Woodie Woodpecker

Well I can hear him but I've yet to see him! He sounds just like a jackhammer in the distance each morning as I wend my way across the garden to the stables where Tiffany awaits her breakfast. It'll be one of several green woodpeckers who frequent the gardens and woods around The Barn; they seem to especially enjoy the larvae of the cranefly, Daddy Longlegs to me, which inhabit my lawns, much to my disgust! Last year he made a regular appearance around 4:00pm pecking holes in my lawns in his efforts to stock up for the evening. Just as well I enjoy bird watching!

Haymaking in March!

It's a bit early in the year to be thinking about making hay, or it would be if the weather had been kind enough for the previous year's hay to have been made! As it was, last year's hay remained uncut and lay thickly on this year's new growth of grass and so threatened to affect the prospective harvest. So there was only one thing to do - get on the mower! Fortunately, both today and yesterday have been sunny and the grass sufficiently dry to cut, but, with five acres it was going to take some time. And it did, but I have to say it was rather pleasant sitting on the mower driving around the 'estate' with its fantastic views across the Hampshire countryside south towards the South Downs and west towards Alresford and further to Winchester. I watched the buzzards flying high overhead looking for an easy meal as I pootled around the fields trying to miss frightened voles as they scurried through the tussocks which were about to be scalped. It took several hours in all, a couple of flasks of hot tea and too many chocolate biscuits but hopefully the grass will now grow strongly for a good crop of hay this summer. Come and stay at The Barn this year and help with the hay harvest. See www.barfordfarmhouse.com for further details of accommodation at The Barn.

Birdworld

What another beautiful day today, so time to get into the polytunnel to think about sowing a few seeds! Bit late, according to the packet, but I'm giving cauliflowers a go this year - we'll see how they do. Also some bean seeds kept back from last year's crop - not sure how these will do either but you don't know unless you try! Must remember to keep the sweet peas quite separate from the edible variety - unlike last year which meant I had the colourful scented variety in amongst my broad beans whilst the edible variety rambled up my rambling roses!
Had my first trip to Forest Lodge, excellent, if expensive, garden centre near Farnham, yesterday and passed the Jenny Wren farm belonging to Birdworld. It's a great day out for everyone, but the Jenny Wren farm is particularly loved by toddlers who can get 'hands on' experience of a variety of different animals- spotted a donkey as I drove past. Birdworld is just a 20 minute drive from The Barn and has lots to do and see - not just birds. Take a look at http://www.birdworld.co.uk/ for further information on one of the local attractions to The Barn http://www.barfordfarmhouse.com/

The photograph shows some of the bantams found at The Barn. Young children love to feed them and to collect their delicious eggs.

Brock the Badger

The last few days have been positively springlike and the local fauna are beginning to be active! The barn owl still regularly flies across the fields and gardens - rich pickings - and I'm sure I heard another calling from the woods the other evening so I'm hoping there will be little barn owls in the not too distant future, though this next wave of winter weather due this week will likely dampen their ardour!

The badgers, too, are becoming more active and are sorting out their setts giving them a springclean and fresh bedding. The photo shows recent activity with dried grass having been dropped just outside an entrance.

The bluebells are peeking above the thick layer of leaf litter so, hopefully, we will get a good display this year - a great photographic opportunity for those who stay at The Barn in Medstead at the right time of year! See www.barfordfarmhouse.com for details of accommodation offered at The Barn where you can be assured of a very warm welcome!