Unbelievably, every last flake of snow had gone this morning, aside from a small patch at the bottom of the bottom 3-acre field. The temperature has really risen by a good 4/5 degrees and that, along with the rain last night, meant a pretty quick meltdown! Most of the holding however, looked quite fresh and clean, with the grass starting to stand back up with a sigh of relief. The poultry area is a notable exception with a large patch of very muddy, merged puddles. You cannot really see it from this photo but from the stables it looks a huge area and is of course where the ducks and geese instantly head for. We enticed the geese to bathe in the newly cleaned and filled up paddling pools instead which they did with huge enthusiasm and energy. They then headed for the grass and thus began a very long preening session, after which they all looked fabulously smart.. all ready to go and paddle in the muddy puddles!!!