height top farm

2011-10-26T21:15:00.002+01:00

Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages

I have got so behind with my blog that it's difficult to know where to start. We've done a lot of work on our new orchard and the trees seem to be doing quite well. We do have more work planned over the next few months and should start to see the benefits next summer. The vegetables have been better this year. We learnt not to plant everything at once. The greenhouse has been cleaned and is now acting as a drying room for the compressed paper logs. They are burning quite hot for at least two hours and all for free except a little effort. Adding a small amount essential oil gives a lovely scent when they are burning.
Kens little owl is dividing time between the trees and hedgrow and the polytunnel! It doesn't fly away when Ken goes in there.
We rescued our first hedgehog of the year from deep in the cattle grid set it in the field and away it went.

2011-05-08T17:50:00.003+01:00

Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages
This delicate aquilegia seems to be no worse for wear after the dry winds we've been having and the cart looks like it's survived as well.

2011-05-08T17:17:00.003+01:00

Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages
We were absolutely delighted with our GTBS Gold Award which was presented to us by the High Sheriff of Lancashire. Thanks to Hetty for her help and encouragement and to Barrie for his work on our website.

2011-05-02T08:56:00.002+01:00

Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages

We watched a pair of curlews in the early evening yesterday, but couldn't get a picture of them together. This is the best I could do.
This morning the swallows have arrived and are flying in and out of the cow shed looking very busy.

2011-04-12T12:43:00.001+01:00

Height Top Farm

Our guests in Mrs. Wagtails have spotted a Buzzard and a Jay over the glorious sunny weekend.

2011-04-10T19:25:00.002+01:00

Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages

This glorious sunshine is just too much for some of us. Hope no one sees me having a nap in the hayrack!

2011-04-10T19:11:00.002+01:00

We're all taking in the sun today! I went to feed the fish in the garden pond and look who jumped out.
Height Top Farm Holiday cottages

2011-04-03T09:32:00.001+01:00

Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages
All the trees in the new orchard are in bud and looking good.

2011-04-03T09:14:00.002+01:00

Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages

I've been trying to photograph this hare for days but it only seems to appear when I have two bottles in my hands feeding lambs and not able to get my camera out.
Got it! Last night whilst taking the dog for it's last walk of the day.

2011-04-03T09:05:00.001+01:00

One of the triplets that we are having to bottle feed.
Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages

2011-03-22T13:31:00.002Z

Return visitors are always welcome!
Height Top Farm Holiday Cottages.

2011-03-22T13:20:00.003Z

Height Top Farm
An incredible moon last night. the colour hasn't shown as yellow as it really was.

2011-03-17T17:34:00.002Z

Height Top Farm
Had a really good day today at Stephen Park, Gisburn Forest. THE BOWLAND EXPERIENCE TRAMPER TRAINING. The training will enable us to use the tramper from "home" should we have suitable routes to follow. It will also allow us to plan routes for our guests. It's an excellent way for people who may find it difficult to get out and see what our AONB has to offer. It can be used by anyone with limited mobility be it long or short term, young or old and I have to say it can be fun and is highly recommended. Being a member of Bowland Experience means that we are able to book the tramper for use by our guests. Can't wait for someone to use it from here!

2011-03-14T16:55:00.002Z

Height Top Farm
Today has been very spring like even for Height Top! I have seen all of these birds in the garden and feeding from the table today. Siskins, Goldfinches, Blue tits, Starlings and Chaffinch. We have been repairing the boundary fence this afternoon and disturbed a cock pheasant. We also saw two curlews. Not too bad to say that we weren't really looking.

2011-03-06T21:02:00.003Z

This mule sheep was our first to lamb this year. Hopefully she'll show the texel how it's done!

2011-03-04T16:29:00.002Z

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We have made a start on the small orchard and bigger vegetable garden. Plum, Cherry, Pear and Apple now in.

Tortoise in disguise or Fungi?

2011-03-04T16:11:00.003Z

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I'm not sure what this is but it's certainly very colourful!

2011-01-18T14:10:00.003Z

It seems or actually is so long since I've posted anything on my blog. Not much of an excuse but the weather hasn't been too good for photographs. Anyway here's one from the early snow. As you will see it's Kens little owl, becoming braver as he grows.

2010-09-14T10:48:00.002+01:00

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The Higham Scarecrow Festival was a huge success this year raising over £4000. which will be split between the St. John's Church and the village hall.
We made a scarecrow this year for the first time and as we live quite a way out of the village he was exibited in the village centre and looked after by the scarecrow committee.
Here is a picture of him before he went down to the village.

2010-07-29T14:12:00.002+01:00

Local Historian, Signmaker and restorer Duncan Armstrong preparing the finger post sign at the junction of Guide Lane and Stump Hall Road. The sign is post 1930 and so will be black and white when it's finished. It will be a much appreciated improvement.

2010-07-13T12:55:00.002+01:00

Height Top Farm
Taken lots of photographs of the two little owls and just managed to get one of them both.
The smaller of the two is lighter in colour and sitting on the post on the left.

2010-07-09T16:36:00.003+01:00

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On Sunday we called at Forrest Hills to look at the amazing resource centre. It is a while since we were last there and so it was good to see how thing have progressed. Colin was working away but took time out to show us around. The roof is on, some of the window frames are in and it's generally coming on. There is so much timber work and the shapes are outstanding. We're really looking forward to when it will be finished but know that however long it takes it's definately going to worth the wait.
Being there, reminded me that our vegetable garden is doing very well, although on a small scale. It is our first attempt at growing but we haven't bought any vegetables for weeks and it's lovely to go and decide what to dig up and cook immediately.

2010-07-09T16:30:00.002+01:00

The little owl has a friend! This morning I saw two little owls both sitting on the fence posts.
I got very close to them and had both in focus when the lense closed on my camera and one of them flew off. I'll keep trying to get them both together.

2010-07-09T16:19:00.004+01:00

Height Top Farm
A few of the wild and meadow flower seeds have survived the birds and certainly brighten up the stone wall. Next year hopefully we will have a better display.

2010-06-16T21:18:00.002+01:00

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Jan a recent visitor staying in Jenny Wrens Cottage at Height Top Farm took some excellent photographs of Lancashire. Here are just three of my favorites.

2010-06-16T17:18:00.004+01:00

Height Top Farm
We're glad to see that some of the new nest boxes are being used

Keeping her strenghth up for a hard day building!

2010-06-02T08:09:00.005+01:00

Vegetables, Herbs and Flowers

2010-06-01T15:12:00.004+01:00

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A small selection of the vegetables herbs and flowers started in the greenhouse from seeds growing on in the hand cart.

2010-06-01T14:58:00.004+01:00

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The little owl is semi tame after Ken found it in the field with a damaged wing two years ago. It can fly now and whenever Ken is working in the field it flys from post to post in line with the tractor.

Duck and Drake on holiday at Height Top Farm!

2010-06-01T13:59:00.001+01:00

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2010-06-01T13:49:00.003+01:00

www.heighttopfarm.co.uk

Nest under construction!

Here's one that was built earlier!

Creature Comforts

2010-03-24T21:51:00.003Z

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As you can see it's not just the human visitors to Height Top that we aim to please.

Robin is having a long soak in the bath and one of the mule sheep has decided that the top bunk is for her!

2010-03-23T16:18:00.002Z

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Well, I think that Spring is finally arriving at Height Top. The birds are singing early in the mornings, the garden is showing signs of life and we have nearly finished lambing. On Sunday the calf finally arrived. He has found a very comfortable place to sleep underneath the hay rack and seems to be constantly covered in a blanket of hay. Quite clever of him.

Spring cleaning

2010-03-07T17:29:00.002Z

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Click on the photo to see a very cheeky mouse looking for seeds that the birds have dropped.

Getting to grips with my new camera.

2010-02-27T15:24:00.007Z

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These pictures have been taken at various stages throughout today. The early morning mist and little bit of snow were followed by birds on the feeders, but what made my day was the first of our lambs to be born . Just waiting now for Harron Clarissa our pedigree dexter cow to give birth to her seventh calf due anytime now. As you can see she doesn't seem to be in any hurry!

grazing deer

2010-02-21T11:42:00.003Z

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We saw these deer grazing whilst walking at Bashall Eaves yesterday. Trying to get the camera out without making any noise was quite difficult, but just managed to get a couple of pics before they bolted.

#January 2010

2010-01-23T17:01:00.006Z

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It's difficult to believe the weather that we have had in the first three weeks of January.

First the lovely powder snow, followed by the thaw or maybe not if you look at the water butts and yesterday we had a Pied Wagtail bobbing about in the yard.

2010-01-13T14:49:00.002Z

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The birds are visiting the feeders much more this weather and although we don't seem to have had a lot of different birds, we have had a dipper. I think it's a lovely bird and am trying to get a picture but to no avail! No doubt I'll post this and get a picture immediately. I thought that it was more likely to be found near to a river. It can't be the pond because it's frozen solid and has been for a couple of weeks. Anyway it's quite happy eating the meal worms and wild bird seed so I'm not complaining.

Christmas at Height Top Farm.

2009-12-27T17:07:00.007Z

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We were very busy preparing for our Christmas visitors and this year it looked so special with the snow.

We did have doubts as to wether or not we would get our visitors here but Kens digging and his tractor came in very handy.

2009-09-19T15:30:00.002+01:00

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Our guests have been busy recording birds and have left details in the Nature Watch Book.

During August one guest recorded seeing; Robin, Blackbird, Crows, Swallows, Magpies, Kestrel, Goldfinch and an Owl with a large wing span in the rough grass at the back of the cottages.

Another guest recorded watching bats. They weren't pipistrelle, they were much bigger.

Early September and we have had corn bunting as well as the other birds. These were sitting on the telephone wire, thirteen in all and evenly spaced on the wire.

We have only just done our haymaking, unusually late for us, but we have got some good hay.

Deer

2009-05-28T12:30:00.003+01:00

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Rainbows

2009-05-24T17:39:00.000+01:00

My website Rainbows on a very warm early evening, last week.

The colour of the sky appears to

be different either side of the

rainbow.

2009-05-12T21:49:00.001+01:00

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I saw this fine specimen in my garden today and just thought I'd share it with you1

2009-04-30T08:10:00.000+01:00

At Last! Not my best pictures but here are the goldfinches. I managed to get these from the kitchen window at around 7pm yesterday.

Goldfinch

2009-04-29T11:50:00.000+01:00

Spotted a pair of Goldfinch twice yesterday and once so far today. They are the most colourful garden birds to be using the bird feeders at the moment. I have had my camera ready but still not managed to get a snap. I will keep trying and post as soon as I do get a picture.

2009-04-14T17:23:00.000+01:00

Yesterday Easter Sunday, Ken was delighted to see that the swallows had returned. I was quite pleased but I did think about my washing!

2009-03-28T18:23:00.000Z

What a surprise. I thought about tidying the garden and found this pea hen sitting.

At least she has saved me from a very cold job today.

We'll watch her progress and keep you informed.

lambing

2009-03-26T21:22:00.000Z

We have just finished a successful lambing period and will not have to get up during the night.

The lambs are all lovely and I wish they would stay like they are forever!