April 2024
The swallows are back! It’s such a treat to have them nest in the barn each year – but how do they always find their way back to the quiet little corner of Suffolk where they were hatched? One of nature’s little miracles I think.
There has been quite a bit of activity on the pond too. We had more visits from the otter, which is a mixed blessing as he’s eaten all the fish!
Mrs Mallard chose the duck house on the pond to hatch ten ducklings which was a lovely sight for a while, but unfortunately she took them on walkabouts a bit too often and the word went round with the local buzzards… there are ducklings no more.
However another duck (or is it the same one, it’s a bit of a cliché to say they all look the same isn’t it?!) is sitting on eggs in a low fork of one of the trees surrounding the pond. She is so well camouflaged that it was pure chance that I noticed her at all. Better luck with these little ones I hope. I’m expecting to see moorhen chicks any day too, little black fluffy golf balls with ridiculously long legs!
What a wet Winter it has been! But it does mean the grass is lovely and green and the trees have certainly had a good watering. The wood is coming into leaf and will soon provide a full canopy for our woodland pitches. A couple of the dead trees have been felled in the wood, so there’s a bit more space for tents.
Activity on the campsite is in full swing now preparing for the season. Barbecues and fire bowls are being cleaned ready for the burgers and campfires, and the glamping cabins scrubbed and spruced ready for our first guests! A quick reminder that we have availability calendars on the website so you can choose your dates then send us an online Booking Enquiry.
We now have radios in the washrooms, so you can have music while you wash 🙂 They won’t be on all the time but sometimes it’s nice to have a little quiet background music, isn’t it? We chose radios rather than piped music so anyone who really doesn’t like it can just turn it off…!
One of our neighbours has very kindly listed some local walks in the surrounding countryside. Jo has provided lots of detail making them perfect for either a short stroll (perhaps ending up at the local pub) or for longer hikes for seasoned walkers and energetic dogs! And did you know we had a nature reserve in Newbourne?
Larry has created a little sheltered space in the open woodshed with a picnic table where you can sit under cover looking out over the valley. We are so looking forward to seeing guests using the campsite again – it’s lovely to have a rest in the Winter but that’s enough now! Roll on those peaceful Summer evenings…
Meanwhile, don’t forget that you can keep up with our news, more or less as it happens, on our Facebook page. You’ll find plenty of pictures and videos, late availability news and some reviews too.
Jen
