Preparing the ground with the help of our four-legged friends

Stormy weather in January led to flooding around the Cotswolds. At the vineyard we have our own way to deal with drainage issues to protect our soil from erosion – our flock of Babydoll and Black Jacob sheep. The sheep are back in the vineyard and their hooves help to break up compacted soil to improve the drainage. However, they also help the vineyard to be more biodynamic and reduce the need for chemical pesticides, weedkiller and fertiliser. The do a great job of nibbling the grass and weeds that spring up between the vines and they help to fertilise the soil!

The sheep also like to assist our gardening team by nibbling on the roses that we plant at the end of each row of vines, which saves on pruning. Roses are traditionally planted in vineyards as an early warning system as they attract insects such as aphids before the vines, and they also develop fungal diseases such as black rot and mildew before they reach the vines. Once the weather warms up and our vines start to come out of their dormant state, the sheep move to pastureland to protect our precious buds and leaves.

Winter pruning and replacing rotten or damaged posts continues in the vineyard this month. The hard work in the cold and wet now will pay off in the spring and summer when our vines grow, thrive and produce lots of fruit.