Today is the first day of the Butterly Conservation's 'Big Butterfly Count 2019' and this year it's running until 11th August (plenty of time to get involved!)
All you have to do is find a place to sit for 15 minutes and record the number of butterflies of each species that you see, plus two species of day-flying moth.
There are a few places that are particularly good if you want to look for butterflies including your garden, a park or a wooded area.
Arguably more important than providing food for our garden birds is ensuring they have access to fresh, clean water for bathing and drinking.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that their need for water is met elsewhere, particularly if you live near a river or lake, but these large bodies of water don't always suit smaller birds.
Providing a bird bath is a great way to attract birds into your garden. If you have a water feature or running water, they will thank you all the more!
We were expecting June to be a scorching month but it’s been surprisingly damp! We can’t complain because it’s kept our crops happy and healthy. So, what’s been going happening on the farm this month?
On the 17th June Richard headed off to the annual 'Cereals Event' at Boothby Graffoe, just south of Lincoln. This is the main technical event of the year for arable farmers, and the best opportunity to learn about advances in arable farming.
A much-loved garden-dweller across the globe, the songful sparrow is a welcome addition to any garden, providing a cheery sight and a wholesome ambience.
However, a decline in numbers has led to concern over the humble sparrow’s ability to survive in the UK.
In fact, certain areas of the UK (such as Yorkshire and London) have seen the population of House Sparrows in particular drop by a staggering 70% between 1995 and 2017, according to the Breeding Bird Survey 2018.
The humble bumblebee is one of the most important pollinators in the world, playing a vital part in the global ecosystem in terms of food - including fruits and vegetables - as well as other useful crops, like cotton and flax.
The pollinatory power of bees also has a profound influence on both the meat and dairy industries, as they also help pollinate clover and alfalfa - two primary food sources for cattle.
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Here at Street End Farm, we are constantly reviewing our environmental position. Although not an organic farm, we do try to use as little chemicals as possible, favouring other farming methods like crop rotation and companion cropping to manage pests and other risks to the harvest.
Being a mail-order company, the issue we have is getting the balance right between strong, durable, weather-resistant packaging and our environmental responsibility.
We want your bird seed products to arrive safely but remain protected during delivery.
Richard finished spring planting yesterday, with the red millet going in well. The canary seed was planted about a month ago but has been struggling in the dry soil conditions.
The beans are looking strong, but they too need a good drink. Richard planted them deeper this year to help the roots find the moisture.
Planting the millet in these very dry conditions is a risk - the seeds need to be deep enough to find moisture, but not too deep or they won't grow at all!
Recently, a long-term customer came into the shop to make a purchase. Nothing out of the ordinary there, except she had brought with her an envelope full of old catalogues and receipts from us, wanting to know if any of it was still relevant.
We were pleasantly surprised and delighted when she pulled out a 2009 catalogue! We thought it had long gone, and memories came flooding back for Sian who remembers very well sitting at her desk and laying out the design herself using Microsoft Publisher; not to mention the printing and stapling involved in the operation.
We sent the customer on her way with a brand new 2019 catalogue, of course, (now outsourced!) but have kept a copy of the 2009 version in the office for posterity. A lot of our seed mixes and the products we sell have remained the same, but some we had forgotten about - suet coated peanuts, anyone...? Dried earthworms...?
