2024 Summer
A lovely warm summer is being enjoyed by all at Heckingham. Lovely to see the arena and gallops in use especially the children
Our lovely foals
These are our lovely foals, stable names Bugs and Bunnie! By Billy Um Bongo and Billy Congo. Bunnie was a premature foal. She is growing well and has made up for it!
Autumn at the holiday cottages
With the summer extending into October, the excellent weather was enjoyed by all. We would like to hear about places you have eaten at around our holiday cottages, particularly your view of their price and quality of food. Loddon Swan has been enjoyed by many (a little pricey but worth [...]
July on the Farm
July started with a farm walk for 22 people. This was followed by a high tea on the lawn in front of the Hall. Everyone enjoyed looking at the sheep and cattle. A lovely sunny day and a good time was had by all. More fat lambs were sold. Barley [...]
BBQs and swimming pools
The weather is wonderful. Let's all enjoy it (although the farm desperately needs rain.) We have had many holiday makers making the most of the barbeques and cooling down in the swimming pool or hot tub. Last week a young boy aged 6 asked his mother if he could [...]
June on the farm
Cattle are settled at grass although grass growth still appears slow. 15 new Red Poll heifers arrived from Sally and Ed Turner's, Seahawk herd. These young heifers will be put to the Red Poll bull next month. Sheep shearing took place at the start of June with the contractors [...]
Chilling out in the pool
With the summer season in full flow, what a treat to meet Naomi and her husband with their lovely 4 month old twins Scarlett and Reuben, and their three year old daughter. They stayed at the Buttery at Hellington Hall and had a great time chilling out. The twins had [...]
May on the farm
The farm is looking as well as could be expected. Although amazingly it is in need of some rain! All the cattle are out at grass which is a great relief for myself and them. On the 23rd May, I headed to Malvern for the National Beef Association's Beef Expo [...]
April on the farm
Finally a dry spell! Sugar beet was drilled on the 26th of this month. All the young lambs are growing fast and are eating the spring grass as fast as it comes. Meg the sheep dog has had five puppies! Not all the cattle are out at grass yet so [...]
April bookings
[singlepic id=162 w=300] We have seen extremely high bookings this month. Weekend breaks (Fri to Mon) and midweek (Mon to Fri) are becoming firm favourites. With the cold weather (snow and ice!) in April, the indoor pool was very popular for Hellington Hall and the hot tub was in full [...]
March on the farm
[singlepic id=160 w=300] Lambing started in earnest at the beginning of March and the weather was reasonable. The weather deteriorated rapidly and got increasingly colder and wetter. However on the whole we have been very lucky and we missed out on the heavy snowfall thankfully. Calving has progressed well with lots [...]
February on the Farm
[singlepic id=156 w=600] As I write, we have had quite a few dry days! It really does make a difference. All the store lambs have finished well on stubble turnips and will be going to Melton Mowbray market on the 5th of March. The in-lamb ewes are all looking good and [...]
Australian visitors
[singlepic id=155 w=600 h=187] We have had many visitors from overseas in our holiday cottages last year but in March 2013 we welcomed Ian Rodgers, Lisa Rodgers and Janice Davis from Southern Australia. The weather must have been a big shock to them! Ian farmed a mixed farm in Australia [...]
The farm in January
[singlepic id=153 w=600 h=187] All the cattle are housed, even the red polls, because of the excessive rain and wet ground. We have been unable to leave any out wintering. [singlepic id=151 w=400 h=300] The sugar beet has all been lifted and safely delivered to Cantley sugar beet factory, a [...]
February at the holiday cottages
Christmas and New Year passed in a flash! It was great to see so many people from all over the world at our holiday cottages. Everyone was in great Christmas spirit. January has passed with a sustained flurry of snow and ice. Everyone made their accommodation, some even arriving by [...]
Merry Christmas
The end of the year is soon arriving, the cottages are great for families to share memorable times. We already have some bookings for Christmas 2013, please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Our caterer, Claire Hill has made a special menu for food when you arrive at [...]