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Hard to see perhaps, as these photos were taken at dusk from a distance, but they are two fallow deer, does, wandering through our garden recently on the far side of the moat. They like woodland and thickets for cover during the day so were probably just passing through. The photos were sent to us by the guests who took them whilst staying at Barn Croft recently, Bruce and Madeleine Coleman from Australia.
Exciting news for fans of the Antiques Roadshow locally - Fiona Bruce and the team will be coming to Hampton Court on Thursday July 22nd; the grounds of this local castle are beautiful and spacious enough to accommodate plenty of owners of antiques. Last year it was used as the venue for our county Red Cross fundraising day, always a great success. Click on Fiona Bruce above to take you to the Antiques Roadshow website or on the link below to take you to the Hampton Court website.
The garden is beginning to burst into life after the long winter so I took a few shots today - daffodils line the drive and all round the moat and our big sycamore has more in bloom beneath its widely spreading branches. Some are the scented jonquil variety. Muscari, tulips and Crown Imperials add more colour.
Roots is a farm shop and cafe owned by Will and Meg Edmonds, and is a five minute drive away. I shop there frequently, buying items for the welcome baskets for our guests and unfortunately never have the time to stop for a coffee and cake. There are tables outside as well as in and Will and Meg have made a number of changes recently to make the coffee shop very appealing, including introducing real coffee. The cakes are home-made and look delicious. Produce in the farm shop area is usually local (a particular favourite is Just Rachel’s ice-cream) or even produced on Will and Meg’s own farm and much of it is organic. They have their own meat and goods for sale include vegetables, of course, eggs, dairy produce, apple juice, ciders and perry, preserves and plants. A couple of years ago, the pair appeared on Jimmy Doherty’s Farming Heroes on BBC TV.
Orchards
The cottages are now booked up for the Big Apple celebrations at the beginning of May, but it is still possible to enjoy the apple blossom in the countryside by driving, cycling or following footpaths past the many orchards in the area. Click on the photos to take you to the homepage of the Herefordshire Cider Route website; it is possible to download a leaflet, and if you are a keen cyclist, you might consider the 20 mile Cider route which starts in Ledbury and takes in many of the names for which this area is famous - Weston’s, Gregg’s Pit and Lyne Down. Cider has played a part in the history of the county for some 350 years; Herefordshire cidermakers were nationally acclaimed and old stone cider mills can still be seen all over the place.
Much Wenlock, in Shropshire, was home to Dr. William Penny Smith, seen by many as founding father of the modern Olympic Games, and is where the first Olympian Games were held in 1850. They continue to be held each July and this year will see the 124th. Events range from Archery to Tennis as well as Athletics and Veteran Cycle Racing. The town itself is an attractive place and would make an interesting and unusual place to visit from here for a day trip. There is an Olympian Trail, a walk over just over a mile which takes one past places special to the Olympian Games and Dr. Penny Brooks. There is even a museum with a collection of Olympian artefacts. Click on the photo to take you to the website of the Wenlock Olympian Society.