Cloddygate Farm Blog

2011-06-15T13:30:00.001+01:00

Valentines Day, Snowdrops & Spring

2010-02-11T10:43:00.006Z

The arrival of Valentines Day means it is time for me to start sowing seed for this years flowers and vegetables. I will be sowing in propagators Peppers, Aubergines and some Tomatoes.and will start sowing lettuce in the greenhouse shortly

We're still harvesting last years Leeks Celeriac and Jerusalem artchokes. The Broad Beans and Shallots have survived the snow but many of the Onion sets have disappeared and I have had to replace them.

This years Snowdrops are just coming into flower and the spring bulbs are coming up. We shall soon have plenty of colour by the roadside to welcome our visitors. Cold sunshine today and at least the birds think spring is coming. Chaffinches, Blackbirds and Wrens were all singing in the garden. Huge flocks of Geese have been grazing on the field opposite for the last few weeks. They take off in the afternoon calling noisily and fly low over the house in chevron waves.

We've bought a 25kg sack of wild bird seed from the agricultural merchants today as there are so many Tits and Finches on the bird feeders that small bags go in no time. A pair of Pheasants have taken to passing through the garden early each morning searching for spilled seed and Moorhens are busy in the dike. Where I've disturbed the soil weeding the path edges are strewn with soil and debris by worm hunting Thrushes. We have several nest boxes, most of which have Blue Tits nesting each year. There is a nest box built into the honeysuckle arch which is used every year by hedge Sparrow's and we have just bought a Robin box.
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The new enclosed Herb, Rose and cut flowers garden we developed last year is looking in good shape with all the new plants showing early growth promising a delightfull display for our summer guests and a place for them to relax on a warm summers evening. I shall have to wait a while to get a picture for the website though

Events

Feb 27th {8.00PM} Sid Kipper, New Plough Inn, Covenham St Bartholomew, (near Louth, Lincs)

6/7th March (1-5PM); Garden open for charity {NGS}; Pinefields Bigby, Barnetby, Lincolnshire 

20/21st March; Auto Club 66 Bike Championships; Cadwell Park
3rd apil; BARC Car Championships; Cadwell Park
5th April; {9-12} AM; Car Boot Sale; North Somercotes playing fields
25th April (1-5PM); Garden open for charity {NGS}; Woodlands, Fotherby, Louth, Lincolnshire
25th April (1-5PM); Garden open for charity {NGS}; The Old Rectory, East Keal, Lincolnshire
22nd May-6th June; Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival

Wolds Walking Festival National Gardens Scheme

Tx Terri

Donna Nook, Seals, Birds, Nature & Wildlife

2010-01-19T22:32:00.001Z

Last month I promised to let you know the total number of seals born at Donna Nook in 2009. I now have this innformation and can tell it was 1371.

The end of the seal season brought three visitors who wanted to get some photographs of late seaason seals and the birds currently at Donna Nook and we regularly host professionals who come to the area for pictures.The pictures here show some of the species to be seen.

North East Lincolnshire has many venues for observing wildlife. Another well known place for birds is Gilbraltar Point which has lots of facilities including hides for photographers. These are managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and details of all their nature reserves can be found on their website.

You do not have to travel very far from Cloddygate Farm for wildlife pictures. During winter the fields around our farmhouse are frequently visited by many species including curlews . In the summer wild orchids and other rare plants can be found on the dunes at Theddlethorpe.

Cloddygate Farm caters for all types of visitor and, if you are a small group, you need look no further if you want somewhere to stay whilst visiting the area

Grey Seals at Donna Nook 2009 {update)

2009-12-09T21:17:00.009Z

Things have been busy here lately but I have been keeping an eye on the seal pup birth figures The total number of pups for this year is now about 1150 with the Cows and Bulls adding a further 900 plus to the total seal numbers. We will have to wait and see if 2009 reaches the 2008 figure of 1500. I will let you have the final figures next month

Christmas greetings and a Happy new year to all our readers and those who have stayed with us over the years. If you are hoping to come for the seal season next year book early and if possible consider a mid week visit.

Grey Seals at Donna Nook 2009

2009-11-05T16:32:00.178Z

The first pups arrived on 27th October; the wardens estimate we're up to about 500 newborns seals to date with a total of about 1200 seals including cows and bulls on the beach.

Last year there were over 1500 pups so Donna Nook is a really important Grey Seal breading colony. We noticed that the seals are gradually drifting down the range with fewer nearer the car park and greater numbers further down the dunes. The wardens told us they think the seals prefer the soft sand rather than the grasses that are colonising the northern end of the area. see BBC Webcam {daylight hours best}

As is usually the case during the week, the red flag was flying and today we saw a Russian Mil helicopter dropping test flares . One warden told us he had earlier had to ask a lady to move back to the dunes. She had set up a picnic table amongst the seals and when challenged said she thought the red flag meant 'no swimming'.

Tx
--
Terri Ashby

“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.”