Summer is truly a magical time here on the farm in Llannefydd. The hills roll green and golden under big open skies, the hedgerows are humming with bees, and the days stretch out long and warm.

Shearing the sheep

One of the first big jobs of the summer is shearing the sheep. After growing their thick woolly coats all through the colder months, our flock is more than ready for a trim once the sun begins to shine.

Shearing not only keeps them cool and comfortable, but it also helps prevent issues like overheating and flystrike — a vital part of good animal care.

Watching the shearing process can be fascinating, especially if you've never seen it before. It's fast-paced and surprisingly calm — the shearers are highly skilled, guiding each sheep through with gentle efficiency. A fleece comes off in almost one piece, like a woolly coat being shrugged off in one swift motion.

The sheep leave looking a little slimmer, definitely cooler, and ready to enjoy the summer grass. If you're staying with us around shearing time, you might hear the buzz of the clippers and see our freshly shorn sheep trotting back out into the fields, looking about half the size they were the day before!

Our daughter says the sheared sheep remind her of peeled potatoes — and now we can't unsee it.

Silage season

Next comes silage season — one of the most crucial moments in the farming calendar. Good quality silage is what will feed our livestock through the winter months when the grass stops growing.

Timing is everything. We keep a close eye on the weather and the state of the grass, looking for that perfect window to cut when the grass is rich and full of nutrients. Once the grass is cut, it's left to wilt in the sun for a day or two before being gathered up and baled.

The smell in the air during silaging is incredible — sweet, grassy, and earthy all at once. Our tractors and machinery kick into full gear, mowing, turning, baling, and wrapping the grass in quick succession.

The art of bale wrapping

After baling comes wrapping — turning those big bales into tidy black parcels that will slowly ferment and turn into nutrient-packed silage. This process preserves the grass naturally, locking in the goodness so that it stays fresh for months.

For guests staying during silage time, it's a sight to see — the steady procession of tractors moving across the fields, the gentle hum of work in the background, and the land being carefully tended in preparation for the colder days ahead.

Feeding the land

Once the silage is safely wrapped and stacked, we turn our attention to the fields themselves. Summer is the perfect time to give the grass a boost by spreading fertiliser. This helps replenish the soil and encourages fresh, healthy growth — whether for another silage cut later in the season or for grazing animals later in the year.

Healthy soil means healthy grass, which in turn means happy animals and sustainable farming.

The beauty of summer on a working farm

While all this activity goes on, life on the glamping side of the farm will be peaceful and slow-paced. Our soon-to-be guests will be able to experience the contrast — how restful it will be to sit outside your pod with a cup of tea while the real world of farming life hums gently in the background.

Whether you'll be coming here for the tranquillity, the connection to nature, or just a change of scenery, summer on the farm offers a little bit of everything.

Diolch yn fawr, Dyfan and Kelly