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

[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.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I've only lost two lambs to hypothermia and feel bad enough about that.

Every lamb lost is sad.

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

I feel almost guilty - we were quite happy to have a few inches; I was able to finish work early, the children around got off school early, they were out building snowmen and so on. And yet within such a short distance it was so heavy as to be lethal.

Like you, it is always a threat - there is actually a local folk song with an opening verse

The snow's on the mountains, the snow's in the gill;
My sheep they have wandered all over the hill;
Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go
Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow.

And the last lines

They sought them with sorrow; they sought them with dread,
And they found them at last, but the sheep were all dead.

It is something of a reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I see this is nothing new then. I saw a news clip of sheep being rescued and noticed they were actually Manx Loaghtans.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Yes, I must admit I was really happy to see those ones. I wondered if you had seen that clip as I knew you would recognise them. I wondered if they had a better survival chance than some of the 'mules' that are more common. The loughtans are pretty tough - and, looking at that bit of film, very laid back about sledging!

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

We've had a warm winter here, with lots of grass all through and not any snow to mention, and I ended up loosing two cows and a calf when the night temperatures went way down below freezing for a couple of weeks: no winter coats to keep them going. The idea of a blizzard like this late in birthing season scares me more than I can express.

Julia, almost as much as the news that my friend's expensive new ram ended up being infertile and while she'll likely have x-breed lambs from the other ram she put in for clean-up they'll be three months later.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about your cows. The weather has a lot to answer for.