Must have been the tiny bit of sunshine we had that stimulated this rapid growth.  Back to rain again this morning but no precipitation at the moment - keep everything crossed!
Oil Seed Rape (Brassica Napus) is grown mainly for its oil-rich seed and is the third-largest source of vegetable oil in the world. 

Great photo from Tommy of Ollie applying Axan fert on JD 7R350 during a brief period of dry weather at the weekend. Looks like spring - pity we have gone back to winter again!

Hedges on farms need trimming regularly to encourage them to grow densely and to stop them growing into the field, reducing the land available for cropping.

Typically, a British hedge would have Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Field Maple, Beech and Privet growing in it. Each plant attracts different nesting birds:

Hawthorn - Blackbirds, Thrushes and Bullfinches.
Blackthorn - Song Thrushes, Yellow Hammers and White Throats.
Field Maple - Chaffinches, Dunnocks and Robins.
Beech - Great Tits, Blue Tits and Black Caps.
Privet - Blackbirds, Sparrows and Wrens.

So as not to disturb nesting birds, hedges are not allowed to be cut from 1st march until 1st September.
So only 3 days to go until the flail is put away until next year!