Let it snow
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Work at the farm always needs overalls. However over the years a small collection of older, damaged working clothes has built up for occasions such as was experienced on a recent Thursday. Many of the men and women who work at the Trust's farm got changed into these old waterproof trousers, boots and coats, as this was not going to be any ordinary day. This Thursday was a snow day.
At dawn there was a decent layer of snow, ideal for the alternative sledging experience to be embarked upon by those with the nerve. After everyone finished the morning’s essential tasks, Jonathan confirmed that – for the first time in many people’s experience at the farm – the day’s agenda included sledging.--
Sledging has a unique twist at Crag House Farm. For one thing, it involves farm equipment. The most important element is the Gator – the trusty John Deere that transports hay bales, fence posts and anything else that needs transporting around the farm. On this day it included towing people! A decent make-do sledge, with padding for a seat, towed behind the Gator, makes for one exciting ride. In one of the larger fields overlooking the valley, which collected several inches of perfect powder, Jonathan operated the ground-level tours. People lined up to have a go on the unusual sledge to speed around the field, picking up a good deal of snow along the way and letting out shrieks or whoops of excitement.
Waiting for the sledging to begin was almost as much fun, thanks to the inevitable snowball fight. A few people preferred to stay dry; David H. presided with his camcorder in one hand and a green umbrella in the other. Only the most misdirected snowballs 
entered his airspace. Not that there was much danger of a serious pegging anywhere else on the field for anyone who left an intelligent distance between themselves and their neighbours. The only real threat came from two unlikely snipers: Michael C. and Jason stood quietly on the outskirts forming aerodynamically perfect snowballs that they threw infrequently but with an accuracy that didn’t spare even moving targets. One man took great pleasure in snow-smashing people from close range, and continued despite merciless reprisals. As for the assumption that girls can’t throw, well, most of them did little to reverse the stereotype but it actually worked in their favour. A semi-neutral target attracts far less attention than a hotshot.
But the most enthusiastic participant of the day never even threw a snowball. Rose the spaniel will fetch any object, and snowballs are her favourite. (She followed one right into a half-frozen pond, once upon a time, and for 5 miserable seconds the culprit thought she might have to follow Rose in).
Rose wasn’t the only wildlife to join the party. Tracks down the valley, where Moseley Beck flows, often show evidence of foxes, moorhens and other “regulars.” But on this day some people were treated to a rare, in-person glimpse of a stag, poised across the valley on this strip of land where the dales meet the city.
Except for a lunch break, many people kept up the action until mid-afternoon. Then, those who didn’t have pressing jobs gathered in the Centre to hold hot drinks and watch the “Creature Comforts” video until the end of the day.
A truly fantastic day for those who were able to participate.
Here are just a few quotes from some of thse involved:
“It was out of this world.” Gary (whose favourite activity was sledging)
“I love the sledging. I’ve never done that, it was a bit mad. It really cheered me up.” Sarah
David H.I enjoyed the day when it snowed. I videoed some people sledging.
