The Garden Gate

A small wicket gate at the end of a country garden is lovely image. This winter Tom has replaced the old fencing at the end of the cottage gardens with smart new post and rail and added a small wicket gate between the ash trees. Guests will be able to walk straight down through the Newt Cottage garden, follow the path to the gate, and go out into the dene beyond.

The two broken ah trees past the end of the cottage gardens are very old. A section of trunk fell down in winter gales and, before we made it into a seat in the top dene, we tried counting the rings with a group of teenagers. We got back as far as seventeen-hundred-and-something (though the lines were rather indistinct). They probably are about the same age as the original farmhouse.

 Tom's made a 'squeeze' though to the pond field footpath.

A character in a radio play was recently discussing the little everyday things that make us truly happy. I have to say that sitting in the lunchtime sunshine with Tom, with our backs to his new fence, looking down the quiet dene... was definitely one of those moments. We’ll have to get a bench seat put in the same spot... it was heavenly!

Fences and trails

Winter is traditionally the time when farmers look to their field boundaries; ditches, hedges and fencing. Tom has quite a few new fences to build around the farm to protect new hedging from livestock. Andrew (our son in law-to-be) kindly lent a hand with the first stretch around the Croft, a field divided into small pig and sheep paddocks behind our house. As they worked, Tom had the inspired idea of creating a new trail between the end of the fence and the little runner (or tiny stream) around the North of the farm, leading out onto the farm road. Lately Tom has been working by himself, putting in posts, nailing wire and netting, clearing undergrowth and trying to skirt an old pig wallow (where is the water coming from?!). The trail peters out beyond the goat field at present (and it may only be suitable for the more adventurous walker) but the dogs and I have been enjoying an evening outing around this previously inaccessible part of the farm.

Andrew's new fence along the side of the Croft

The fence line boarders our new disabled access path and we will plant a hedge alonside.

 Here is the start of the new walk around the pig's croft where the big sows live.

I've been trying to clear away overhanging branches and brambles from the track.

Tom at work in the evening sunshine, watched by 'Bracken' the goat (below). Bracken is harness trained and can pull a small cart. Unfortunately he enjoyed standing on the newly stretched fence wires to see what Tom was up to... which did not endear him to anyone!

The fence line skirting the old pig wallow (below). 

This small paddock, along with the goat's field, is in organic conversion so Tom will keep his newly born lambs here this spring.

An Anniversary Whitebeam

To celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary and 60 years of farming at Hunting Hall we planted a Whitebeam. Thank you for editing the video Tommy!

Happy Christmas everyone from all at Hunting Hall!

Autumnal colours at Hunting Hall

We have had some lovely weather this November and the autumn berries have been spectacular. These photographs were taken on my walk around the farm last Sunday morning.

Newt Cottage garden

The new bird hide

Our new easy access footpath

The farm trail through the Top Dene

Tom's new small 'bridge'

The old bridge in the Top Dene

The South Low Burn

Hurry up! Let me though please.

Lowick Community Orchard at Hunting Hall

From the top of the farm looking East towards The Fuffins and Newt Cottage

Meg's Wood. Bella (the dog) likes the small crab apples - here she is debating if she can reach them by jumping.

The old farm lonnen - once the main road to Lowick and probably used by pilgrims travelling to Holy Island.

Looking through to our organically managed pasture.

The cottages' gardens

Building a bird hide

Our new bird hide was built today. It's aptly named because all bird-life was 'hiding' at least 4 fields away escaping from the din of happy workmen (and they were a happy bunch), but we hope the braver wildlife may return to the pond to be viewed from our posh new hide... eventually. 

Derek Allan, a local joiner, designed and built sections of the hide in his workshop and then brought along his team to assemble it today. It's not finished yet - we're going to give it a live grass roof and it needs some seating, but it is an excellent little house. Thanks Derek and friends!

Was it a golden eagle?....

The Pond Field Footpath

As part of our efforts to help everyone explore the countryside, we have just finished making a disabled access footpath leading to the Pond Field pond. 

A local joiner is busy building a bird hide to view across the pond and he has grand ideas for a floating jetty. It's only a very small pond and at the moment his plans seem to be covering most of the water surface...

This weekend we planted the Doddington Pippin in the Community Orchard. This variety of apple tree was discovered in the old orchard of a local farm. It seems unique to the area, therefore we've had cuttings grafted by a professional nursery and the young whips were sponsored and planted by local people.

Err - we aren't mentioning the Doddington Pippin that Bella the dog decided to play with... let us just say that  we will await the growing season next spring with some anxiety!