Snowfall on the west of the island - video

[curiouswombat]

I must start by saying that we live on what was the windward side during this particular snow storm - and most of the snow fell on the leeward side. We had only a couple of inches.

But this video on the BBC news site shows what it is still like on the leeward side.

The farmers on my Friends' List will want to weep, I think.

One farmer has lost almost her stock as she managed to get them into the sheds - and the weight of snow on the roofs caused them to collapse, killing alost all the stock within.

This photo, which is not one of mine, it was taken by someone about 4 miles from our house, gives you the idea;



For those of you unfamiliar with UK road signs, that one is on top of a pole at least 6 feet high. It is the worst weather we have had since 1963 - and the loss of stock is probably worse this time than it was then - lambing has been so badly hit.

Comments

[ellynn-ithilwen.livejournal.com]

This is horrible. :(

[kathyh]

Yikes! That's really serious snowfall. How terrible for the farmer who lost her stock when she thought they were safe.

There was a farmer on the Today programme this morning talking about how badly lambing was being hit. He was hoping people would buy British lamb to help farmers out.

[shirebound]

Oh my, what a killer storm. I know this can be devastating to farmers.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I heard about those poor sheep, and yes, I'm heart broken for both them and the farmer. I fear there will be thousands and thousands of lives lost in this awful weather. It really couldn't come at a worst time for sheep farmers. I've only lost two lambs to hypothermia and feel bad enough about that.

Actually, the last time we had snow here deep enough to hide road signs was 26th April 1982 so the possibility of a disaster with the lambing is always in the back of my mind. Thankfully all mine are inside and we haven't had enough snow to bring down the roof.

I'm glad to know you're all OK too.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

That's very impressive snowfall. And you're right about the stock, they aren't used to those kind of conditions.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is so sad! How awful for her. (and the sheep) I guess this time, you are fortunate to be on the windy side.

[samtyr.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is just heartbreaking. Being born and raised in an agricultural background myself, I know just how they must feel. :(

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness - I hadn't even thought about the lambing!! So tragic!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I'm not a farmer, but I live in a farming community so these sorts of things always hit home. Such a tragic loss for the farmers, but I do admire the grit that lady farmer showed, able to be so calm in the face of the devastating losses, and even share a laugh. Farmers have depths of stoic strength that non-farmers can only hope to emulate, really.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Yikes! How horrible. We had snow flurries on Sunday and Monday, but today it almost looks like spring. If one dresses warmly enough, the bright sunshine can almost make one forget that winter has not lost it grip on us yet.

Stay safe and warm. How awful about losing the livestock! Truly dreadful.

[ayinhara.livejournal.com]

The loss of stock is really heartbreaking. It is happening to so many farmers through drought and other climate change.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

That is tragic...trying to shelter her stock thy were killed anyway. That makes me want to cry.
:(

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

I was feeling so sorry for the farmers and sheep yesterday when they were talking about it on the news last night - to think you've got your sheep to safety and then to lose them in such a way is even sadder.

[wormwood-7.livejournal.com]

Serious stuff. Very sad. Snowfall like this is not something I associate with your island. Scotland has been badly hit in parts too - it's much the same story on Arran. Edinburgh has been freezing but dry.

[deborahw37.livejournal.com]

Oh that's awful! Especially that poor farmer

[azalaisdep.livejournal.com]

It's dreadful, isn't it? And as you say, it came so quickly out of nowhere - in Wales, and the Highlands, and your island, people simply didn't have time to react. We had nothing but a dusting, and that's all gone (though it's bitterly, bitterly cold) - it's just mindboggling to look at those pictures of 15-foot drifts and think What?!? Where did that come from?"

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

What I hate above all- and there's much to dislike about a March blizzard, at all levels- is the right-wing noise machine talking about how this disproves global warming: when I was first introduced to the idea, back in the seventies, and in every decade since, one of the things which has been emphasized over and over is that changes in ocean circulation were going to lead to colder, wetter weather in the west coasts between 45N to 55N.

Julia, I'd be happier if this wasn't what the models predicted: I'd prefer we all got to keep our warm oceanic influence

[wildecate.livejournal.com]

Lee posted some pics of Cronk Y Voddy which looked horrific.  I think this weather is going to knock out so many farms.

[jay-of-lasgalen.livejournal.com]

That's so sad. We've escaped lightly apart from freezing temperatures, but Devon is still a farming community, and such a loss is terrible.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

That's just ghastly. We knew it was bad, of course, but these stories really bring it home.

[myrhiann.livejournal.com]

I grew up on a sheep farm and this story made me weep. I especially feel sad for the farmer who got her sheep into shelter, as she thought, only to have the sheds collapse on top of her stock. This is such a devastating event it is likely to make some of them walk away from their farms. My heart aches for them.

[mummy-owl.livejournal.com]

The images of sheep being dug out of the snow even made it to french tv! I feel for the farmers, they've had a horrendous year and we'll all pay for it in higher prices in the months to come.

Hoping for a long, warm summer(but with showers)for all.

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

That is soooooooooooo sad! I really wish spring would come to Europe. You all have had winter for long enough.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Saw this on the news tonight - hope you're both managing to stay warm.