Townhead farm

Summer Update (Aug 2024)

For the last decade or so we have lambed in March, however you want to plan your lambing so you have grass for the lambs to eat as having to buy in feed puts a big dent in the bottom line. The tups then went out 6 weeks later than usual and we started lambing on the 8th April. In case anyone has forgotten this was the wettest April for a long time. It was not just wet it was torrential day after day after day. Temperatures were in extremes, warm (ish) one day and in the minus the next. For most sheep farmers in Scotland it was a season best not remembered as we lost more lambs than ever before and all down to the weather. Lambs can cope with wet or cold but not both for an extended period. The aga was in overdrive drying out these youngsters and keeping many alive. March on the other hand was mainly dry!

This year we had three pregnant nanny goats who had two sets of twins and a single. All doing well and so entertaining! We love the video of Violet asking for her food which you can find up on our Facebook page! The Shetland cattle also produced well with several calves, one who will be joining the main herd and the boys will be sold on.

The weather has continued to be challenging. Summer seems to have been just the occasional warm day. The bees have been confused too. The drones (male bees) are ejected from the hive in autumn but this has been happening in July!

Jelly Legs Gin produced her second label in May. A London Dry type gin named the ‘Helensburgh Dry’. At 42% ABV this is a delicious dry with some interesting botanicals: Bramble, Angelica, Juniper, Coriander, Pink Peppercorn, Lime and Orange Peel. The exciting news is it is now available either from ourselves, The Bottle Shop on Sinclair St or the Rosneath Caravan Park Shop.

We have pigs heading to Callaghan butchers this week where Gary will be turning them into tasty sausages, burgers plus the usual leg steaks, chops and Roasts. There will be a few pork packs available priced at £40 which will contain a roasting
joint and a selection of cuts to include sausages/burgers. We know there will be popular and will be on a first come first serve basis.

We will be holding a pop up shop at the farm on Sunday 11th August from 10am to 5pm where the pork can be collected and visitors are welcome to meet the new additions and come and find out what we do.

The veg garden has produced a huge crop of strawberries this summer, and great pea crop. The greenhouse has all been slow with insufficient heat/light to ripen the tomatoes. Wool has been used again to mulch in the greenhouse and round some
of the crops with success. There is plenty of wool still available. 

A new canine member arrived at Townhead over the winter, another Norwegian Buhund pup and a great granddaughter of Caspar our previous Best of breed at Crufts winner. Quinn as she is known has been quite challenging and seems to think her name is ‘no’. After several months of training she has decided that sheep, goat and cattle are best avoided as they can be very scary! She has however tempted Debbie back to the show ring.

A new flock of hens arrived here mid June and are now laying well and giving us lots of smaller eggs. These are available for this week only at £4 per tray of 30. Great for baking or filling up hungry youngsters, they are delicious.


Bird Flu Update (Feb 2024)

Although Avian Flu is no longer making headlines, there are still outbreaks. A recent case on Valentines day last week saw 48,000 hens affected in Yorkshire. The hens are youngsters recently placed and will all be destroyed.

With bird flu now in the wild bird population it is impossible to contain. There is no insurance available for most of us in the egg industry, and you cant just restock and start again.

Over the last two years we have had to make major changes to the business to accommodate the additional biosecurity. We no longer do farm visits, have boot washing stations strategically placed and discourage any walkers from using the farm as a short cut to and from the town.

John is the only person to go into each of the hen houses with all vet and official visitors boot dipping and putting on full PPE. To be fair we have done this for so long now that it comes as second nature.

We have to protect our livestock, livelihood and business. It only takes germs carried on footwear to cause mayhem!

 

Jelly Legs Gin

​

Both John and I are really excited to announce the launch of our first Gin which will be for sale for the first time at the Winter Festival in Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh on Saturday the 9th and Sunday 10th December.

​

I had the idea some years ago and had put in some sloe bushes which have failed to produce a single sloe in the six years they have been planted! A bumper crop of brambles this year reignited the idea and we were able to find a distillery that could make us a bramble liqueur gin to our specification.

​

Many of you will remember the gutsy little lamb who survived against incredible odds who the youngsters nicknamed ‘Jelly Legs’.

The Gin is gutsy, full of flavour and very tasty and if you drink too much of it, you too will have ‘Jelly Legs’.

​

It is in 50cl bottles, 20% ABV and priced at £23.99 - Order yours here.

​

​

Damn Fine Cheese

​

We are currently fully stocked with cheese and have the following flavours:

Mature Cheddar: The best there is! This is our benchmark cheese, A wonderfully mature cheddar cheese. It is rich and creamy, smooth but very slightly crumbly with that amazing cheddary punch (or sharpness if you will) at the very end. Our absolute favourite.

Smoked Cheddar: A powerful punchy cheddar, cold smoked to perfection and infused with just a hint of paprika for added smokey depth.

Black Pepper Cheddar: Our amazingly creamy signature cheese carefully combined with Cracked Black Pepper. A beautiful peppery taste that finishes with just a hint of heat……..in one word?
Spectacular!

The Italian Job: A winning combination of Tomato, Basil and Garlic has beautiful, subtle flavours truly Italian!

Whisky & Orange Cheddar: A wonderful smooth cheddar, laced with orange for balance with undertones of the rich whisky showing through. Put this on your cheeseboard and let your guests decide what's in it.

Black Gold: This little beauty has had some charcoal added to a base of super creamy cheddar. This result is a wonderful depth of flavour with a great visual impact as the cheese is actually black.

Chilli Cheddar: A rich mature cheddar, packed with flavour, then a kick of the chilli heat right at the end.

Garlic & Chive: A wonderful creamy cheddar, packed with subtle flavours. Garlic first then lifted by the delicate flavour of the chives.

Caramelised Red Onion: Another of our beautiful smooth cheeses. This time with a touch of sweetness at first followed by the subtle flavour of onion.

The Wee Yeasty Beastie: Something a little unusual this time. The usual creamy cheese but with a twist. We’ve added a touch of yeast extract giving the cheese a really subtle, savory flavour. Think twiglets and you're in the right sort of flavour zone.

Taste of Christmas: Think of clootie dumpling in a cheese.


Delicious Cheese can be delivered with eggs, £5 per cheese. Order yours here.