Lambing and Tractor Shed

Over the winter we have been busy building the Lambing and Tractor Shed. It is finally finished and in use!

For those who camped with us in 2018 you will remember this space

Well, as soon as camping was over and we could make the site “untidy”, fashioning the space continued and over time, the shed has grown.

Sheep have grown too. We had ewes pregnant and they have been able to use new shed, instead of ousting the horses from their shelter.

We have 7 black 'Portable' lambs - so named because of the crossbreeding Portland with Zwartble - and at present they are frolicking in the paddock next to campsite.

The sheep have been grazing over the winter in the adjacent agapanthus field and doing a grand job of mowing, weeding and fertilizing! How symbiotic is that? So if there is a bumper crop of flowers this year we know who to blame.

And we are partially open for Easter, just the Camping Cabin and one camping pitch.
Roll on summer!

Another favourite winter walk and beach

You will have to imagine the sunshine on this beach walk. The sun did eventually reach us, having blessed the north coast and Marazion first, before rolling along the edge of England to reach the dogs and I at St Levan and then Porthcurno. But it was not cold, it was not raining and it was not windy.
That'll do!

Unfortunately the photo session and pasty provisions were done and dusted by the time the sun did roll up, so the photos lack the golden orb's light, but I still think they are worth a showing, if only for the fact that the dogs and I had the luxury of the beach ALL to ourselves.

One of the many pleasures of living in Cornwall in winter. Deserted beaches.

I believe this beach was extremely well visited last summer due to some facebook advertising which went fairly viral. Today it was EMPTY save for us.

I don't mind sharing at all. Sharing is good for us, but it is also very nice, to selfishly have something all to ourselves;)

Up on cliffs we met some Dartmoor ponies employed by an environmental management scheme to eat down the moorland vegetation and they are making a good job of it.

Walking back across the cliff path the Hebe is already out, in all it's purple glory.

Stopping off at Porthcurno to have a wander on the beach, to sink my toes in the shell sand and marvel at the variety of tiny molluscs.  I did have to share this beach with canoeists and surfers, walkers and a dog, watching 'his human' out on his surfboard. Still, a pleasurable place to share.

Shell sand is the comfiest sand to walk on, it sticks to your feet and legs and can be brought back home in your socks and shoes. Unlike most sand, that shifts around in your socks, uncomfortably, shell sand is simply a 'whisper', a reminder of sunshine and summer that lingers comfortably. Tiny, tiny flat fragments of what once was a living home, that attaches itself and then leaves a dusting of shell-glitter to everything..... nature can be quite wonderful.

Mushrooms and Funghi

I know this is a bit out of season, but I have a bit of a thing about mushrooms and funghi.

I love spotting them and photographing them and for anyone who has camped with us in July and August as the field and horse mushrooms start popping up all over the place on the campsite and in the paddocks of the smallholding, you will know I often 'tout my wares' as I walk through the campsite with a basket of mushrooms!

There is nothing like cooking and eating foraged edible funghi.

Well, this winter I took a little trip across the water to Germany and Holland and found some delightful members of the fungus family, some of which did get cooked.

Here are a selection of photos of them. Unfortunately I do not know the names of all of them and only one is edible as far as I know, but they are such wondrous species, that I have to share.

 

Winter Walks when the Campsite is closed

Winter is a time for long walks on the beach........often with dogs!

This is Lelant beach, a short walk across the golfcourse and down under the railway bridge or across the dunes with a picnic basket and the view stretches out before you to St Ives or across to Godrevy Lighthouse. Glorious in winter sunshine.

Across the estuary on the Hayle side, on an evening stroll you can watch the boats going out to check their nets or crab pots.

Another favourite spot, an unmarked lane down to a farmers field turned car park, just outside the village of Morvah and you can follow the footpath down to the wooden bridge and along the concreted bath down to Portheras Beach.

But Gwithian has the dunes. What can you say, with winter sunshine....... glorious!

 

From Easter to October many of our beaches are closed to dog walkers to protect the humans from rowdy dog frolics, sand in your ice-cream, barking canines and poobags or worse

Winter walks are therefore very special for those of us with dogs, because it is a time when dogs and their owners can really revel in the reality of storm shifted sand and swathes of hidden pebbles and boulders, liberated by the shifting sands to feel the sunshine on their smooth exteriors.

Praa Sands is a favourite beach. I just love the rock formations, like folded cream and toffee.

Winter is also a fine time to beachcomb and see what the seas have brought up onto the beaches.

Sadly this year there seems to be a lot of porpoise and seals washed up, but the silver lining to their demise is the gift of seeing them close up and intimately. Which makes one appreciate what special aquatic 'beasts' they are.

Storms in the winter often reshape our landscape. It is a few years ago that this tree lost its clifftop space, but it is a favourite to lean against, or perch in and watch the world go by.

And ofcourse there are the rock pools. Ever changing. You can empty all the pebbles out one day, only to see the pool refilled the next.

Pretty collages of sand, pebbles and seaweed fronds. Natures gift to art.

 Even the fishermen seem to enjoy our winter walks

But not all winter walks are on the beach. Some are in the woods.

And if that is not enough to entice you to cornwall in the winter, or as soon as the campsite is open, then perhaps a sunny picture of the campsite owner and her trusty steed will. Happy wintering!