What we’re doing
This is the life we live, some stuff routine, and some outstanding. A few tasters for life in Somerset and holidays here.
Starling Murmuration
One of the fantastic scenes you can see on the Avalon Marshes.
The huge numbers of starlings that gather in winter over the Avalon Marshes are one of the most spectacular sights. The birds use the reedbeds as a safe and night-time roost.
Before the birds settle they often come together in huge clouds, wheeling, turning and swooping in unison. This is known as a ‘murmuration’. Birds of prey try to pick off individual starlings often causing the murmuration to pack more tightly and form some breathtaking shapes.
There is a hotline you can call to tell you where is best to visit to see this extraordinary sight.
The Avalon Marshes are brilliant for wetland birds, one of the most important locations in Britain. If you are a birder, vist Steart Marshes, find Cranes in the levels, or travel to the limestone cliffs on the Mendips.
Cider Making
It’s a proper Autumn job. Pick the apples, press the juice, put into barrels, and sit back!
Sustainability
We’ve worked hard to make the Cart Shed and Manor Farm Cottage as sustainable as possible.
The Cart Shed has good modern insulation, and the air source heat pump keeps thing cosy. The solar panels on the workshop roof generate two times as much energy as the Cart Shed and workshop use, and the surplus is sold to the grid. The green roof keeps the building cool in summer, stores water, and provides a great display.
Inside the Cart Shed, as well as all the modern creature comforts, we have upcycled, painted and made bespoke and pallet furniture.
The centrepiece willow sphere light fitting was made for us by Coates at Stoke St. Gregory (well worth a visit)
Manor Farm Cottage is heated by a wood pellet biomass boiler which serves the main house as well. Our firewood is all exclusively derived from our land and orchards. [pic of wood store]
All visitors can use the convenient 7kW EV charging point, at cost.
Over the many years we have lived here, we have planted dozens of trees and over 200m of hedges. With 2 ponds, gardens and hedges managed for biodiversity, the garden literally buzzes with life.
We’re proud of our two acres of old orchard. They are a little scruffy, but that’s the way they should be, to provide a home for wildlife. The view from the top of our orchard, above Manor Farm, is just gorgeous! As well as providing a few tonnes of cider apples each year, we have planted new plums, pears and eating apples.
Come in the Autumn. Forage for blackberries, rose hips, sloes, and take as much of our organic fruit as you want.
Just ask… we would love to show you around.