We’ve got some more good news for local birdwatchers and indeed nature-lovers generally – Red Kites have been spotted recently in the area! Subject to the longest continuous conservational project in the world the Red Kites are one of our nation’s most beautiful birds of prey. In the 1980s, it was one of only three globally threatened species in the UK, and so was a high priority for conservation efforts. These have had some very positive results and more and more sightings of this magnificent bird are being reported. There is clear evidence to suggest that this member of the awe-inspiring ‘Accipitridae’ family has begun spreading its wings much further afield than North Scotland and Buckinghamshire, where they were originally reintroduced.

So a stark warning for all you rabbits around here – “Watch Out!”

Talking of proper food, the dinner at Lainston was gorgeous.  Executive Chef Andy Mackenzie and his team certainly are the business!

Just returned from the National Fruit Show at Kent Showground where we picked up TWO Trophies !!  Our Apple and Blackcurrant juice was voted by the judges as the Champion of all in the mixed fruit juice category;  then we won the special 25th anniversary Supreme Apple Juice Champion for our juice, our packaging and our website – helped along by our new e-commerce, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.  Fab!  Will be posting photo’s asap.  Can’t believe it as we’ve got some pretty hard core competition out there!

Our owl box   has again been occupied by a pair of barn owls and they are rearing some youngsters – not sure how many at this stage but we can hear them in the box  being very demanding  of their hard-working parents.  There are also tawny and little owls on the farm.