Welcome to the Wildlife page.
WILDLIFE WATCH To encourage wildlife we have cleared and renovated an ancient dew pond in our hedgerow, (which we have also allowed to grow and thicken with new planting). Newts, frogs, wildfowl and even grass snakes are in residence. Even in the hottest summer there is always a minimal amount of water left in the pond. The result of thicker hedges is an abundance of bird life and song, bringing pleasure and colorful activity, throughout the whole year. As it is now more complicated to keep four cattle, (almost as pets) than run a Hotel we have let our paddocks go wild. What a difference to the wildlife. Now instead of cattle we have free roaming wild deer grazing, and the area has become a magnet for a resident Kestrel and Sparrow hawk, one of which I observed recently attack a Little Owl, part of a pair that make a more regular appearance now, what a commotion (not a happy owl). This Winter one of my ambitions was realized, one day, at dawn for the first time ever on our site I saw a Barn Owl working the paddock in its inimitable way, after the mice and voles in the long grass, I hope it takes up residence as well! We see more and more Buzzards as we are on top of the hill circling overhead, they are however quickly seen off by our resident crows. A group of wild ducks visit the Dew Pond as does one of the Bradford on Avon Heron colony after the frogs. The whole area is overlooked from the new suites, a grandstand view over the near part of the paddock . After an absence of about a year our rabbit population is returning, two anyway. A disease (mixy) probably decimated them as it has before. SPRING / SUMMER UPDATE 2002. Our resident swallows reappeared on 17th April back to their garage nesting site, the first brood is well under way. The grounds are alive with nesting birds, nests of blackbirds (lots this year), starlings in their traditional roof (under tile) colony, house sparrows round the corner from the starlings. wrens, a chaffinch brood in the fir trees beyond the front garden, greenfinches somewhere, robins, and lots of blue tits in the nest boxes. Best of all the Little Owls are nesting in one of the old chicken sheds much to the disgust of the other birds who mob them as they sit aloft on the roof, mercilessly. They seem to have a good deterrent affect on magpies and other predators. We have seen some French partridges on the drive, but the hen pheasant was killed by a fox. A greater spotted woodpecker visits the pine trees daily and must be nesting close by. AUTUMN UPDATE 2002. 1st SEPT. This evening we saw a brood of almost full grown wild pheasant poults behind the new suites very nice . Our resident little owls were successful with their nesting, two babies, long gone now. The swallows in the garage are on the third nest, four and one fledged previously. This week two tawny owls were on the roof at three am, woke us, but not one guest heard anything, they think we make up the OWL tales! the doe and baby are still making appearances in the wild meadow, I read a good "wild flower meadow" article in the Country Life I'll start preparing in October for next years experiment. WINTER UPDATE 2002. JAN 1st 2003. The swallows left on the 2nd of October having reared three broods of differing numbers successfully, and the deer are still evident on occasions early in the morning. Being on top of a hill we have escaped the worst of the storms, however the land is very wet. In October we planted six trees in the wild flower meadow and I have purchased a wild flower mix of seeds, suitable for our type of soil, to sow in the spring. We planted some snakeshead fritillaries to try and establish a natural colony, fingers crossed. I have been feeding the wild pheasants with grain. There are about 20 around in the shelter belt which we planted 21 years ago as a wind break, it's an ideal safe habitat and roost for them around the dew pond. The tawny owls are calling at night but I've yet to see another barn owl, although the little owl is well established in his territory. Despite pessimistic press reports on bird numbers our starling colony in one part of the roof is thriving, as is our house sparrow colony in another part of the roof. We have put up another nest box and more feeders to help the small birds through the hard weather. FEBRUARY 8th 2003. On returning from the staff run last night I saw another Barn Owl It cruised ghost like around the front garden and swung down the drive like a large silent moth, a memorable sight silhouetted against the stone work. SUMMER 2003. Due to the fact that our land and the land around us is fallow nature is really in full flow. There have been huge flocks of swifts and house martins hawking for insects above us, and the swallows are well into their first brood. A two foot long grass snake has taken up residence in the large goldfish pond, the fish don't seem to mind, however I don't suppose there will be many more baby fish! The little owl didn't nest in the shed this year, they probably went back to the dead elm trees around our property this year. Many other birds have reared broods however. There were a family of fledged wrens in the shed the other day. Our last chicken died this week, seemingly in mid scratch under the feeder, she was quite a character and almost talked to us in her own way. All the new nest boxes seem to be in use , a great tit fought for one with some blue tits and seemed to win. The wild flower meadow has lots of grass in it but no flowers yet, they will probably be swamped by the lush grass. It's so dry we are having to water the newly planted trees. The grass snake has disappeared from the pond but has been replaced by a mother, father and baby moorhens. The dew pond water level must be so low that they are having to comically trek to the large fishpond. However, they are having a great time once they arrive! Unfortunately I found the baby swallows dead on the garage floor again this year, it may be the heat. The pair have rebuilt in a cooler position now not up in the apex of the roof. JULY 2003. We sat and watched a goshawk on Sunday flying around the locality, much to the annoyance of the resident swallows. We are also trying to gently clear some of the bulrushes from the dewpond without disturbing the wildlife, they seem to get out of control very quickly. I caught a quick flash of the white rump a bullfinch in the drive the other day, nice to see. The dew pond in Summer and Winter.

Welcome to the Wildlife page.

WILDLIFE WATCH

To encourage wildlife we have cleared and renovated an ancient dew pond in our hedgerow, (which we have also allowed to grow and thicken with new planting). Newts, frogs, wildfowl and even grass snakes are in residence. Even in the hottest summer there is always a minimal amount of water left in the pond. The result of thicker hedges is an abundance of bird life and song, bringing pleasure and colorful activity, throughout the whole year.

As it is now more complicated to keep four cattle, (almost as pets) than run a Hotel we have let our paddocks go wild. What a difference to the wildlife. Now instead of cattle we have free roaming wild deer grazing, and the area has become a magnet for a resident Kestrel and Sparrow hawk, one of which I observed recently attack a Little Owl, part of a pair that make a more regular appearance now, what a commotion (not a happy owl).

This Winter one of my ambitions was realized, one day, at dawn for the first time ever on our site I saw a Barn Owl working the paddock in its inimitable way, after the mice and voles in the long grass, I hope it takes up residence as well!

We see more and more Buzzards as we are on top of the hill circling overhead, they are however quickly seen off by our resident crows. A group of wild ducks visit the Dew Pond as does one of the Bradford on Avon Heron colony after the frogs.

The whole area is overlooked from the new suites, a grandstand view over the near part of the paddock .

After an absence of about a year our rabbit population is returning, two anyway. A disease (mixy) probably decimated them as it has before.

SPRING / SUMMER UPDATE 2002.

Our resident swallows reappeared on 17th April back to their garage nesting site, the first brood is well under way. The grounds are alive with nesting birds, nests of blackbirds (lots this year), starlings in their traditional roof (under tile) colony, house sparrows round the corner from the starlings. wrens, a chaffinch brood in the fir trees beyond the front garden, greenfinches somewhere, robins, and lots of blue tits in the nest boxes. Best of all the Little Owls are nesting in one of the old chicken sheds much to the disgust of the other birds who mob them as they sit aloft on the roof, mercilessly. They seem to have a good deterrent affect on magpies and other predators. We have seen some French partridges on the drive, but the hen pheasant was killed by a fox. A greater spotted woodpecker visits the pine trees daily and must be nesting close by.

AUTUMN UPDATE 2002.

1st SEPT. This evening we saw a brood of almost full grown wild pheasant poults behind the new suites very nice . Our resident little owls were successful with their nesting, two babies, long gone now. The swallows in the garage are on the third nest, four and one fledged previously. This week two tawny owls were on the roof at three am, woke us, but not one guest heard anything, they think we make up the OWL tales! the doe and baby are still making appearances in the wild meadow, I read a good "wild flower meadow" article in the Country Life I'll start preparing in October for next years experiment.

WINTER UPDATE 2002.

JAN 1st 2003.

The swallows left on the 2nd of October having reared three broods of differing numbers successfully, and the deer are still evident on occasions early in the morning. Being on top of a hill we have escaped the worst of the storms, however the land is very wet. In October we planted six trees in the wild flower meadow and I have purchased a wild flower mix of seeds, suitable for our type of soil, to sow in the spring. We planted some snakeshead fritillaries to try and establish a natural colony, fingers crossed. I have been feeding the wild pheasants with grain. There are about 20 around in the shelter belt which we planted 21 years ago as a wind break, it's an ideal safe habitat and roost for them around the dew pond. The tawny owls are calling at night but I've yet to see another barn owl, although the little owl is well established in his territory. Despite pessimistic press reports on bird numbers our starling colony in one part of the roof is thriving, as is our house sparrow colony in another part of the roof. We have put up another nest box and more feeders to help the small birds through the hard weather.

FEBRUARY 8th 2003.

On returning from the staff run last night I saw another Barn Owl It cruised ghost like around the front garden and swung down the drive like a large silent moth, a memorable sight silhouetted against the stone work.

SUMMER 2003. Due to the fact that our land and the land around us is fallow nature is really in full flow. There have been huge flocks of swifts and house martins hawking for insects above us, and the swallows are well into their first brood. A two foot long grass snake has taken up residence in the large goldfish pond, the fish don't seem to mind, however I don't suppose there will be many more baby fish! The little owl didn't nest in the shed this year, they probably went back to the dead elm trees around our property this year. Many other birds have reared broods however. There were a family of fledged wrens in the shed the other day. Our last chicken died this week, seemingly in mid scratch under the feeder, she was quite a character and almost talked to us in her own way. All the new nest boxes seem to be in use , a great tit fought for one with some blue tits and seemed to win. The wild flower meadow has lots of grass in it but no flowers yet, they will probably be swamped by the lush grass. It's so dry we are having to water the newly planted trees. The grass snake has disappeared from the pond but has been replaced by a mother, father and baby moorhens. The dew pond water level must be so low that they are having to comically trek to the large fishpond. However, they are having a great time once they arrive! Unfortunately I found the baby swallows dead on the garage floor again this year, it may be the heat. The pair have rebuilt in a cooler position now not up in the apex of the roof.

JULY 2003.

We sat and watched a goshawk on Sunday flying around the locality, much to the annoyance of the resident swallows. We are also trying to gently clear some of the bulrushes from the dewpond without disturbing the wildlife, they seem to get out of control very quickly. I caught a quick flash of the white rump a bullfinch in the drive the other day, nice to see.

The dew pond in Summer and Winter.