Ascott Newsletter - March 2013

March Email Newsletter

Spring has sprung!! Was that some sunshine we saw last week?! With the nights getting lighter and a little sunshine on the horizon, there are more daylight hours for us all to keep busy. We have had an extremely busy time at Ascott HQ and our dispatch team have been up to their eyes in new orders and an influx of new customer enquiries. From Cornwall to Scotland and even Finland and New Zealand, the word is out – Ascott is the place to go! There are yet more NEW products for you to look at on our website. For those of you thinking about putting your stock out in the fields we have a NEW three reel electric fence kit, ideal for keeping in your cattle or sheep; also a 5kg Crystalyx smallholder block to compliment and balance forage and grazing. There are lots of new Hotline Fencingproducts to look at with some great offers too. The first signs of spring in the garden promises some British garden greens. Keep a look out for purple sprouting broccoli, spring onions, baby leeks and spinach. This month we have included a recipe for leek, goat’s cheese and bacon risotto. It’s easy to make and will please everyone and don't forget to keep sending in your favourite family recipes toinfo@ascott.biz.co.uk with the chance to win a Delux Cheesemaking Kit!   New for this Month

Recipe of the Month Leek Risotto You will need: 1 tbsp olive oil 2 leeks, finely sliced 2 celery sticks, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 6 rashers streaky bacon, chopped Small handful fresh thyme leaves or lemon thyme leaves 350g risotto rice 200ml white wine 800ml chicken stock, hot 25g butter 50g Parmesan, grated 100g goat’s cheese, crumbled 1. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan over a medium heat. Add the leek and fry until slightly soft. Remove and set aside. Add the celery, garlic and half the bacon, and fry for 5 minutes. 2. Return the leek to the pan (keeping back a spoonful). Add the thyme and rice and stir for 1-2 minutes. 3. Turn up the heat, add the wine and bubble for a few minutes to cook off the alcohol. Add the stock, a ladleful at a time, waiting until each one is absorbed before adding the next. 4. Meanwhile, fry the remaining bacon until crisp. Drain on kitchen paper and set aside. Take the risotto off the heat and stir in the butter, parmesan and half the goat’s cheese. 5. To serve, divide among 4 plates and top with the reserved leeks, remaining goat’s cheese and bacon.   Ask the Experts Chickens tend to jump rather than fly. They can jump about 4 feet high and will use something to stand on if necessary. The thing to remember though is that if your chicken can jump out a fox will be able to jump in! By clipping a chicken’s wing you will be controlling their flight. Clipping a wing causes the bird to lose the balance needed during flight but this will only last until new feathers have grown back during the next moult and they will then have to be re clipped. Wing clipping will not harm the chicken and you will only need to clip one wing. I would suggest that your fence is about 6 feet high and this should stop them getting out.

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Forward to a Friend   If you do not wish to receive ASCOTT emails and newsletters and want to be taken off our email mailing list, then please use this unsubscribe link to remove you from this list. This email has been sent to you from Ascott Smallholding Supplies Limited, Telephone 01666 826931. Registered Office: Units 21/22, Whitewalls, Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 0RD. Registered in England & Wales No. 4505585 Opening times are Mon – Fri 9am to 5pm. Find out how we protect your personal data by viewing our privacy and security policy. It is our commitment to you in providing a safe and secure online shopping environment. To contact us with any questions, please visit our About Us page. Copyright © 2013 Ascott Smallholding Supplies. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is:  Ascott Smallholding Supplies Unit 21 Whitewalls Easton Grey Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9 United Kingdom Add us to your address book

Schmallenberg Update - 14th January 2013

Schmallenberg cases up 24% in a month

Philip Case

Monday 14 January 2013 18:21

Confirmed cases of the Schmallenberg virus have soared by 24% in the past month, suggesting the disease is spreading rapidly through sheep and cattle this season.

The latest figures, released on Monday (14 January) by the Animal Health and Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), show 1,211 cases of the disease have now been confirmed in England, Scotland and Wales.

This is equivalent to an increase of 24% on the last survey results, released in December, which showed 976 confirmed cases.

The virus, which causes fatal birth defects and miscarriages in sheep and cattle, has now spread to every county of England and Wales and is wreaking havoc among livestock farmers, according to reports.

Devon, Cornwall and Dorset have recorded the highest number of cases - 126, 68 and 59 respectively. But a worryingly high number of cases has also been confirmed in Shropshire (56) Cheshire (53) and North Yorkshire (41), suggesting the disease is rapidly spreading northwards, as scientists had feared.

Wales has 104 confirmed cases of the virus, including 21 in Carmarthenshire. Scotland has nine confirmed cases - five in cattle and four in sheep - but all these cases relate from animals introduced into Scotland from English counties.

An AHVLA spokesman said: "The Schmallenberg virus has now been detected everywhere south of the England/Scotland border.

"We are now seeing an increase in confirmed cases in northern and western regions, including Wales, which suggests that for a lot of flocks and herds in those regions, they are effectively seeing their first year of Schmallenberg virus.

"The virus may well have worked through flocks and herds in the south of England where a level of immunity has been seen to develop. But that's probably not going to be the case for farms in Northumberland and western holdings this year."

Because the virus has now spread to every county in England and Wales, the AHVLA has stopped its free-testing service for Schmallenberg.

"We are no longer providing free testing. However, some farmers will still want to pay for testing to establish once and for all if they have got the disease in their herds and flocks," confirmed the spokesman.

Farmers who suspect the disease in their livestock should contact their vets if they have any concerns, the AHVLA said.

The Schmallenberg virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in adult cattle, including fever, reduced milk yield and diarrhoea, and stillbirth and birth deformities in sheep, cattle and goats.

Scientists believe the virus first was spread to the UK by biting midges in the summer of 2011 and it first appeared on the continent before crossing the Channel.

A vaccine to protect livestock against the disease, produced by MSD Animal Health, has been submitted to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), and is waiting approval for full commercial use. However, it is understood that the vaccine may not be ready for introduction for this lambing season.

Sourced From: http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/14/01/2013/137159/schmallenberg-cases-up-24-in-a-month.htm

Ascott January 2013 Newsletter

January Email Newsletter

Here we are, and it’s the middle of January already! We hope everyone has recovered from their New Year celebrations and are relaxed and refreshed for 2013. Now is the perfect time for getting everything ready and in tip top condition for the coming season! So to help you to plan ahead we have an extensive range ofdisinfectants and sterilisers for hen houses andincubators now in stock. Choose from the Smite Professional Disinfectant which is a powerful and very effective cleaner. It is non-toxic with organic naturally occurring minerals, suitable for all commercial and domestic premises and is safe for pets and other animals. Alternatively try Brinsea’s disinfectant which is specially selected for sterilising eggs, incubators and brooders and is available in concentrated form. It is both safe and effective against yeasts, fungi, viruses and bacteria which can cause fatal damage to the growing embryo, and comes in a 100 ml bottle. At just £7.99 a little will go along way as you dilute 1 part concentrate to 100 parts water!   Why not try... For all of you lucky enough to have received a cheese kit for Christmas, why not be a little more adventurous with your cheese making and try out our range of moulds for everything from delicious camembert and creamy brie to hard cheeses. We also havecultures for ripening brie, camembert and penicilium roqueforti! Take a look at the full range on our website. Recipe of the Month Our mid month email now contains a seasonal recipe with this month’s focus on nutritious kale. So we thought we would combine our love of cooking and communicating with our customers by creating the opportunity to highlight featured customer recipes. If you would like to share your recipes with us via the email newsletter, there is a FREEcheese starter kit worth £19.99 for everyone who has theirs published! Email us now with your favourite family recipe. Cherry tomato, kale, ricotta and pesto pasta You will need: 2 tbsp olive oil 3 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tsp crushed chilli flakes 2 x 400g cans cherry tomatoes 500g penne 200g kale, chopped 4 tbsp ricotta 4 tbsp pesto Parmesan or vegetarian alternative, to serve (optional) 1 Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes until golden. 2 Add the chilli flakes and tomatoes, season well, and simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce has thickened. 3 While the sauce is cooking, cook the pasta following pack instructions - add the kale for the final 2 minutes of cooking. Drain well and stir into the sauce, then divide between 4 bowls. Top each with a dollop of ricotta, a drizzle of pesto and shavings of Parmesan, if you like. 3 Stir in the vinegar and sugar and continue cooking for another 10-20 minutes until the onions are completely translucent and the marmalade reduced. 4 Stir in 4 tbsp of water and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes until thickened and slightly sticky. Season to taste. The marmalade can be eaten immediately or stored in jam jars for up to 2 months. New for this Month

Ask the Experts You will need to make sure you have a safe enclosure and chicken house. The enclosure can be made from chicken wire and fence posts, remember to dig the chicken wire into the ground at least 6” to stop the fox from digging under the wire and getting into the chicken pen. If possible put netting over the top of the run, this will stop the chickens getting out and the fox getting in! The chicken house will need to be secure and have a door on the front that can be shut at night. You must also make sure that the chickens are shut in their house every night, if it’s not possible to visit the allotment every evening and morning you can use a doorkeeper, this is a battery operated door opener and closer that works with a light sensor.

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Forward to a Friend   If you do not wish to receive ASCOTT emails and newsletters and want to be taken off our email mailing list, then please use this unsubscribe link to remove you from this list. This email has been sent to you from Ascott Smallholding Supplies Limited, Telephone 01666 826931. Registered Office: Units 21/22, Whitewalls, Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 0RD. Registered in England & Wales No. 4505585 Opening times are Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm. Find out how we protect your personal data by viewing our privacy and security policy. It is our commitment to you in providing a safe and secure online shopping environment. To contact us with any questions, please visit our About Us page. Copyright © 2013 Ascott Smallholding Supplies. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is:  Ascott Smallholding Supplies Unit 21 Whitewalls Easton Grey Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9 United Kingdom Add us to your address book

Ascott Newsletter January 2013 - January Sales Preview!

January Sale Preview With the Christmas festivities now in full swing, we just wanted to give you an exclusive preview of our January Sale. We have chosen a great selection of products all with fantastic reductions. So why not plan ahead and stock up on poultry electric netting or lighten the load for the new year with our 120 litre wheelbarrow, perfect for any farm or stable. We also have a great saving on our superbly popular Junior Complete Home Hatchery Kit with 24 Eco Incubator and in readiness for early spring prepare for your jam and chutney making now with our traditional and hexaganol jam jars. For your convenience our Online Shop is open 24 hours day, 7 days a week and our Warehouse Shop is open 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Forward to a Friend   If you do not wish to receive ASCOTT emails and newsletters and want to be taken off our email mailing list, then please use this unsubscribe link to remove you from this list. This email has been sent to you from Ascott Smallholding Supplies Limited, Telephone 01666 826931. Registered Office: Units 21/22, Whitewalls, Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 0RD. Registered in England & Wales No. 4505585 Find out how we protect your personal data by viewing our privacy and security policy. It is our commitment to you in providing a safe and secure online shopping environment. To contact us with any questions, please visit our About Us page. Copyright © 2012 Ascott Smallholding Supplies. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is:  Ascott Smallholding Supplies Unit 21 Whitewalls Easton Grey Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9 United Kingdom