Our Tredarrup Starlings taking a bath !!!!!

 Every year we are visited from November onwards by roosts of thousands of starlings that come across from Europe…  They chatter in our trees, give great aerial performances and swoop around the place…but in the last few days they have been busy in the muddy puddles in our lane, playing and bathing…so we thought you might like to share them to…

Beautiful Britain

We are fortunate that where we live in North Cornwall we only have to look out across the valley to be reminded of  the beauty of the country we live in.  The nearby moors, coast and beaches all have their own magic and magnitude that makes Britain such a special place. 

Our dramatic coastline

Even when you are well travelled and have visited many other places in the world there still is that special something about Britain.  I didn’t need reminding but when watching Secret Britain and seeing the splendour of Cornwall and beyond there really is good reason why we should holiday at home.  And so the current government is planning to turn Britain into one of the world’s top five holiday destinations – currently eleventh in the top holiday destinations in the world – adding a huge boost to our economy – and with holiday cottages I back that totally.

But one thing we should all do is help to preserve Britain’s beauty and the great British countryside, be kind to it, its flora and fauna and most of all please help Keep Britain Tidy….more on my recent beach clean soon !!

Cows get hot too!!!!!

In the great weather we’ve been having…even cows need a bit of a cool down!!! 
Here’s to more great weather for the summer…. 

Having a cool down.... A lovely dip....

How I love this river....

The Magic of Bodmin Moor – cycles of life

The magic of Bodmin Moor

 

 We are fortunate at Tredarrup to be in a location where we are both near to the North Cornish coast and the magical rugged Bodmin Moor.  Whilst many come here for the beaches and dramatic coastline, many do also for the moorland and its great walks, although it is sometimes overlooked.  But for us it is a place of such diversity and beauty and on a sunny clear day like today it was at its best…  My first sound of a cuckoo this year and that I was also able to spot in a tree, dramatic scenery but also animal life galore… Best always to stop if a herd of moorland cattle start coming towards you, intent on their path……and take time to look at the new foals and new-born lambs….always at a safe distance though.. 

Moorland cattle

 

We're coming towards you.....

 

I'm still very young.....

 

New arrival being licked clean, I am a new born lamb honest!

 

The Beauty of Bodmin Moor and its cycles of life

We are lucky to live not far from Bodmin Moor and most days we marvel in its beauty on our daily dog walk.  So today was not unlike any other day apart from a cattle protest – a peaceful one mind!  Cattle may not be able to read your Land Rover registration but they do recognise the model and they love a Defender or County (Range Rovers, Discoveries and Freelanders fear not!).  So this morning I arrived at one of our favourite spots only to be surrounded on all sides by a herd of hungry cattle with many young calves that thought in the back of our Landie was some tasty silage but sorry no …. our two black Labradors!  They protested we set off for our walk, they set up camp around, waiting for our return but sorry no silage to be had……… 

A peaceful protest!!!

 It made me think that one of the many beauties of Bodmin Moor is its cycles of life.  At the moment, there are many young calves – all very rugged and sturdy to withstand the weather – in the summer there are lots of foals, and from 1st March to 31^st July firstly lambing begins and then it becomes the main breeding period for ground nesting birds such as skylarks, snipe and lapwings.
So when visiting Cornwall, don’t just enjoy our fantastic beaches and dramatic coastline but for all that stay with us, use one of our maps and take a walk out onto the Moor enjoy the huge expanse of open countryside, total quiet with only the sounds of nature and a good bracing walk…probably followed by a trip to the pub!      

The top of Roughtor at sunset - a great climb