CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION PAGES
Lizzie's Applefield Updates
7th July 2020
At around 3.30am "O" had a huge boy lamb - already bigger than the twins born last week. It's so strange when they are born so early as we can't ask the sheep how the birth went!
At around 3.30am "O" had a huge boy lamb - already bigger than the twins born last week. It's so strange when they are born so early as we can't ask the sheep how the birth went!
6th July 2020
My third film, Late Spring and Early Summer at Applefield is now online! Hope you all enjoy a nice half an hour!
My third film, Late Spring and Early Summer at Applefield is now online! Hope you all enjoy a nice half an hour!
4th July 2020
Jigsaw and Puzzle were officially let into their extended pen. At first they weren't sure and ran straight back to the old side, but once Robert had showed them their new climbing frame, they both had a turn! Rosemary is very pleased to be able to talk to them more closely. Two days later, Jigsaw escaped through the fence into the pony paddock so now the new enclosure is temporarily banned until the fence has wire added to the outside!
Jigsaw and Puzzle were officially let into their extended pen. At first they weren't sure and ran straight back to the old side, but once Robert had showed them their new climbing frame, they both had a turn! Rosemary is very pleased to be able to talk to them more closely. Two days later, Jigsaw escaped through the fence into the pony paddock so now the new enclosure is temporarily banned until the fence has wire added to the outside!
1st July 2020
Number 5 went into labour after lunch so we were able to be with her and watch closely. Her first boy lamb took over 2 hours to arrive and needed a bit of a pull to help him come out! Half an hour later a twin brother shot out like a rocket! Both lambs were very dozy and it took another 2 hours for them to both be up and feeding. The second boy is so tiny but both feeding well now and we can see they are getting bigger each day.
Number 5 went into labour after lunch so we were able to be with her and watch closely. Her first boy lamb took over 2 hours to arrive and needed a bit of a pull to help him come out! Half an hour later a twin brother shot out like a rocket! Both lambs were very dozy and it took another 2 hours for them to both be up and feeding. The second boy is so tiny but both feeding well now and we can see they are getting bigger each day.
21st June 2020
Jennah spent all day pacing around the big field deciding on the best place to give birth. Last year, she chose the hut at the bottom of the field so we were very relived when she came back to the orchard houses and at 7.45pm had a very pretty little girl.
The other lambs are growing quickly and now enjoy playing together away from their mummies.
Jennah spent all day pacing around the big field deciding on the best place to give birth. Last year, she chose the hut at the bottom of the field so we were very relived when she came back to the orchard houses and at 7.45pm had a very pretty little girl.
The other lambs are growing quickly and now enjoy playing together away from their mummies.
15th to 20th June 2020
No new births but all the lambs and chicks are growing and learning new things every day. The lambs are so curious and love coming to talk to me!
No new births but all the lambs and chicks are growing and learning new things every day. The lambs are so curious and love coming to talk to me!
9th June 2020
Queenie had adorable twin lambs in the very early morning. The rest of the sheep are keeping cool in the shade while they wait for their babies!
This week our next chicks hatched and we have discovered how perilous coming out of an egg can be! One black chick was very weak and we kept it in a box by the Aga overnight but in the morning it was cheeping loudly and has been accepted back by its mummy! The geese and other hens love visiting the babies!
Queenie had adorable twin lambs in the very early morning. The rest of the sheep are keeping cool in the shade while they wait for their babies!
This week our next chicks hatched and we have discovered how perilous coming out of an egg can be! One black chick was very weak and we kept it in a box by the Aga overnight but in the morning it was cheeping loudly and has been accepted back by its mummy! The geese and other hens love visiting the babies!
5th and 6th June
Two more lambs born, Number 12 had a girl and Dot had a boy, both before 4am! The first two lambs love playing together!
Two more lambs born, Number 12 had a girl and Dot had a boy, both before 4am! The first two lambs love playing together!
2nd June 2020
My afternoon swim was delayed as we watched Domino giving birth to a very strong little girl lamb. She didn't mind us being near and all the hens came to welcome the new arrival too!
My afternoon swim was delayed as we watched Domino giving birth to a very strong little girl lamb. She didn't mind us being near and all the hens came to welcome the new arrival too!
28th May 2020
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS!! Chick 1 hatched last Sunday and is growing well and Chick 2 hatched on Monday morning. We didn't hatch any last year. We think they might actually be from our neighbours' eggs as we knew they were successful a few weeks ago. Early yesterday morning, our first lamb was born - it's a girl! The other 9 ewes are all ENORMOUS and busy "house hunting" in funny places where there is shade!
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS!! Chick 1 hatched last Sunday and is growing well and Chick 2 hatched on Monday morning. We didn't hatch any last year. We think they might actually be from our neighbours' eggs as we knew they were successful a few weeks ago. Early yesterday morning, our first lamb was born - it's a girl! The other 9 ewes are all ENORMOUS and busy "house hunting" in funny places where there is shade!
23rd May 2020
10 years ago today we went to pick up Flapjack and ended up going back a second time for Oreo who didn't have a home. Of course they immediately settled in and became part of our family! We love them both so much and they have always been very serious about riding on my footplate! We never thought that 10 years later we'd have Biscuit and Shortbread too!
10 years ago today we went to pick up Flapjack and ended up going back a second time for Oreo who didn't have a home. Of course they immediately settled in and became part of our family! We love them both so much and they have always been very serious about riding on my footplate! We never thought that 10 years later we'd have Biscuit and Shortbread too!
15th May 2020
Early morning and a lovely evening walk round Applefield to see the magical expanse of cow parsley and spot the visiting pheasant!
Early morning and a lovely evening walk round Applefield to see the magical expanse of cow parsley and spot the visiting pheasant!
12th May 2020
Here is Episode 2 of Spring at Applefield. I hope everyone enjoys watching it!
Here is Episode 2 of Spring at Applefield. I hope everyone enjoys watching it!
8th May 2020
Celebrating VE Day!
Celebrating VE Day!
3rd May 2020
Filming for Episode 2 of Spring at Applefield! Rosemary really enjoyed the attention and trying some comfrey leaves and parsley!
Filming for Episode 2 of Spring at Applefield! Rosemary really enjoyed the attention and trying some comfrey leaves and parsley!
29th April 2020
With a month to go until lambing, the sheep are now enjoying being allowed into the orchard every afternoon for extra grazing! They all wait to be let through from the field like shoppers on Black Friday! I had a funny conversation with Rocky the cockerel which will feature in the next episode of Spring at Applefield!
With a month to go until lambing, the sheep are now enjoying being allowed into the orchard every afternoon for extra grazing! They all wait to be let through from the field like shoppers on Black Friday! I had a funny conversation with Rocky the cockerel which will feature in the next episode of Spring at Applefield!
21st April 2020
Here's my film "Spring at Applefield". I hope you enjoy it!
Here's my film "Spring at Applefield". I hope you enjoy it!
16th April 2020
I'm working on a little film about Spring at Applefield! Rosemary was a real diva yesterday and made us wait until she was ready to make her appearance!! I had to pretend to be a tree until Bert the cockerel went away, he attacked the back of my chair last week! Princess the lamb decided the barbecue was a good place to scratch her back!
I'm working on a little film about Spring at Applefield! Rosemary was a real diva yesterday and made us wait until she was ready to make her appearance!! I had to pretend to be a tree until Bert the cockerel went away, he attacked the back of my chair last week! Princess the lamb decided the barbecue was a good place to scratch her back!
7th March 2020
We visited Rosemary for Palm Sunday. She really wanted to eat the palm leaves from our own tree! The blackthorn is bursting out along the hedge.
We visited Rosemary for Palm Sunday. She really wanted to eat the palm leaves from our own tree! The blackthorn is bursting out along the hedge.
27th March 2020
Today was my first trip round the farm since the autumn; it has been the muddiest start to the year since we moved to Applefield in 1998!
It was so lovely to feel the warm sun and be able to drive around everywhere – after no rain for 2 weeks, the ground is really hard now! As soon as I was in the farmyard, Sugar the cat appeared to say hello and remind Daddy it was lunchtime. Luckily one of our friends had kindly dropped off a box of cat food this morning.
Jigsaw and Puzzle the goats were waiting for their lunch and were cross with me for wanting a photo with them before they were served their bunches of ivy! Rosemary the donkey saw us and came across the paddock to have a chat. Applejack the pony was in the other half so I went in to see him – I didn’t hear Rosemary sneaking up behind me and wanting more attention!
The blossom and spring flowers are popping up everywhere now – have a go at my Spring Quiz on the Fun and Games page on the website to see what you can identity!
The sheep are living in the big field at the moment and all called to me to go and see them. I made a special trip over to see Number 12 who is feeling a bit unwell at the moment. She’s one of our oldest ewes so we are hoping that once her medicine kicks in she’ll make it through lambing time in May! We may need to order a new picnic table for the summer as someone has been using it as a scratching post!
Today was my first trip round the farm since the autumn; it has been the muddiest start to the year since we moved to Applefield in 1998!
It was so lovely to feel the warm sun and be able to drive around everywhere – after no rain for 2 weeks, the ground is really hard now! As soon as I was in the farmyard, Sugar the cat appeared to say hello and remind Daddy it was lunchtime. Luckily one of our friends had kindly dropped off a box of cat food this morning.
Jigsaw and Puzzle the goats were waiting for their lunch and were cross with me for wanting a photo with them before they were served their bunches of ivy! Rosemary the donkey saw us and came across the paddock to have a chat. Applejack the pony was in the other half so I went in to see him – I didn’t hear Rosemary sneaking up behind me and wanting more attention!
The blossom and spring flowers are popping up everywhere now – have a go at my Spring Quiz on the Fun and Games page on the website to see what you can identity!
The sheep are living in the big field at the moment and all called to me to go and see them. I made a special trip over to see Number 12 who is feeling a bit unwell at the moment. She’s one of our oldest ewes so we are hoping that once her medicine kicks in she’ll make it through lambing time in May! We may need to order a new picnic table for the summer as someone has been using it as a scratching post!
26th March 2020
Hello everybody! I am thinking of you all and hoping you are all keeping safe and well during this unusual time. I hope you are receiving the support you need from friends and family; my parents and I are being well looked after by all our neighbours; in fact we’ve seen more of them in the past week than ever!
I was sad that I had to stop working as a Teaching Assistant and running my Craft Club as well as visiting the university to meet students. We were also disappointed that we had to cancel our Wheely Wonders days for the foreseeable future.
I’m sure many of you are missing seeing your school friends and family but hope you are able to talk to them on FaceTime, Skype or Zoom. When my mother was a little girl she imagined what it would be like to see the person you were talking to on the phone; now she can’t believe her dream came true!
I am working on keeping the Wellspring website and Facebook page up to date with information and links that you may find useful over the coming months. There will be sections for general information, activities you can enjoy at home and outside so keep coming back to check it out!
We would love to create a photo gallery on our website and Facebook page of art and craft work that your children make. Do send photos and perhaps some stories of what you as families with special needs children and young people are doing to have fun and stay positive both at home and outside when possible. You can send them to us via a message on our Facebook page or email me: lizzie @wellsringwestsussex.org.uk
Finally I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the incredible NHS staff, carers and and other key workers who are working so hard to look after everybody!
Please do keep in touch with us at Wellspring West Sussex – please share any useful information or links you think other families would find helpful. I will share news and photos of spring and early summer here at Applefield and really look forward to welcoming everyone back again when we can return to a new kind of normal life.
Hello everybody! I am thinking of you all and hoping you are all keeping safe and well during this unusual time. I hope you are receiving the support you need from friends and family; my parents and I are being well looked after by all our neighbours; in fact we’ve seen more of them in the past week than ever!
I was sad that I had to stop working as a Teaching Assistant and running my Craft Club as well as visiting the university to meet students. We were also disappointed that we had to cancel our Wheely Wonders days for the foreseeable future.
I’m sure many of you are missing seeing your school friends and family but hope you are able to talk to them on FaceTime, Skype or Zoom. When my mother was a little girl she imagined what it would be like to see the person you were talking to on the phone; now she can’t believe her dream came true!
I am working on keeping the Wellspring website and Facebook page up to date with information and links that you may find useful over the coming months. There will be sections for general information, activities you can enjoy at home and outside so keep coming back to check it out!
We would love to create a photo gallery on our website and Facebook page of art and craft work that your children make. Do send photos and perhaps some stories of what you as families with special needs children and young people are doing to have fun and stay positive both at home and outside when possible. You can send them to us via a message on our Facebook page or email me: lizzie @wellsringwestsussex.org.uk
Finally I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the incredible NHS staff, carers and and other key workers who are working so hard to look after everybody!
Please do keep in touch with us at Wellspring West Sussex – please share any useful information or links you think other families would find helpful. I will share news and photos of spring and early summer here at Applefield and really look forward to welcoming everyone back again when we can return to a new kind of normal life.
