New Arrivals!

The swallows (or are they swifts?) have not only arrived but activity in the stable, to which they have returned for at least the past five years, suggests chicks have already hatched! More importantly though, one of my little partridge bantams has been sitting very patiently on a clutch of six eggs for the past three weeks and I was beginning to wonder whether she would be successful when yesterday we noticed two amber coloured fluffballs - yahoo! Sadly, before the other four had a chance to hatch the mother hen had got bored and abandoned them allowing them to get cold and die. Sad, but that's life as they say! Come to stay at The Barn in Medstead near Alton in Hampshire in springtime and you too could enjoy these spectacles. See http://www.barfordfarmhouse.com/ for more details of our self-catering or bed and breakfast accommodation and facilities.

It's been a while!

It's seems ages since I last wrote but things have become somewhat hectic of late! It's spring, officially, and everything is happening in the garden or should be. Spending increasing amounts of time in the polytunnel planting seeds and wondering why I don't just buy the plants ready to plant from the garden centre. Seems cheaper to buy the seed packets but if I sat down to work it out, if I charged for my time, compost, water and plants lost to drought (due to my forgetting to water!!) I'm not so convinced. I shall do a bit of both and hedge my bets!

The buzzards are making themselves known more and more now and becoming increasingly daring. Thought I was going to lose one of the Barn Owls to one the other day and not sure I haven't lost a tawny to one. Definately lost a tawny as one was found in the wood yesterday with a broken neck, but whether that was due to being chased by a buzzard and flying into a tree who knows. Might just have been elderly and fallen off its perch!

The wood is beginning to take on a blue hue as the bluebells begin to open. Can't help thinking it is a bit early for them but maybe the recent warm spell has helped them on their way. Global warming? Weather is proving costly to some of the garden plants and several have succumbed to the hard frosts of a week ago which followed some lovely sunshine. Strange weather.

The whistle of the steam trains on the Watercress Line have been heard in recent days as Thomas the Tank Engine and friends trundle along the tracks between Alresford and Alton during the Easter holidays. Great fun for all the family. See www.watercressline.co.uk for further details.