That nip in the air
A sharp reminder of the change in the air, more than just the seasons, it is all happening at Castle Chase, a peek into the Hay Barn, a pop up shop and more!
Progress on The Hay Barn has been rapid since I last wrote, we are now one week off opening! We have had some delays and shifts with rendering, which has left us up against it time wise, but we are planning to open for our first guests on Friday, a year to the day since we cleared out the little tin shed ready for demolition. I look forward to sharing “finished” photos with you soon.
I am now contemplating where to list The Hay Barn, and wondered if you have a company you prefer to book self catering holidays through or particularly go to because they offer you both luxury and great service? If you have any thoughts please do let me know by clicking below:
Gifts
Despite the delayed start and very chilly nights the harvest of flowers from the garden has been pretty good, I did these flowers for a lovely guest, her children bought her a weekend in The Tack Room as a birthday gift, which I thought was inspired, and we did everything we could to make it special. She also had the best afternoon out and the most original - she went to fly a kite on Burrough Hill pure joy!
Meat
We had a pop up shop on Saturday, and have venison, beef and lamb in the freezer for anyone who missed it - if you would like anything do contact Sue. I can’t be the only person whose mind is starting to turn back to red wine, casseroles, dumplings and gloriously slow cooked meat. Need a recipe?
Try this Venison cobbler what better tribute to the brilliant Dave Myers than this dish, The Hairy Bikers really did know how to do the very best of British comfort food!
Harvest
I am a great believer that least said is quickest mended, Oats Barley and Wheat are all in the shed, and as the days get shorter we are increasingly itching to get the Spring Beans in. They are a funny crop, I love them in the field whilst they are flowering, and alive with beneficial insects and wonderful scent, but they invariably disappoint in terms of tonnes in the shed and prices! Ours go to be a component of feed for farmed fish due to their natural ability to “bind” the feed pellet together in the water to give the fish time to eat it.
Farming in General
I was in the House of Commons on Wednesday to meet MP’s and peers for Back British Farming day, we were once more served a bundle of warm words by the Secretary of State, against a back drop of the media reporting plans to reduce the money government invests in schemes to support nature (part of the post Brexit reforms). In a world that has never needed funding for nature more, it is deeply disappointing.
If you feel passionately about nature and would like to make it known there is a handy link here