Spring is finally here, and I’m thrilled. March can be unpredictable when it comes to weather, but it always feels full of promise. After such a wet start to the year, I’m ready for some dry days, and I’m sure the animals are eager to see grass instead of mud in the paddocks.

I think many of us are curious about what this year will bring. Will we get another wonderful spring and summer like we had in 2025, or will things turn out differently? No matter what the weather does, life on the smallholding keeps moving, and spring is always a good time to plan ahead.

Jasper Enjoying Some Spring Sunshine

Donkeys Enjoying Extended Paddock Time

I’m hoping this month brings some drier days so I can let the ponies and donkeys out for longer, giving them more exercise and variety. The donkeys do like being outside, but they still need to come into their stables at night. When it gets cold or wet, they need the comfort of their shelters, unlike the Shetland ponies, who would happily stay out all the time if I let them!

The sheep, like me, are tired of all the rain. Their once white, curly fleeces are now muddy and brown, and I’m looking forward to April when they’re scheduled to be sheared. It’s still too cold for shearing right now, so they’ll have to look a bit scruffy for a few more weeks.

The clay soil here, mixed with all the rain, has become thick and sticky, which can be tough for my Valais sheep. Their fleece grows all over, even on their feet, so we have to trim and clean their feet regularly and treat any problems as they come up. Even with all the rain, they’ve managed pretty well this year, probably because we’ve been careful from the start.

I have started shopping for some new toys for the donkeys. As they are spending more time outside, alternating between paddocks and the sand arena, they need more stimulation to encourage play and exercise rather than simply grazing. They already have a large beach ball, which they love to push and toss around, and they are particularly interested in the smaller 'jolly balls.' Jolly balls have a handle attached, making it easy for the donkeys to lift and carry the ball in their mouths. I have spent many hours watching their antics, as all three always seem to want the same toy! If anyone has any good suggestions to encourage ponies and donkeys to play, I would love to hear from you – please feel free to email me at hello@allisonlee.co.uk

March is the perfect time to start planning the vegetable plot, and I’ve been making some decisions. We’ve decided to use one of the small paddocks for growing produce, which means we can plant potatoes, squash, and other space-hungry crops there. This frees up the vegetable plot closer to the house for salad crops and those that need more care, like peas and sweetcorn. Still, I’ve had to hold back my excitement because it’s definitely too early to start planting.

Ground frosts, cold weather, and even snow is still common in March, especially here in North Yorkshire, so it’s risky to plant too soon.
Even though I’m tempted, I always remind myself to take it slow at the start of the season. If I plant seeds or plugs too early and we get a sudden frost, all that work could be lost, and I’d have to start over. A good rule is to wait until the weeds start popping up—then it’s likely your seeds will grow too. So, try to resist the urge and wait a couple more weeks for the best results. If you have chickens, let them into the vegetable plot; they’re great at turning over the soil and eating grubs!



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