September 2006.

3 – Joined 400 walkers, young and old, for the Pink Ladies Walk in Wooler, the idea of four local ladies whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. The community rose to the occasion with the main street and shop windows decked in pink. Most amazingly, and beyond the organisers’ wildest dreams it raised £19,000 for the Breast Cancer Unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

9 – A glorious sunny day for Ingram Show with a record 900 visitors through the gate. Entries in the horticultural and industrial classes were up and, for the first time since 2001, Foot and Mouth year, every farm in the valley had entries in the sheep show.

Sheep-wise this is a very busy month on the farm. The hill sheep are gathered to spean (wean) the lambs and old ewes are ‘drafted out’ to make way for younger ones coming on. Ewes that are ‘warranted’ (with sound mouths and udders) are sold on for further breeding. It is also a busy month for sales with one of the biggest being Kelso Ram Sale. We bought four Texels from there, and five Blue-Faced Leicester rams from Hexham.

This picture was taken after an early morning gather by ‘staff’ David, Jim, Matt and me plus numerous dogs!

14 – First day of the Centenary International Sheep Dog Trials near Duns, just over the Scottish Border. Teams of 15, the crème de la crème of dogs and handlers, from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, compete against each other over two days of qualifying rounds with the best 15 running on the final day. Local man Davy Baxter, from Alwinton, (he’s on the cover of Charles Bowden’s book “The Last Shepherds”) failed to qualify after a disappointing run with Scott. Top honours on the Sunday went to Scotsman Bobby Dalziel with his collie, Joe.

Met ‘Walking Friends’ in the College Valley today to climb the Henhole, a steep, rocky sided valley on Cheviot; dramatic scenery and slightly spooky in the early morning mist.

 Found the small patch of Roseroot, a rare Alpine plant, which only grows locally in the Henhole.

At the top followed the boardwalk on the Pennine Way along to Auchope Cairn, then passed the wooden Refuge Hut that has provided shelter for many a walker caught out in bad weather. Climbed up The Schil, more amazing views, then walked down to Mounthooley where we had parked the cars. A lovely walk, about nine miles, but definitely for a fine day.

Mushrooms and fungi are growing in abundance due to the damp, warm weather. I photographed this horse mushroom – quite edible – on the hill.

The spring like conditions have led to some plants second flowering and the beech tree that shed its leaves in July has come in to partial leaf again, a rare phenomena. Most unwelcome news this month was the sighting of a grey squirrel, just three miles away, near Powburn.

29 – Noticed more swallows on the wires near the farm cottages. Quite probably they have come from further north and were breaking their journey at Ingram before heading south.