Lockdown! What have we been up to?
The last 12 months have been a challenge! However we have been determined to make use of the time we have had whilst closed, and embraced the time we have been able to welcome guests. We hope to be able to open soon, and to welcome guests back, including those in April who should have stayed with us nearly a year ago!
During the lockdowns we have kept ourselves busy. Firstly home schooling our two daughters (yes we also have a new respect for teachers!), but also making improvements to the farm and cottages to benefit our guests. We have installed an amazing soft play for our younger guests to explore. Taken down the old play fort and added a “trim-trail” in its place. Painted the games room for the “older children” and adding a mud kitchen which has proved extremely popular…. This may indeed need to be extended over the coming months. We feel it is vitally important for everyone get into the great outdoors and to encourage children to explore their surroundings. With this in mind we have been thinking of other ideas to add to the guest experience so watch this space as our ideas develop over the coming months!
Over the last 8 weeks have also been busy inside the cottages. After some water damage was found in Hyssop cottage we had the opportunity to completely refit the bathroom and then decided to redecorate the whole cottage, whilst we had to remain closed. Pictures of our progress will be updated on the website soon. We had the decorators complete work in Lovage cottage and we are waiting to do the finishing touches once the carpets have been fitted….. The finishing touches are the best bit! Whilst we wait for the carpets we have moved onto re grouting the swimming pool, painting another bedroom and bathroom as well as up-cycling furniture. Did we say that we don’t like to sit still?!
We can hear some of you asking about the animals!! They are all well. Magnum is seriously missing his fan club and the goats are always on the lookout for someone to play with. They are still getting treats and lots of fresh vegetables. The ponies are on holiday on the hill, giving their normal paddock a rest! They all come running when we go to see them, in the hope that we are bringing treats. The chickens and ducks are currently undercover, enduring their own “lockdown”, due to DEFRA regulations in an attempt to stop the spread of Avian Flu. There have been no local cases of the disease in the wild bird population but we need to protect our birds. The chickens are surprisingly happy to be in, and are spending their days having dust baths!
Do please keep an eye on our social media platforms for updates and we look forward to being able to welcome everyone back as soon as possible. In the meantime look after yourselves, keep smiling and think of the holidays we can all have in the future.
Best wishes,
Lizzie, Nathan & family