2009 was another interesting year for us. The farm went from strength to strength. We had more calves and lambs than ever before. Lots of friendly holiday guests and a whole lot of schools visited us to learn where their food comes from and generally have a good time on the farm.

 

Showing

We took sheep to the Devon County and won everything going in our category – our top ram Universe winning champion animal in class for the second year in a row. Some of our guests helped with the training of the sheep. In 2010 we expect stiff competition as our friend Hillary missed last year’s show. Our two farm hands Andy and Chris showed cattle for the first time at the Totnes and Kingsbridge shows, and got some 2nds and 3rds, so they were well chuffed. They showed an Angus bull called Paige Boy and a Ruby Red bull called Boris, our first Red for breeding.

Our first pigs

We acquired four lovely Berkshire rare breed pigs to eat off the scrubbed-over walled gardens at the ruined mansion.  The intention is to restore the gardens, and turn them into a space for growing organic vegetables for us and our holiday guests. The surrounding walls need some TLC, so Natural England has offered to pay contribute towards making the walls safer to preserve the historic walls. We will get Andy Moore, a local rural skills expert, to come and repair them in the proper manner – he is happy to show people what he is doing and why. You can go and see the pigsbut it is best not to go in with them. They are rather exuberant and assume everything – laces, trousers, legs – must be delicious to nibble and eat!

The Peacocks do some breeding

Percy and Esmeralda successfully reared some young this year. The problem comes when she hatches them out, as she makes a hidden nest at ground level and when the chicks hatch the foxes can at last track her down from the noise they make. Luckily we found her and put a protective cage over her while she was on the eggs. As soon as they hatched we popped her and her chicks into the chicken shed in a special section we custom made for such eventualities. Here she is, having taught them how to perch 8 feet up.

All things meaty

A local organic butcher, Well Hung Meat, has started taking all the hogget lamb  that we can produce, as they like the quality and extra flavour. So this last November we put even more ewes in with the rams – which is good for business, good for the breed and helps look after the land. We have also increased the range of oven ready pies etc that guests can buy, including a range of vegetarian ones.

Barn Owls breed again

One of our pairs of barn owls managed to raise 3 chicks, but the weather went bad for a several weeks at the wrong time and only one survived – barn owls do not fly in wet weather.

Hare today gone few seconds later

At long last I have got a picture of a hare that was not just a dot on a photograph that only I know is a hare! Andy called me to take my camera up to Top Park field where two male hares were romping with a female. By the time I got there they had disappeared, when up popped a hare about 150 meters away! I kept still and it ran past me, at closest about 20 metres – lots of shots on this link. We see them nearly every day – but they run so quickly.

Things for the children

In 2009 we put in a popular table tennis table in the Function Room and a football net in the orchard – used by children of all ages. For 2010 we should have a basket-ball net in place, and a Nintendo Wii to borrow.

Apples and things

We have hacked our way into the jungle (once an orchard) behind the mansion and restoration will start soon. Our other orchard behind the farm house produced someuseful fruit, so we had our own pressed apple juice for the first time. In February 2010 this orchard will be specially pruned to set it up structurally for the next few decades. Last year we also had a couple of bee hives put into the orchard – did you know they can fly up to 5 KM to find the flowers they want? We hope to have our own honey this year. Meanwhile the local Luscombe’s apple juice has been very popular with guests.

We managed to get away twice!

We rarely get to leave the farm so this year was a bit special. The first time was to see our son and his girlfriend who live in Iceland. While we were there the government was brought down by the very noisy but very civilised and light hearted protests of the population – we were right in the thick of it, as our hotel overlooked parliament square in Reykjavik. See photos on this link. We then went to the South of France for a few days with some old friends and just did touristy things. Lts of sampling local wine and food of course.

New local website

Richard does our website, and after some arm twisting, he is also now doing one for the local village. Have a look at the pretty amazing photographs from many years ago. The picture opposite is an extract from the tithe map of 1842 – showing the village centre. You can zoom into the entire parish map and see Fowlescombe as it was then. www.ugborough.com

Prices for 2010.

The 2010 prices are 2 ½% higher, by special request of the Chancellor. We have kept our part the same as 2009. Any guests who have been before can ask for a 5% discount on the cottage rental.
We hope we will see you again soon

Regards
Richard, Barbara, Josh, Whisper and Tess