Country diary: I prefer my farm gates to tell a story | Sarah Laughton

Long Dean, Cotswolds: A solid metal 10ft frame certainly does a job, but there's nothing like being able to see nicks and dents and the blacksmith's bracketsAs reward for waiting while I fed and mucked out the fattening porkers, the dogs were allowed to determine our walk this morning. Lifting their noses to scan the day's news, they chose the footpath towards neighbouring Castle Combe. This route is best enjoyed early without the "madding crowd". It climbs gently alongside hazel hedges, twitching with invisible activity, before levelling high above the river.It's called Rack Hill, named apparently from the practice of laying out drying cloth from the once-worked Long Dean mills. We grazed it years ago, but neglect has left it so overgrown that the new landowner is endeavouring to reclaim it with a flock of Soay sheep. Goat-like in looks and appetite, they're tasked with restoring biodiversity to the monoculture of brambles. At least they've plenty to eat. Unless it rains, we're about a week away from feeding hay to our cattle in a grass-growing season. Continue reading...