Root 'n' Branch Acres

One of my favourite shots of the site from this year

Some beautiful pics of the site at sunset from earlier this year.

Lots of new arrivals this week!!
First little Elderberry the lamb was born. This was mum Poppy's first lamb so she was a bit unsure what to do with it. However with some gentle encouragement over the day we were confident it was drinking ok and over the last week it has thrived and now out in the big field with the rest of the flock.

Second came Mr Cloudy. He is a new pony we have been granted guardianship off from Redwings Horse Sanctuary. Hopefully this will be his forever home and he has already coped brilliantly with his new surroundings as well as taking in all the site and sounds of two Larp events on site next to his paddock. Think he will fit right in.

Thirdly this little group of duckling have arrived at the farm. One of my colleagues actually hatched them a few weeks ago but now they have moved to the farm and are enjoying thier new outdoor space.

Plenty of new arrivals still to come, spring is definitely here!

Spring is definitely here with two more new arrivals today!!

Clover getting into the festive spirit 🎄
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#lurchers #luchersofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #reindeer #christmasanimals #ilovemylurcher

Clover getting into the festive spirit 🎄 . . . . . . . . . . #lurchers #luchersofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #reindeer #christmasanimals #ilovemylurcher

Lovely being able to bring Roman Curriculum to life on our site with amphitheatre, trade ship and giant maps and aqueducts.

So as some of you might know my partner Mick and myself run various of our own live roleplaying games, below some of the pictures from one of our current games 'Carum Live Roleplay'.

We also do have the luxury in having our own outdoor biodiversed recreation site in the West Midlands UK.

I say luxury as not only does it provide a venue for the games but also allows us to use and store an expansive range of costumes, props and sets.

Some people's other half might have looked at them strangely when asked if they could build them an ocean going raft to host up to 20 people at a time in our hay field and alder coppice..but Mick just got to work, no questions asked, but then again he has so far built me forts, ports, city quarters and temples as well as converting my stables temporarily into puzzle rooms, halfling taverns and wizards shops.

From High Fantasy Larp weekends to Edu-Larp sessions and adventures with children, Root 'n' Branch Acres provides multiple follies, places of living imagination for both our plot writers and players to be inspired by.


photo credits: Kate Isabell Collins (MICS)

Lovely shots of the children using nearly al the site and follies during our half term events.

Edu-LARP and Autism.

I know we have a lot of larpers and people with kids who follow this page so thought this might be of interest to many of you.

Edu-LARP and Autism. Are you or a relation, friend or associate on the Autistic spectrum? It would be unusual for many to be able to answer no to this question. And even if you have no direct link to somebody on the spectrum, there cannot be many people unaware of autism, even if understanding does not accompany complet...

Some wonderful photos from last weekend's Empire Larp event on our site.
Such a lovely group of people, brilliant organisers and just a pleasure to be involved with.
Looking forward to next year.

Managed to capture this lovely little guy hanging around site the other day

Huge thanks to Lee for clearing some young sycamores and taking a few low branches of our oaks to let more light in to our new veg patch area and a great view out of the garden area. Plus sure the farmer next door will be happy to be able to get tractor under easier.

Magic proving herself to be the ultimate in child's pony yet again. This time allowing her little rider to get a posed photo in the giant frame put up for Carmel and Will's wedding the week before.

Today Blue sporting his repaired Zebra Fly Sheet. He of course had managed to rip the belly attachment clean off.
Granted I may well have been pampering him a bit this week but he deserves it plus the flies kept attacking his shoulders so with this heat it was time to cover up.

Now just a new fly mask to get to stop his very pink nose getting sunburnt. At least if my home repair job on the rug doesn't work I can always send it to for a proper job.

Yet more new life today as our pekin hen hatched 4 more chicks yesterday afternoon and overnight giving here a total of 5 with another pipping the shell and one more we will have to wait and see with.
Our Silkie mum who has also been sitting on her second batch of pekin eggs this year has hatched 3 little beauties so far with more pipping now. Photos hopefully tomorrow.
All in all another good day and more lovely friends popped down over the weekend to give there condolences about our horse and drop off some items for or dairy garden and two even took some of the day old chicks to give to thier broody hen who failed to hatch any of her own.
More due over the next few weeks including hopefully some turkey pullets and call duck eggs being collected to start another batch in one of our incubator.
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#babychicks #chicks #newlife #lifeofafarmer #lifeofasmallholder #poultrybreeder #poultryforsale #rurallife

New chicks at Root 'n'Branch Acres!!

Yet more new life today as our pekin hen hatched 4 more chicks yesterday afternoon and overnight giving here a total of 5 with another pipping the shell and one more we will have to wait and see with. Our Silkie mum who has also been sitting on her second batch of pekin eggs this year has hatched 3 little beauties so far with more pipping now. Photos hopefully tomorrow. All in all another good day and more lovely friends popped down over the weekend to give there condolences about our horse and drop off some items for or dairy garden and two even took some of the day old chicks to give to thier broody hen who failed to hatch any of her own. More due over the next few weeks including hopefully some turkey pullets and call duck eggs being collected to start another batch in one of our incubator. . . #babychicks #chicks #newlife #lifeofafarmer #lifeofasmallholder #poultrybreeder #poultryforsale #rurallife

Ducklings for sale For Sale in Solihull, West Midlands | Preloved

Ducklings for sale (runners, apricots, call ducks, mini appleyards)

Ducklings for sale For Sale in Solihull, West Midlands | Preloved Lovely little ducklings. Ready to go. Living outdoors in coop and run. Varieties available: Mini Appleyard Call Ducks (sold) Apricot Call duck Indian Runner Ducks in green and white splash, fawn and chocolate. Pure white Aylesburys Will sell individually, mix of breeds or as a batch. Come with a sta...

Happy Spring days on the farm!

Sad News: so as many of you might have seen on Mick's Facebook we sadly lost little Brave our tiny rescued lamb a couple of nights ago. It has taken me a couple of days to get past the sadness and make this post. When you love and try so hard for an animal it hurts all the more. However after the photos of today (pics 2-4) I was reminded of how quickly life has to go on in farming. This bunch of wooly sheep, due for shearing over the next few weeks had to come in to be assessed (luckily no fly strike yet). Then each fly sprayed and Mum Sky given a good check over after losing her lambs as otherwise Mastitis can happen in the udder.
So all in all the day was busy which to be honest helps. Your other animals on any farm or smallholding still need to be cared for no matter how we are feeling. And the certainly did cheer me up, especially pet sheep Shara (pic 4).
#lamblove #sheep #smallholdinglife

Sad News: so as many of you might have seen on Mick's Facebook we sadly lost little Brave our tiny rescued lamb a couple of nights ago. It has taken me a couple of days to get past the sadness and make this post. When you love and try so hard for an animal it hurts all the more. However after the photos of today (pics 2-4) I was reminded of how quickly life has to go on in farming. This bunch of wooly sheep, due for shearing over the next few weeks had to come in to be assessed (luckily no fly strike yet). Then each fly sprayed and Mum Sky given a good check over after losing her lambs as otherwise Mastitis can happen in the udder. So all in all the day was busy which to be honest helps. Your other animals on any farm or smallholding still need to be cared for no matter how we are feeling. And the certainly did cheer me up, especially pet sheep Shara (pic 4). #lamblove #sheep #smallholdinglife

Seedling Productions (@seedlingproductions) • Instagram photos and videos

Little Brave Update!

Seedling Productions (@seedlingproductions) • Instagram photos and videos 149 Followers, 171 Following, 279 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Seedling Productions ()

Meet Little Brave and watch and read our week's diary below:

Day 1: The Rescue Begins!
Found cold and limp on the stable floor, rejected by Mum during the night this little lamb looked like it had a about a 1% chance of survival. Feeding directly from mum every 20 minutes of the day was exhausting but only the start of long journey for Little Brave. #cadelamb

Day 2: Sunshine and tender loving care provided by all the family and the fact she made it through the night upped her chance of survival to around 5%.

Day 3: So still unable to walk Brave had to come home with us every evening for physio/feeds. Living between a dog bed and a crate where we could try to get her to nibble hay and straw. Now she could keep her own head up and was moving around a little more. We had to turn her constantly to also keep circulation and change her bedding every 3 hours.

Day 4: Feed schedule of every 3hours (little and often is always the best way) is becoming exhausting but worth it to see this lamb starting to want to fight to survive. Help from Yemi #germanshepherd and Clover #lucher to keep her stimulated and help with muscle development, cleaning regime and circulation.

Day 5: Little Brave starting sitting up much more on her own and back legs begin to get better with more movement and more physio #lambphysio
She also got to visit a SEN school where we work and brought huge amounts of joy to staff and students alike. AAT proving yet again to be a massive help with some of these children's mental health and behaviour patterns. #educationalcompany
#animalassistedtherapy

Day 6: Whoohooo! starting to want to stand at least but hips still way to close together providing no support for her back end. Most likely a mixture of being born in breach and lack of development during her first night.

Day 7: WALKING! A few steps at first with support from humans an a walker sling but very quickly she decided she could run before learning to walk. This resulting in a few nose dives and a lot of Bambi style legs. But massive progress and putting her chance of survival at much nearer 40%

Day 8: WALKING on her own!!🐑😀

From a 1% ,chance of survival to 50% in 7 days. Watch and read our diary post to see this Little Lambs Progress.

Meet Little Brave and watch and read our week's diary below: Day 1: The Rescue Begins! Found cold and limp on the stable floor, rejected by Mum during the night this little lamb looked like it had a about a 1% chance of survival. Feeding directly from mum every 20 minutes of the day was exhausting but only the start of long journey for Little Brave. #cadelamb Day 2: Sunshine and tender loving care provided by all the family and the fact she made it through the night upped her chance of survival to around 5%. Day 3: So still unable to walk Brave had to come home with us every evening for physio/feeds. Living between a dog bed and a crate where we could try to get her to nibble hay and straw. Now she could keep her own head up and was moving around a little more. We had to turn her constantly to also keep circulation and change her bedding every 3 hours. Day 4: Feed schedule of every 3hours (little and often is always the best way) is becoming exhausting but worth it to see this lamb starting to want to fight to survive. Help from Yemi #germanshepherd and Clover #lucher to keep her stimulated and help with muscle development, cleaning regime and circulation. Day 5: Little Brave starting sitting up much more on her own and back legs begin to get better with more movement and more physio #lambphysio She also got to visit a SEN school where we work and brought huge amounts of joy to staff and students alike. AAT proving yet again to be a massive help with some of these children's mental health and behaviour patterns. #educationalcompany #animalassistedtherapy Day 6: Whoohooo! starting to want to stand at least but hips still way to close together providing no support for her back end. Most likely a mixture of being born in breach and lack of development during her first night. Day 7: WALKING! A few steps at first with support from humans an a walker sling but very quickly she decided she could run before learning to walk. This resulting in a few nose dives and a lot of Bambi style legs. But massive progress and putting her chance of survival at much nearer 40% Day 8: WALKING on her own!!🐑😀

Pekin Bantam chicks For Sale in Solihull, West Midlands | Preloved

Day old chicks for sale

Pekin Bantam chicks For Sale in Solihull, West Midlands | Preloved Lovely lavender and black/white mottled day old pekin chicks. Will need brood box or heat lamp. Brooder packages and guide to raising your chicks available. Bred on family smallholding, use to dogs and children. parents can be seen (also shown in photos) Make great pets but would also make super sho...

It is difficult to keep track of mum when it is your first time in the field and the flock flock to meet you.
#smallholding #lambingseason
#spring

New lambs meeting the others.

It is difficult to keep track of mum when it is your first time in the field and the flock flock to meet you. #smallholding #lambingseason #spring

Point of lay hens- RIR, CLB & LS For Sale in Solihull, West Midlands | Preloved

Point of lay hens- RIR, CLB & LS For Sale in Solihull, West Midlands | Preloved lovely point of lay hens from family smallholding, all 17-19 weeks old, laying now. Easy care breeds and super layers. pure bred Light Sussex (pink eggs) pure bred Cream Legbars (blue eggs) pure bred Rhode Island Reds (dark red eggs) will sell a mix of breeds. for more info please call or text or me...

Fresh free range farm eggs for sale (chicken 6 for £1.50 or duck 6 for £2.50).
Local delivery or collection.
Please pm or call/ text us on 07813604575

1st new lambs of the season. Snowflake doing a marvelous job of labouring, cleaning and feeding them all by herself. She has always been a sheep who like to be on her own to lamb with as little human interference as possible.

Normally at this time of year we would lamb outdoors but so glad with the low temperature that I had brought my first ewes into the stable a couple of days ago. Absolutely love this time of year and these two little girls are as cute as could be.

#lambs #newlambs #sheep #sheeplambing #lovemyjob #springtimeonthefarm

Two little girl lambs 😀😀🐑🐑

1st new lambs of the season. Snowflake doing a marvelous job of labouring, cleaning and feeding them all by herself. She has always been a sheep who like to be on her own to lamb with as little human interference as possible. Normally at this time of year we would lamb outdoors but so glad with the low temperature that I had brought my first ewes into the stable a couple of days ago. Absolutely love this time of year and these two little girls are as cute as could be. #lambs #newlambs #sheep #sheeplambing #lovemyjob #springtimeonthefarm

What else would you do on a sunny afternoon.
#wildbirds #farmlife #sparrows

Spuggy fun in the sun 🌞🌞🌞

What else would you do on a sunny afternoon. #wildbirds #farmlife #sparrows