Orchids in the Bog Field

We have a five acre field which is very wet and we can't cultivate it, so we allow a farmer to graze his sheep on it during the winter which really helps maintain it and encourage the wild flowers. This June while walking around the field I noticed a group of wild orchids which I have never seen before and are obviously very happy multiplying in the field. I 'googled' wild orchids and found information about the orchid growing in our field and apparently it is one of several Dactylorhiza orchids, known as the ‘spotted orchids’. In the UK it is locally common in southern England and it favours marshy ground.

The Plough

This year we have decided to plough up the three acre field as the grass in this field is not very good for making hay as it is the thick grassed variety. However we don't have a plough! I investigated the cost of a contractor to plough the field in the autumn, but because it is such a small area is would be expensive. So we decided to buy an old three furrow plough which Rob collected from Okehampton and brought back for Derek (my brother) to repair and update as he would be doing the ploughing. We were also given an old plough for spare parts.

Cottage Kitchen Wall

After removing a very large and overgrown Forsythia shrub which was growing in the corner and over one of the cottage kitchen windows, we now have to do repairs to the wall and painting. The plan is to finish this by Easter and I have purchased an interesting Hydrangea to go in the corner, one with green and cream leaves, so I hope it settles into it's new home.

Sparky's Oak Tree

Sadly last summer we lost Rob's horse Sparky with a very sudden colic attack and although he was rushed to Bristol for an operation which he came through, his stomach did not start working properly, so after three days we had to make a very sad decision.
This winter we have planted a very splendid 12ft Oak tree which we bought from a tree specialist near Taunton. We have planted it with his ashes at the end of a hedge line where we can see it every day. Sparky a once in a lifetime horse. xxx

Update to Kitchen

This winter we are updating the kitchen work surface in the cottage. The old surface was made up of tiles, a few were cracked and the kitchen was looking rather tired. The top has now been taken away and also the wall tiles, but we have not yet decided on what type of work surface to replace the old one. I think it is off to a few kitchen shops to have a look and get some ideas.

Charity Horse Ride

This year we organised a charity horse ride on 21st September starting from Burrow to commemorate the Brooke's 80th Anniversary. The rider' route took in Grabbist Hill, through the Bratton Estate by kind permission of Hon Roland Lytton and some who were on the 15mile route continued on to North Hill, then back via Tivington. We particularly wanted to go through the Bratton Estate as in 1914/15 mules for WW1 were kept there to rest and recuperate after their journey from the USA to Avonmouth docks and then on the Minehead via the West Somerset Railway. To remember the mules we had four members from the British Mule Society come and stay with their mules and take part in the ride. It was an amazingly warm and beautiful sunny day and at the end riders were treated to tea & cakes. A sum of £900 was raised for the charity.

Gordon & Bessie attack the Fence!

I have finally found the culprits! We have had to replace the plastic electric fencing posts with wooden posts, because we keep finding them strewn around the field with the electric tape flapping about all over the place.

We now know that Gordon likes to head butt the posts! Hopefully the wooden posts will stop him destroying all the fencing. However at the same time Bessie has been helpfully winding the fencing tape around her horns and then either breaking it or dragging it around the field. Not too sure how we are going to stop her doing this.