April started with snow showers and continued with frequent snowy showers higher in the hills nearly to the end of the month. Throughout the month we have definitely started to see the signs of spring lower down, with the Blaeberry beginning to flower and the mountain flora becoming greener!
Our female reindeer enjoyed a few more weeks out on the free range before we moved them into our hill enclosure in preparation for the Calving season; there are definitely a few big bellies and udders starting to form. Every year the reindeer herders partake in a calving bet which involves us choosing a reindeer and hoping that they are not the last to calve. If they do, we are required to bake a cake for us to enjoy when we name the calves in September; it isn’t the worst if you lose the calving bet. Some herders chose strategically and others chose their favourite reindeer, so by the end of April all the calving bets are in, and it has become a waiting game!
1st of April: After taking visitors out to see the reindeer in the morning, when there was no snow, this was an absolute treat to find them again in the afternoon! You can see Disco on the left, Sundae behind her, Turtle on the right and Tetley.2nd of April: Disco has lost one of her antlers over night. Here is Disco and Latte leading the herd over the the Hill Trip spot. 3rd of April: A trip to see the reindeer over on our Hill farm. From left to right we have Caterpillar, Mangetout, Merida, Spartan, Hemp, Oatcake, Spy, Pumpkin, Brie, Mushy and Busby 4th of April: Beautiful Amazon looking for extra food after the Hill Trip. Over the last year Amazon has grown in confidence and is very greedy.5th of April: As you can seen the snow hung around lower down for a few days. Here is Chai and Camomile scouting out whether i’ll offer more food.7th of April: A suprise visit from Ruth and Baby M9th of April: Despite Cheer having an epic set of antlers, this didn’t deter Trilby from a bit of antler sparring. At the time, Trilby only had half of one antler left. They will both soon lose these antlers in preperation for a new set to grow.10th of April: Hopscotch and Foxtrot leading the herd over a steep sided ridge, the herd didn’t bat an eyelid, and it often amazes me the places the herd chooses to rest. 15th of April: Ryvita, Sika, Christie and Winnie in the Mid ground. Ryvita has the start of her new antlers growing. I often find at this stage the reindeer often look a little like Giraffe. 16th of April: Tetley with Latte excelling at jumping the burn in the background. Turns out reindeer can be agile!18th of April: Our cows and calves are now in our hill enclosure before we split our pregnant females, who will stay in the hill enclosure for the calving season which will start in May. Here is lovely Shannon enjoying some feed after the Hill Trip.19th of April: Before coming over to our hill enclosure, Brie spent her time free ranging at our secondary site. 21st of April: Here come the boys! Dr Seuss (on the left) and Cowboy (on the right) leading the boys up for their feed.
