May has been a busy month of preparation for the camping season proper from May 27th, with the odd person googling us and turning up to borrow the campsite early.
First on the list of to-do jobs, was an experimental picnic bench which the men of Ashfarm have put together. It is prototype and another is in the offing with a adaption to the seat and table, to make them more cost effective, although the frame is a winner.
Since new fronds are showing on the Treeferns and the threat of snow and frost now seems to be past us, they have been unwrapped from their woolly jumpers.
The kelpie and I went for a training session near Salisbury to hone our sheep herding skills. Here we are in action! Many thanks to Kevin Reeves from Lyndhurst Kelpies http://www.lyndhurst-kelpies.co.uk for his support and training.....we will be back!
The shower unit came out of winter storage and was put back in the shower cubical, so we thought it a good excuse to wash the dogs - well volunteered Dom - not sure Rowan is really enjoying it, but she did smell fresh as a daisy afterwards.
And the sheep got brought into the sheep shed to be checked over and to await shearing.
And Keith arrived to remove their fleeces and improve their comfort and wellbeing, now the warmer weather is with us and before the flies can strike.
The Portlands always have such oversized heads when they have been shorn, but it emphasises their lovely caramel coloured legs and faces and paler bodies. And the zwartbles look even more like goats than when they have their full fleeces....but they aren't, they are sheep!
Another family member joined the Airbnb club, renting out a room in her Dartmoor cottage. Look her up on Airbnb: Homely relaxed cottage near NT Lydford Gorge.
Perfect for anyone visiting Lydford Gorge or cycling the Granite Way Route 27 which goes right past the cottage
or hiking on Dartmoor
Back in Ludgvan, the Magnolia has come into flower, why do the crows want to knock the flower heads off? I have moved a noisy wind chime beside the tree, to try and deter the birds.....
and the Treeferns seem to be coping without their winter jackets,
all except one. This one did not like the frost and snow last spring and never sent up fronds in the summer, but I have left her in the ground and protected her over the winter, hoping some sort of regeneration might happen. There are now some fronds coming up from the ground, which I would love to believe were Treefern fronds but I suspect are not.
And down at the end of our fields our young Horsefield Wood trees are budding and leaves are uncurling. The footpath from Ludgvan to Manwhidden goes through the young wood and there is a bench for resting on. It is a peaceful place to sojourn and if you are camping with us this year, we would recommend a short walk to visit.
And no blog would be complete without a small hello from the horses.... who have been mowing a track between the trees for me! Morning boys!
With the weather turning decidedly springlike, the odd campervan has turned up amidst our preparations and we have had some bookings for the camping cabin too. The real camping season starts on 27th May but if you are in the area, you can always phone and see if we can accomodate you. The summer is almost upon us!
