TALES FROM THE FAR NORTH ALL SET FOR THE WINTER!

Hi Folks. Welcome back to my latest column.

This year has flown by! I can’t believe we are so close to Christmas yet again. It’s been a blur, from a great summer to a much damper and indeed colder autumn up here but we crack on and keep the head down!

Since my last update, I’ve been flat out at work on the fence line and also at home on the croft, From the winter feed and hay delivery to the tups going out with the ewes, it means one thing: spring time will be upon us before we know it but we have a lot of ground to cover between now and then!

The fence line has been very busy with a mix of jobs. From smaller post and rail, various garden fencing specs to a couple of forestry fences. At the time of writing I’m on with a hill stock fence on the outskirts of Rogart here in Sutherland. Getting to the bottom of the hill is only 15 mins from my home which is a bonus! Then I leave the warmth of the pickup behind and jump onto the ATV and head on up the hill.

The views from the top on a good day make up for the ‘brass monkeys’ nature of the weather. I’m acutely aware that we are fast approaching the time for wintery showers that greet us frequently at this time of the year.

This particular job is just under 1.8KM with a good spec of warranted timber. It’s a great job to get out of the way before the Christmas break and with our mod cons of tracked dumpers and Atv’s, It makes the work that touch more easier.  Result!

This job has 56 strainer / turner posts and a good strong 3×3 square stock post at every 2.5m centres to help longevity with the planned cattle grazing that will happen once the fencing is finished.

Five of seven bar galvanised field gates help to move cattle around the hill and it also features a HT Rylock net with 2 line support wires and a top barb.

It’s ideal and is proving to be a really enjoyable fence to build.

The job will be done and dusted by the time you read this and I’m hoping we can squeeze in another deer fencing job of 1300m on a woodland creation scheme….. weather permitting of course!

Next year’s diary on the fencing side of things is looking mega busy, not a bad state of affairs!

We’ve been busy on the croft too. All of our feed and hay has been delivered for our hardy band of sheep and ponies. They’re all set for the winter months ahead. The tups are out with the ewes, ten days earlier than normal but my plan with lambing on track for the school Easter holidays. The whole family can muck in and get involved and here’s to it all going smoothly.

Hopefully the spring will be kind to us!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas when it comes and a happy and healthy new year. Stay safe and I will catch up with you very soon in 2026!

Best regards Mark M – Fence.