The sun is shining and the daffodils are here and are giving a fine display. We are praying that we have seen the last of winter. We have seen the first swallow and the curlews are back on the swampy ground so things are looking up. Hay supplies are running out as all the farmers are in a desperate situation for fodder for their animals. We are sure the new grass is on its way because although the ponies come when called, there is a certain air of reluctance to come into a bare paddock.

The ponies have come through the winter in super condition and all of them are losing their winter coats. There is plenty of rubbing on the fences and gates to loosen the old coats. A good grooming session helps and they all adore this type of attention. They are probably too hot in their winter covering.

We have had a group of young adults from Tomorrow's People (Plymouth) at the centre for a few days, carrying out work to the fences and the trees and the ponies have all enjoyed giving them some very close supervision. The cut branches have all been chopped up and spread as a new covering of wood chips to the lower adoption paddock and the ponies have all relished the opportunity to roll in the sweet smelling surface. There are also new posters up on the information board near to the paddocks.

We have started sessions with school groups and the ponies have fallen back into work mode very easily. They all enjoy a walk through the forest and of course all the attention from the children. We are training for this year's Ten Tors event and will make a final decision on which ponies we take in May.

Peace seems to have broken out between Rolo and Smartie and they will both eat together now. All the ponies are all staring wistfully at the beech tree willing it to come into leaf so that they can attack it.