Dog Violets

2nd of July and the Fog Violets are still flowering here on the scrub banks above our little Burn.

Self Heal on the Meadow

Our small meadow beside the delightfully named Bog Hall Burn is rich in wild flowers, though quite heavily grazed they are still very visible. One day we will no longer have the horses and will be able to manage the land more beneficially for wildflowers and it will be wonderful.

Handmade Butter

The latest batch of butter is made and now cooling prior to "patting" and wrapping later. Made with lovely double cream from a local dairy farm, it is delicious with nothing added other than a little sea salt.

Self-Heal. Prunella vulgaris

I found this lovely little example on the meadow beside the Burn this morning.  Quite small but still beautiful.

Northern Marsh Orchids

For the last couple of years, with the help of The North Pennines AONB and Northumberland County Council Highways Dept., some of verges near the Cottage have been protected to conserve several valuable wild flower plants including these Northern Marsh Orchids.  To help the conservation effort the verge mowing is restricted until the Autumn.  Not a perfect regime but it's a start.

The next big problem is to try and reduce the grossly excessive salting on the local roads which is not only killing some species of the roadside trees and wild Dog Roses, but also encouraging coastal plants to colonize the verges......

Thieves

To the individual who is stealing our eggs and butter at the gate, please stop. It is neither clever or funny. And yes, I have seen your car......

Thieves

To the individual who is stealing our eggs and butter at the gate, please stop. It is neither clever or funny. And yes, I have seen your car.....