Wild Times at Harrop!

A number of wild happenings here at Harrop Fold…firstly our wild visitors. This weekend our golden pheasant has been spotted criss crossing the field, he lives in the woods near the brook and is certainly a spectacle to be seen. Other golden visitors returning have been the Goldfinches, last year they nested in the ivy on the barn wall, they obviously were so happy they have returned with friends. This year they are continuing to nest in their old spot and their chums are nesting in the ivy on the house outside our bathroom window! Let’s hope this year they will entertain our visitors again at breakfast time – better than a cabaret was one comment on Sunday morning!

The house martins have also returned and this morning their antics were delightful as they were diving around me as I pegged out the sheets on the line to dry. David also spotted the buzzards in the bottom meadow and on Monday morning we saw the bottom meadow resembling a scene from Monarch of the Glen as around 10 deer from neighbouring Lyme Park joined the natives for bed & breakfast. They are such grand beasts and we were able to photograph them looking up at us from the old Oak tree – hopefully we will work out soon how to add photos to our blog!

Continuing with a wild outdoors theme David, Edward and I were guests at the Preview of the inaugural Tatton Park Biennial on Friday evening. We enjoyed a glass of champagne and canapés in the beautiful Tenants’ Hall prior to roaming the gardens in search of the specially commissioned artworks, some hidden and some easily found. We set off exploring ourselves, led very ably by Edward who fancied rather more of an orienteering experience rather than the footpaths! The shingles sculpture is so wonderful – one could imagine spending a lovely evening overlooking the lake in this beautiful structure – I wonder if Tatton are thinking of b&b! Seriously, it is fantastic and we are looking forward to returning to see the structure erected overlooking the Japanese garden that is a particular favourite of ours. This trip will certainly be recommended to our guests.

Our wildly exciting end to the week was being visited and reviewed by Judith from Good Housekeeping – yes THE Good Housekeeping magazine! Judith stayed Thursday and Friday night and enjoyed a day of watercolour painting on Friday with Mike. Leah enjoyed cooking and serving some delicious treats – ah! Judith was a dream to share the dinner table with! Do please remember to buy the September edition to read about Judith’s visit…her comment in the visitor’s book reads…
‘The perfect family and delicious stay. Thank you!’
Along with a little picture and the words… ‘What Mike taught me’
Good Housekeeping.

Our wildly thrilling surprise has been to be announced as finalists again in the Cheshire Tourism Awards for the 3rd year running, so fingers crossed please, and let’s hope we win another award to make a hat trick!

On a final wild note, Sunday evening was so beautiful we decided that after such a busy few days we deserved a stroll up to the local inn for a beer and a viewing of the most beautiful sunset of the year. Yes, this could have been enjoyed from our gardens but I needed some rhubarb to make more jam for this week’s visitors, so stopping in the field on the way home we whiled away a few minutes pulling the beautiful spring rhubarb, having just prepared it now I must nip off as it is ready for bottling. Next on the agenda is to make a fresh batch of our lovely Amalfi lemon curd – combined with this glorious weather the smell and touch of these divine Amalfi lemons have put me in the mood for a holiday….and hopefully you too may wish for a holiday...here at Harrop Fold!

Speak again soon.
Love, Sue x