Mallards in the Garden

Last summer we had a female Mallard raise her ducklings in our garden. She did start off with four, but one died and when they were all quite big we had a Fox get into the garden and kill one of the ducklings, which prompted us to move them all across the road to our neighbours very large pond or small lake as quickly as possible before the Fox returned for the rest.
Well you can imagine my surprise when Mrs Mallard returned this spring and three weeks ago I suddenly saw her and seven ducklings strutting around the garden. Sadly the weakest one died and then suddenly overnight two disappeared. I can only assume a Crow, Rook or perhaps a Sparrowhawk swooped into the garden and took them. So today we are down to four. My plan is to move them to my neighbours garden on the May Bank Holiday weekend when I think they will be big enough to cope and I do not want to leave it any longer in case we have another Fox attack.

Exmoor & North Devon Walking Festival

This years North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival is now taking bookings for the guided walks. The festival runs from Saturday 30th April to Saturday 7th May 2016 inc.

Please go to http://www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk/ to view all the walks and to book. You can book online on the website or by phone on 01271 863001. The brochure can be viewed at http://www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk/spring-festival-brochure/ which also shows the outlets that I have distributed it to. Or you can email or telephone for a copy (see below).

Bryan Cath
Festival Co-ordinator
01271 883131 or bryan@westcountrywalks.co.uk

Ready for Easter

After a disater just before Christmas last year when we discovered that the radiator in one of the upstairs bedrooms had been slightly leaking and consequently brought the ceiling down into the lounge, fortunately missing the settee below, we are now ready to open for 2016. The ceiling is repaired and looking very good and we now have a new carpet in the lounge and also the bedroom above. This all happened when there was the awful flooding in Cumbria, but our problem seemed very minor.

Two Moors Way

It was two years ago that the project to extend and re-launch the route known as the 'Coleridge Way' started. Following on from this project, and celebrating its 40th Anniversary, Exmoor National Park is now working with partners on a similar project to reinvigorate the 'Two Moors Way'. The total length of the route is 102 miles (163km) from the southern edge of Dartmoor at Ivybridge to the coast at Lynmouth and this continues to be one of the most popular long distant trails in the South West after the Coast Path.

The project involves trail management works to enhance the route and improve signage alongside the development of a new website and promotional leaflet, which is being developed by the re-formed Two Moors Way Association. Initial funding has been secured from Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities, alongside a donation from the Two Moors Way Association, and initial work is being completed throughout the spring on 2016 prior to the anniversary celebrations in early June. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/outdoors/walks/two_moors_way.shtml

The Duck Pond

The side of the duck pond has collapsed and is in need of serious repair. This happened at the beginning of the year which is not a good time to stand in cold water and move large stones, so Rob has put some temporary stones underneath to stop the whole side collapsing and when the weather is warmer in the spring it will be repaired. We will probably increase the width of the pond to make it more of a feature in the yard.

Porlock Marsh

Every two months we receive an email from Exmoor National Park Tourism keeping us updated with the latest news. I thought you would love to see this extract showing a YouTube video of the Tides at Porlock Marsh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTfygNch-kU&feature=youtu.be

Rob and Len

At the end of October Rob and Len took part in a Hunter Trial at Pontispool Equestrian Centre, nr Taunton. It was a beautiful autumn day, which you can see by the colour of the tree in the background of the photo. They had a great time and now Jo our stable help who regularly exercises Len for Rob when he is away will be entering some dressage competitions over the winter.