* Liz Hird is a farmer's wife in Yockenthwaite, Langstrothdale VERY little office work seems to have been done over the last month or so and I am now, at last, trying to work my way through the piles of paperwork and correspondence that has accumulated in recent weeks; what a job, it's never ending and no matter how hard I try it just doesn't seem to be getting any less!

It's the same with washing and ironing and the recent breakdown of the tumble dryer has added to the problem as May has not proved particularly favourable for drying clothes! I am sure that mother nature must have got April and May mixed up this year because we seem to have gone backwards in recent weeks and it hasn't gone down very well at all.

We had the first swallow back on the 16th of April, a lone bird that appeared and then disappeared for a few days before returning with a bevy of his mates, congregating on the garden railings and telephone wires filling the air with their excited twittering chatter; no doubt exchanging stories of their long arduous journey from foreign climes; I am always pleased to see them return.

The warm dry April weather was a pleasant change, usually we are plodging around the lambing sheep in overcoats, leggings and wellies; this year that wasn't a problem; lack of water in the meadows was the problem and Stuart and Dan had to rig up water tanks to make sure all sheep had access to fresh running water. Although May brought and end to a glorious spell of weather, we were actually thankful for the rain, let's hope that it now knows when to stop!

Lambing time is now behind us, Stuart, Dan and Edward are busy marking the last few lambs out and most of the meadows are now shut up' in preparation for haytime. We have a good crop and lambs seem to be thriving. I have not had much chance to get out there this year, but it sounds as though tups bought last year have done their job and on the whole, judging by talk around the table at supper time, they will all be getting a second chance.

Our suckler cows, which are Limousin/Angus x Friesian calving to a Limousin bull have calved, all but one. They seem to have been hard work this year for some reason and we have even gone as far as debating whether to get rid of them altogether, but unless things go badly wrong, this is unlikely to happen as cattle are essential to the management of farms like ours.

They eat off all the rougher grass that sheep don't touch, allowing the sweeter greener herby grass and wildflowers a chance, and they also provide a valuable supply of good old Farm Yard Manure.

This year, in conjunction with the National Trust, we will be hosting an Open Day once again and it will be held on Saturday June 30 and will be here at the farm at Yockenthwaite.

Visitors will be able to see sheep shearing, sheepdog handling, exhibits of different breeds of sheep, walling demonstrations, vintage tractors, go caving and see Langstrothdale from underground and also have a guided tour through Yockenthwaite meadows to look at the wildflowers. A range of local produce will be available, butter making demonstrations will be held throughout the day and refreshments will be provided here at the farm. All are welcome.