Introducing our correspondent…
I live in rural Shropshire with my husband Martin. We have about four acres of land and keep horses, a donkey, two ancient tups and half a dozen hens. Alongside these we have two dogs, and a rescue cat called Nellie. Nellie has been the inspiration for our business - Nellie's Patch – where we grow our own herbs and flowers that we use in our palm oil free soaps, and for wedding work.
Julie Lyons, 2012
Julie writes:
The start of February in my mind always heralds the start of spring.
OK, I know we can still have some horrid, cold weather up until April, but the seemingly longest month of the year (January) has passed, and everything seems just a little bit more optimistic.
The first lambs of the year are always a source of joy, they never fail. Out on Barney this morning I noticed a very young newborn being washed by its proud mum. Riding just gives you that great view over the hedges. The snowdrops, too, are out in profusion on the verges and gardens, although admittedly we don’t have many. Note to self: ‘plant some snowdrops this year’.
Roses we do have, and they are looking very healthy. Martin gave them a special treat of horse muck mulch. It’s a great way of using up all that excess from our boys. It really is satisfying to know that this by-product is being in effect turned back into cash. Rose petal tea goes into our soaps.
We have a woodpecker again. I haven’t seen him or her yet, but each morning when I take the dogs for their morning charge around the fields I hear it. I hope we see it soon. A friend living a couple of miles away has a beautiful, lesser spotted woodpecker regularly eating on the bird feeder.
Tomorrow we head for our annual trip to the snow. It’s a husband thing really, but fun. However, it’s always so great to be back to my fields of muddy gateways, wet dogs, dark, cold early mornings mucking out, and chapped lips. You just can’t beat it!
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