In Your Field: Kate Beavan - 'The tag team of Patterdale terrier and cats made for a stressful viewing'

My students have completed their final exams and I am having a meal with them next week to say goodbye.

clock • 2 min read
In Your Field: Kate Beavan - 'The tag team of Patterdale terrier and cats made for a stressful viewing'

My students have completed their final exams and I am having a meal with them next week to say goodbye.

I am a bit of a mother hen with students and like a proud (and quite noisy) Mum at graduation.

 

After spending half my life teaching at the college, the next few weeks are going to be emotional as I am on countdown to leave, but it feels the right time to go.

 

We will be still running courses and hosting educational groups on the farm and as a STEM ambassador, I visit schools so I am not letting education go completely.

 

I will also be popping back to deliver guest lectures and involving students in my other role with Stump Up For Trees. It has been a steep learning curve, but I am thoroughly enjoying helping farmers to capture carbon through hedgerows, woodland creation and management.

 

You never know where life is going to take you, my background is animal welfare, who knew I would end up becoming a crazy tree lady.

 

The charity is made up of a small, but mighty team and dependent on volunteers. We are currently recruiting an operations manager, so if you live in South Wales and want to find out more, please get in touch.

 

Tree planting has finished until November but I am working with some enthusiastic farmers on exciting future projects. We are hoping to influence decision makers on the way forward regarding where to put trees in Wales, watch this space.

As ever, our weather is unpredictable. Due to the soggy ground, the muck only went on last week before the spring corn goes in, following the turnips.

 

This is the latest we have planted, but Jim was talking to a farmer last week who told him the best spring barley he ever grew was planted on May 12, so fingers crossed it will be okay.

 

Lambing has finished but Jim did say (I think tongue in cheek) that lambing was the easy bit, the hardest bit is keeping them alive.

 

There were lots of community events over the Bank Holiday weekend, but we spent most of it drenching lambs for nemotodirus and dagging ewes.

 

It is not fun working with wet sheep and I was stinking at the end of the day, but I am sure the King will understand, he is a long-time advocate of sustainable farming and animal welfare.

 

I did manage to watch a bit of media coverage, until the cat decided to bring a Coronation present into the farmhouse a young rat.

 

The tag team of Patterdale terrier and cats made for a stressful viewing of the royal event and, as soon as the vermin was caught, we returned to the ewes and lambs.

Quivogne APX TL Trailed Disc Harrow.

Quivogne APX TL Trailed Disc Harrow.

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

Used KRM Sola 4.8m

Used KRM Sola 4.8m

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

Used Amazone Ad-p 403 Special Amalog+ control box

Used Amazone Ad-p 403 Special Amalog+ control

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

More on Blogs

OPINION: Crossing the divide - MPs fighting farmers' corner, but what do party members think?

OPINION: Crossing the divide - MPs fighting farmers' corner, but what do party members think?

The LibDems are looking to capitalise on the disillusionment of Labour’s new rural voters and the collapse of traditional Tory support as they battle to stem the rise of Reform UK. But where does farming fit into the picture?

clock 24 September 2025 • 3 min read
OPINION: Why is the focus on cutting out meat when it should be on eliminating ultra processed foods?

OPINION: Why is the focus on cutting out meat when it should be on eliminating ultra processed foods?

Digital editor Emily Ashworth looks at the rise of meat free Mondays, when the real health problem lies in the power of ultra processed foods

clock 22 September 2025 • 1 min read
Organic September: "Despite the demand and exciting possibilities, organic farmland in the UK remains static at 3%"

Organic September: "Despite the demand and exciting possibilities, organic farmland in the UK remains static at 3%"

Jerry Alford, farming advisor for arable and soils at Soil Association, talks about the demand for organic produce despite the lack of support for organic practices

Farmers Guardian
clock 19 September 2025 • 3 min read