Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Guests and Calves

Thursday, January 18th, 2024

A young guest falling in love with one of our dairy calves.A young guest falling in love with one of our dairy calves

From July onwards our calving season starts and for some guests it’s a one in a million opportunity to bottle feed young calves. Nicole couldn’t resist helping out and was a regular helper during her weeks holiday in Duncliffe chalet. She not only could look out of the chalet and watch calves being born but enjoyed feeding the older calves in the barn. This calf was named Faye by Nicole and would regularly receive cuddles and lots of attention.

Stonehenge Wedding

Sunday, March 20th, 2016

I was delighted to be asked to accommodate a young lady and her fiance who were planning to tie the knot amongst the famous Wiltshire stones of Stonehenge.

The difference was that this couple were not local people but travelling from America. The wedding was planned over the phone and via the internet.

Two chalets, Melbury and Duncliffe, at Stour Cross Farm were required for the couple and their guests in July last year.

A photographer was booked pre-ceremony and my thanks to Joe Weil for providing me with some beautiful photo’s.

 

Pre wedding glamourHair do’s and make up’s. The groom and best man are relaxing playing table tennisThe groom and best man are relaxing playing table tennis Groom and friends relaxing in the games roomGroom and friends relaxing in the games room Bride and friends chilling outBride and friends chilling out The beautiful bride to be Amanda with an onlookerThe beautiful bride to be Amanda with an onlooker

Wedding 6

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou RomeoO Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo

Wedding 8

The happy couple, best man and bridemaidsThe happy couple, best man and bridemaids

Wedding 10 Wedding 11 Wedding 12

The final photo before they tie the knot at StonehengeThe final photo before they tie the knot at Stonehenge Some final adjustmentsSome final adjustments

 

Holiday Weather in May 2012

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

A beautiful clear dayWhilst out walking the dog I couldn’t resist running back to the house and grabbing the camera. Not a cloud in sight but the distant plane and it’s tail jets trailing behind. I wondered where it was heading. This time I wasn’t envious. Who needs to travel abroad when England has holiday weather like this.

Hedge Laying at Stour Cross Farm

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

There’s an art to good hedge laying.  As with many things, the theory behind laying a hedge is easy; the practice is much harder – requiring skill and experience. The aim is to reduce the thickness of the upright stems of the hedgerow trees by cutting away the wood on one side of the stem and in line with the course of the hedge. This being done, each remaining stem is then laid down towards the horizontal, along the length of the hedge.

This hedge is over 40 years old and has grown into spindly trees.This hedge is over 40 years old and has grown into spindly trees.
Whilst Martin and Dave have a few days spare to tidy up the farm, they set to work cutting out old rubbish such as Ivy and side shoots. A chainsaw, CAT and man power is all that’s needed.
Some of the hedge has growth so big, the only answer is to remove itSome of the hedge has grown so big, the only answer is to remove it
The hedge around most of the farm is over 40 years old and has never been managed except for being trimmed every year. It has grown into tall spindly trees now suffocated by ivy. Every year after heavy winds we find big gaps in the hedge where weakened trees have been blown over.
Coffee breakCoffee break

 

 
Tools down for a well earned coffeeTools down for a well earned coffee