RSPB Birdwatch

Baby Guy and I signed up to take part in the RSPB birdwatch this weekend.  A birthday party yesterday meant that we had to do our watching today.  I put some leftover toast on the bird table as well as some hanging birdseed treats; both were visible from the kitchen window so as I cleared up from breakfast (we're housesitting at Poltarrow as there are B&B guests here but Mum and Dad are away) I could keep an eye on the table.  Well, 60 minutes of watching and the grand total of fauna that we can note down is 1 (that's one) lady Blackbird - this sole visitor ate the toast and snubbed our tasty hanging treats.  Very disappointing but unsurprising as the weather here was atrocious this morning and only marginally better this afternoon.  I have no photographic evidence of said bird so here is the RSPB's delightful image and if you click on the photo it will take you to the blackbird information page.

Anyway I have faithfully recorded our results and will send off.  I would think that in a year with better weather it could be quite a bit of fun spotting the birds, identifying them and then completing the form with young people.

Did you take part? If so which visitors did you have to your garden?

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Jobs at Poltarrow - New doors

Another job that was completed just before Christmas was one that I have envisaged in my mind ever since we added the conservatory to the farmhouse some 15 years ago!  My idea was to remove the window between the conservatory and the room on the other side which is the dining room.  Naturally before we started the work we didn't take a 'before' photo but luckily in amongst Kate and Spence's wedding photos is a perfect before shot.

First job is to take out the window and remove the stone that was under the window.

In amongst the stonework under the window was this datestone which has always been covered up by a breakfast table since the conservatory was erected.  The datestone was carefully removed and Peter will put it back into the stonework underneath the sitting room window which means everyone will be able to see it.  The initials belong to the son of the chap who had the 'new' part of the farmhouse built - Francis Henry Goldolphin Layland-Barrett.

The glass was very carefully removed and set aside - the leaded windows have been a bit ravaged by time, in the second photo you can see the bow in the glass and that it doesn't sit flat on the table.

Next job is to position the new framework into place - very much a 'all hands to the deck' job so no action shot here!

And the end result, glass back in.  This is taken from the dining room looking out into the conservatory.

 

The eagle eyed amongst you will spot that the in the top windows the glass is the wrong way with the diamonds going sideways.  Despite coming out twice to measure, the joinery company made the holes the wrong size so we put the glass in for Christmas and they are due to come back and 'fix' the problem!

I am very pleased with the end result and it worked beautifully over Christmas with the log fire in the dining room being able to be enjoyed from the conservatory.

Judith
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall 

Jobs at Poltarrow - Cottage Car Park

Have you ever wondered what happens to the tarmac planings from the roads when the council have scraped off the top to resurface? Thought not....anyway the council sells this waste product which can then have another life, in this case around our farm.  Back in Autumn 2012 after having spent 3 weeks travelling around South America we came home to discover that Spencer had resurfaced the back lane with these planings; it looked great as well as providing a smooth surface to drive on.

So just before Christmas Peter, Tom and Spence set to work on the cottage car park.  The council delivered the planings and left them in numerous piles around the car park making it look like we had been invaded by giant moles!

These piles were then spread around by Spence using the mini-digger.

This left Tom with the riveting job of rolling the planings in.  Painfully slow work that needs to be done repeatedly so the planings do not move too much when driven on.

It does however create an opportunity to catch up on Facebook and Snapchat!

Guy inspected the works to make sure all was well, "I spy a lump over there Dad!"

Judith
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Wild Kids - Hembal Lane Nature Walk

During the Christmas break Guy and I walked from Poltarrow to the neighbouring village of Trewoon to get the Sunday Times. The route took us 'up Hembal Lane' and despite it being the middle of winter there were plenty of signs of nature so I took a few photos along the way.

 

 

Hembal Lane

A Wren with its distinctive tail

 

Can't remember what bird this was!



Looking over the hedge towards St Mewan Church

Can you spot the entrance to a Rabbit's home?

Can you pick out the track here?  I suspect Fox or Badger

Queen Anne's Lace - looking a little sorry for itself, well it is December!

Pink Campion - it is reputed that there will always be a Pink Campion
in flower regardless of the time of year

Toadstools

St Mewan Beacon which is a tor exposure of quartz-topaz-tourmaline rocks
that has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
for its geological characteristics.

Robin

Coming back down the lane



Sheep's wool which the birds will be glad of come nest-building time

The birds will also love this donkey's hair too

This is in our back lane - another rabbit's home much to
Dad's despair as they cause the hedges to collapse!

And back home in time for our morning coffee and a browse of the Sunday papers.

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall

Days out - Truro Primestock Show

The first Wednesday in December sees "the country come to town" as the rural community descends into the centre of Truro for the Christmas Primestock Show.  The show has been going for well over 100 years and is an opportunity for local farmers to show off their best looking beef cattle before they are offered for sale to the butchers.  The butchers then prepare and sell the wonderful beef to their customers who in turn cook it for their lucky families for Christmas!  The show is thought to be the only agricultural show to be held in a city centre; where else could you see a cattle lorry unloading outside Marks and Spencer but Cornwall! 

 
As well as cattle the show also sees the judging of sheep as well as farm crops and veg. 

The popular domestic section contains competitions from handicraft and floral art to cookery and children classes; the skill on show is phenomenal and I always look forward to the 'set recipe' class as this is always popular - this year Cherry Cake - I've never seen SO many cakes in one place!


Imagine judging this lot!

 

 

 

 

 

The atmosphere in the marquee is always buzzing and wonderfully Christmassy; when show day arrives it always feels like the festive season has properly begun.  As well as the cattle and sheep being auctioned off, at the end of the day all the cookery entries are also sold to the highest bidders with the proceeds going to charity - in recent years there has been a trend for husbands and boyfriends to bid obscene amounts of money for their lady's Victoria Sponge - it has not unknown for cakes to go for £50-£60!

The show is organised by the Truro Christmas Primestock and Produce Society and I have been on the committee for a number of years now and was show secretary from 2010-2013. This band of cheerful volunteers are incredibly proud (and rightly so) of this splendid show and the work that goes into it continues throughout the year. 

After the day of the show (and the clean-up!) the marquee is then used for a local food and craft show which is a great opportunity for a bit more Christmas shopping.  If you would like to find out more about the show visit their website here.

Kate
Poltarrow Farm
Self Catering Cottages and Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast in Cornwall