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 [...]
Fully booked for Christmas!
What an enjoyable sight to see a young family from London, who recently stayed at our holiday cottages, kitted out in all weather gear including “wellies”, having a great time splashing in all the large puddles on a rather flooded country lane! It was pouring with rain and the children [...]
Winners! Red Poll Cattle Society – Eastern Region, Red Poll, small herd competition
[singlepic id=148 w=400 h=300] Very exciting news! We have won the Red Poll Cattle Society Eastern Region, Red Poll cattle Society, small herd competition. This was judged in the summer and well done to all the cows for showing themselves off! I was presented with a shield by the president, [...]
November 2012 Farm update
[singlepic id=149 w=400 h=300] As one farming year closes another starts. One is tempted to review the past and wonder how it might inform the future. I suspect for most the memory of the 2012 farming year will, not for the first time, be the weather. The rams have gone [...]
Comfy cows
Comfy cows came to trim the cows feet. His trailer is tailored to the job and makes it safe for the cows and humans! [singlepic id=147 w=400 h=300]
Holiday accommodation over the summer
We have had some lovely visitors staying with us in Norfolk this summer, some from as faraway as South Africa! In spite of the poor weather, all seemed to have enjoyed their stay. The Manor is looking lovely and we are looking forward to the arrival of the new hot [...]
September 2012 farm update
It's been the wettest summer since 1912! Or so we are told. I think we have been quite lucky here in the east, with less rain that some areas of England and finally we have had some good spells of sunshine during August. The spring barley Propino yielded better than [...]
July 2012 farm update
Wet Wet Wet!!!!! The wettest June since records begun over 100 years ago. Luckily we managed a dry day and all the sheep had their woolly coats taken off! A week later I wanted to put them back on as the weather became much colder. What a contrast to last [...]
May 2012 farm update
When I wrote in January about the weather, I spoke to soon! Snow fell in abundance on 4th February 2012 and we had a very cold snap that lasted over a week. March was good with a strong lambing season resulting in lots of little lambs skipping around in the [...]