready for National Beanpole Week? We are already receiving orders from far-sighted gardeners, so don't miss out this spring. National Bean Pole Week 2010 will happen between April 17-25. You should see some coverage in the national media; it's a bandwagon worth jumping firmly on to. Hazel provides great support for your plants as it's rougher than bamboo; it's darker so not so obtrusive and by using a product from a British woodland you will be supporting British wildlife that depends on managed woodland for its well-being... ..and it hasn't been shipped half way around the world. Spring always brings a strong demand for bean poles and pea sticks, so if your plans include beaning in 2010, you'll need some high quality, locally grown polage. If you are within striking distance of Gravenhurst, Harpenden or Woburn, why not order some from us now to beat the rush that will inevitably accompany NBW10. More information and prices |
Beef available
time to get on the list
We have a few frozen silverside joints available now - please contact us to find out more. If you missed out on our last beef and would like to be added to our customer list please contact us. Next fresh beef will be available in early spring 2010. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact us |
| Wassledine Herd wins honour In October 2009, our herd was awarded reserve in the East Midlands Red Poll Cattle Society Competition. This has given us a great boost and might even get us entering more competitions next year. The competition was about the way the cattle look; we're confident that if it was judged on the taste of the beef, we would stand a great chance of winning.  |
 Gravenhurst Hedgelayers strike again
Early February saw a welcome return of a select band of
willing locals to help us lay another section of one of our boundary
hedges. The weather was pretty horrid but remarkably everyone seemed to
enjoy the experience.We have some pretty enthusiastic and skilled hedge layers in the village now - hope to do it again next winter so if you're interest, let us know. Huge thanks to you all! |
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 Welcome Canute Orange Admiral What a bull! We bought him, or at least half of him, in June and after a spell in Meppershall, he arrived in Gravenhurst in July. He comes from great stock - the Foster's Canute Orange herd of Red Polls in Towcester, Northamptonshire. Although he's now only 22 months old, he looks great, is very calm and already shows every sign of knowing what he's doing in the cow fancying area. Proof of course will be apparent next spring when calves arrive; or don't. Admiral is now relaxing in comfortable Meppershall winter quarters, recovering from the exertions of the summer. |
Wonderful Willow at Fantastic Farmers' Markets We take a stall at Woburn Farmers' Market, on the third Sunday of each month - next date 21 March 2010. more information We also take a stall at Harpenden Farmers' Market on the fourth Sunday of each month. Next market is on Sunday 28 March 2010. We will be there with all our usual baskets and beautiful willow. For more information click here If you would like to order something in advance, please let us know. Both markets run from 10am - 2pm. At farmers' markets we currently sell only our willow and hazel products but are happy to discuss and take orders for any other aspect of our business. |
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Orchids everywhere...
..well almost  A
mystery orchid turned up last spring in one of our pastures that was put down to grass in 2004. First
seen in early May, it fits the text book description of a green
winged orchid, Orchis morio. The flower spike was very small and because it was growing
close to a public footpath and lots of rabbits, chances of it
successfully seeding seemed remote, but you never know! |
Work on new barn nears completion It's been a long time coming, but after planning permission was granted in January 2009, the first ground works to create a level platform were started on Thursday 25 June. This will be a basic concrete and steel shed providing housing for the herd in the worst of the winter weather, as well as storage for hay and other feedstuff. It now has complete roof, walls and floors. As soon as we install water troughs and gates it will be ready to receive its first occupants. Although built of carbon demanding concrete and steel, we are trying to compensate by using locally quarried chalk for the internal floor and recycled crushed concrete for other floor foundations. We will install a solar powered lighting system and a tank to harvest rain water from the roof. The latter will, when the building is in use, provide a large proportion of the wate r the cattle need . During 2011 we will fence the yard and later, plant a hedge around it so that in a few years time the whole thing will begin to blend into the landscape.  |
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| T. 01462
711815 M. 07794 013876 E.info[at]wassledine.co.uk |
Gravenhurst Farm Walk
Around sixty people enjoyed a three mile walk around a bit of the
parish on Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May. Starting from the Green Dragon,
the group heard about Wassledine's cattle and willow then moved onto
the Redman family's farm where Gordon Redman talked about wheat, ponds and
Countryside Stewardship arable field margins. The pub provided a
barbeque which went down well with all despite chilly weather.
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