Barnyard Buzz May-July 2023

Barnyard Buzz May-July 2023: Campsite News

My revamped website seems to be working in that I have had more bookings, in general, this year compared to previous years.

The Whitsun weekend was the best one I had ever had at this time of year and campers spilt over into the Plot area by the River Char. (1) (2) I have had quite a few German and Dutch people travelling through Dorset who stopped off at the campsite.

A German family had rather interesting camping facilities. (3) (4)

An intrepid Dutch cyclist was doing a strenuous trip following ‘Fietsen rond Het Kanaal’ which when translated means around the coastlines of the English Channel (on both sides). (5) (6) (7)

I even had a camper who listed 22 birdsongs during his stay here including a Willow Warbler which he said was quite rare. I was quite thrilled by this information!

Farm And Garden Updates May, June & July 2023

Betty, the abandoned calf continued to attract children, (8) and Wilber, one of Alisha’s female pigs, had a litter of 9 piglets. (9)  Baby goslings, at 1 ½ days old were collected from the hatchery on 11th July.  They were of a much younger age that the ones I had reared in the previous 7 years.  Most of the equipment for putting them in the goose house 8 years ago had long gone, so a friend built me a goose box for use in the sitting room (which had previously been used as a whelping box for her dog Lilly-Rosa).  Tabby and Gingie were dying of curiosity (10) watching and listening to the box of goslings, while Nesta arrived and expertly assembled the bigger box in no time.   (11) So the goslings now had a new home under a heat lamp. (12)   It was noticed that 2 of them looked rather unwell and they proceeded to die in the next 2 days.

My neighbours now have 13 peacocks.  This includes 3 adult males, 8 adult females and 2 babies. I think that there has been a few fatalities along the way.   (13)  This shows the nearest I have ever got to taking a photo of a peacock fanning a train.  During this time there is a rattling of the train when they shake their feathers.  A group of peafowl is called a muster.

A Bottlebrush shrub, (14) given to me by my godmother as a reminder of my time in Australia,  looked good in the summer.   It would obviously be better off being planted in the garden – but there is no space!   A pot plant, (15) (Red Orchid Cactus [Disocactus Ackermannii]) suddenly decided to flower in early summer. 

The last time it had bloomed was in 2009!   There was a plentiful supply of loganberries. (16) I suggested campers came and ‘picked their own’ but I don’t think I had ‘any takers’ so the birds did well from the abundant crop.  Blackcurrants were plentiful but small and I sold most of them to the local farm shop.  (17) 

I suppose I ought to prune them in the spring which would result in bigger fruit.  I was pleased with my tomato crop this year and have been selling them to campers and passing trade.  (18)

Tractor Blessing At Bettiscombe

Many people attended this fascinating service at Bettiscombe church in the Marshwood Vale. (20) Rev Chris Martin, the Team Rector [who covers 12 parishes in West Dorset] (21) did the musical accompaniment on his guitar. 

The congregation decorated paper bunting with a dedication to farmers on the reverse, (22)  These were later attached to a string and hung around the tractors assembled in the car park. (23) 

During the service many miniature farm implements were displayed.  (24) 

Later on Rev Martin was presented with one of them for a keepsake. 

The service was brought to a close when the Rector blessed the tractors. (25)   Following this there were refreshments in Bettiscombe Hall after which people were encouraged to plant a sunflower seed for the occasion.  (26)

Coronation Lunch At Morcombelake 2023

This very dynamic village celebrated the Coronation in style and laid on a sumptuous meal which was attended by a hall full of people and was good value for money.  (28) (29) (30) (31)

Open Farm Sunday At Purcombe

This event was held on an adjoining farm to Bluntshay about quarter of a mile up the road. This was part of a nationally organised day when over 250 farms opened their farms free to visitors. At Purcombe they combined with The Marshwood Vale Farmers Cluster and Discover Farming (Melplash Agricultural Society) to demonstrate farming in the Vale – how we farm, why we do what we do and what are our challenges, joys and ambitions.

Seemingly it was a very successful day with 800 visitors hosted by over 50 volunteers from farms across the Vale. Purcombe was originally a large dairy farm, using intensive methods to feed their animals and run the farm generally.

Since selling the cows several years ago they have become extensive farmers whereby conservation being of the utmost importance. Some of the land is now under a grass keep contract whereby local farmers can graze their cattle and sheep for part of each year.

Another area has been developed into a glamping area for campers, (with no electricity) who wish to stay in the beautiful Marshwood Vale close to nature and experience the native wildlife.

Some friends and I attended the Open Day and took advantage of the “shuttle bus” (33) which regularly travelled around the farm, dropped passengers off at various interest points so that we could see everything that was going on.

We drove through various fields of crops including a beautiful wildflower meadow, (34) (35) (36) and stopped en route to have the soil structure explained to us by experts. (37)

We also saw hens, and a pig that had just farrowed with numerous piglets. (38) In another area, which had originally been part of the dairy herd set up, there were many items on display including children ‘milking a cow’, (39) a stall encouraging young people into a career of farming (40) and diagrams showing the cuts of meat on a pig and other animals. (41) (42)

Bishop of Salisbury Stephen Lake

Our new Bishop of Salisbury, Stephen Lake, came to Whitchurch to celebrate St Wite’s Patronal Festival at the beginning of June and also to walk some of the highlights of Route One of the new pilgrimage experience St Wite’s Way. This was the official launch of the pilgrimage. BBC Spotlight even came and filmed walkers en route.

This was followed by the Bishop taking the service in the church (44) where he blessed the congregation. (45) Later people were invited to place prayers in St Wite’s shrine. (46) Eddie, a local musician, played the accompaniment for the hymns. (47) Sue and her cake squad provided a delicious tea (48) and the new kitchenette was put to good use again. (49) People from all 12 churches of the benefice attended so it was truly a momentous occasion. (50) This photo shows the Bishop with our Team Rector and two Team Vicars. (51)

Sponsored Walk For Belinda 2023

Earlier this year Caroline advised us that she would be riding the Wessex Ridgeway across Dorset in March, in memory of her mother Belinda Bailey (my first cousin), who suffered from Systematic Scleroderma which lead to heart failure and an early death, aged 61, in 2019.

I contacted all my cousins on the Huxter side of the family and local friends, who had known Belinda, about the ride to boost the donations.

It was planned for Caroline and her friend Sue to ride their horses Sox and Blue Eyes from Royal Tollard, near Shaftsbury to Lyme Regis covering approximately 77 miles in 4 days between 22nd to 25th March.

Here are the OS routes that were followed for each day:

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/158186638/Ridgeway-day-1
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/15819133/Ridgeway-day-2
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/15819237/Wessex-Ridgeway-day-3
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/15819687/Wessex-Ridgeway-day-4

Caroline wrote a diary about her travels

22 March 2023

“Day 1 of the Wessex Ridgeway done – 35 km from Royal Tollard to Ansty (near Milton Abbas). Started on a beautiful spring day wandering through woodlands, climbed and came back down a few steep hills with some lovely views. Did meet the hunt and also got a bit gusty towards the end though, which put a spring back in our step. Reached our accommodation for night at Pleck Barns, and had an amazing meal in the Fox Pub. Tomorrow is 40 km from Ansty to West Chelborough, hopefully before the heavens open at 2 pm.” (53) (54) (55)

23 March 2023

“Day 2 of the Wessex Ridgeway done – 41.5 from Ansty to West Chelborough (near Evershot). Left with a belly full of fried breakfast this morning. Less than an hour later we were attacked by hail stones and gale force winds.

Dried out over the next few miles before the rain set in for the rest of the day. We discovered some lovely bridle paths along the way, but the last few miles were tough as all waterproofs failed. Glad to get to Sue’s and her Aga. Hopefully everything will be dry ready for tomorrow.” (56) (57) (58)

24 March 2023

“Day 3 of the Wessex Ridgeway done – 25 km from West Chelborough to Pilsdon (near Marshwood). After great hospitality from the Soame’s we left later today to allow stuff to dry and the horses more rest. The theme of today’s weather was icy showers and sunny spells with rainbows.

It was a shorter route so we didn’t push the horses. There were some lovely old droves that took us over Beaminster Tunnel and Lewesdon Hill (highest hill in Dorset, and we have blessed with the most spectacular views on our ride so far. Tonight mum is watching over us from Marshwood church” (59) (60)

25 March 2023

“Day 4 and the final day of the Wessex Ridgeway done – 23 km from Pilsdon to Lyme Regis. We were looked after well by the Rabbits’ family and left their farm in beautiful sunshine. We did get wet today and the wind died down to make it a lovely day.

We did make fast progress through the wet ground of the Marshwood Vale, especially with tired horses but could soon see the sea and our destination and arrived on the beach – where lots of children came up to stroke the horses and we were met by family and friends, and then had fish and chips! A wonderful way to spend Mum’s 65th birthday” (61) (62) (63) (64)

“The Wessex Ridgeway was a total of 124 km or 77 miles over 4 days with 22 hours in the saddle. Our horses were amazing and absolutely superstars. It was a great experience to remember my Mum by”

The route through the Marshwood Vale signified where Belinda (Caroline’s mum) would have spent her childhood exploring with her ponies. Lyme Regis was chosen as the final destination because Caroline and her 3 siblings had spent many happy hours on the beach with their parents on days out ‘to the seaside’.

The photos shown for Day 4 were familiar to me, of course, especially the shot of Lewesdon Hill and Pilsdon Pen in the distance, Charmouth Forest and inside the woodland of the atmospheric Lewesdon Hill. The grid point photo was taken on Day 1 at Hambledon Hill near Blandford Forum and is a prehistoric hill fort owned by the National Trust.

There was even some technology, entitled GAITS, involved in measuring the length a horse walked, cantered and galloped. For Day 3 Caroline’s horse walked for 19.2 km, cantered for 3.1 km and galloped for 1.9 km.

What an amazing journey Caroline and Sue had!

The event raised £2000 for SRUK which included £235.80 from the raffle. In addition to this there was £290 gift aid.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Weller Family, Nesta Davies, Caroline Repton, Evelyne O’Hare, Caroline Bailey, Amanda Streatfeild, Ros Woodbridge,

Thanks for reading if the comments section does not work, please Click here to email Sylvia directly with your comment