Good Morning Everyone,

What a simply glorious morning it is here in Amroth. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the sea is twinkling in the light and the crisp viewing means I can see as far as the North Devon Coast and Lundy Island, which is not always possible. We have had a wonderful September weatherwise here and something that we all so appreciate, after the unsettled summer. Such a shame it wasn’t like this when the children were on holiday from school, but at least all our visitors, who have booked September holidays, have been able to enjoy the lovely September mornings, the sun and the lovely calm windfree days that we have had.

As I was talking to one of our guests a fortnight ago, the sky was alive with the House Martins that come every year to make their nests in our eaves and I remarked to her that they were getting together for their long migration. They sounded like they were almost geeing each other up for the journey. Sure enough the sky was quiet the next day and I knew they had left. The same thing happened last Friday night when I was moving the ponies from one field to another, the sky was so noisy with the twittering of Swallows and there were so many of them, again getting ready for their migration to South Africa. Since then I haven’t seen any but I do hope they have a safe journey, such a long way, and look forward to their return next spring.

Meanwhile the garden is full of Blue-Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and the occassional Bullfinch. I have seen the Robins in abundance again and also the Nuthatch, Woodpecker, Jays and we have also had a Lapwing on the lawn. The Buzzards that nest in Colby Woods, we see almost daily as they soar high above the valley and our fields. You can hear their famous call as you are in the garden and sometimes they perch in the big tree near the vegetable patch. I used to see them a lot when we lived in Somerset and was delighted when we came here to have them on our patch again. Of course we get the usual Magpies, Crows, Jackdaws and Seagulls, on the big lawn all the year round but I have a lot of trees and shrubs that bear berries and rosehips at this time of year, teasels and of course the late flowers, which I hope bring more wildlife to our garden and fields.

Yesterday I took an hour off, much to Mike’s (my husband) surprise and went on a Seal Safari boat trip from Tenby Harbour. I have been to Skomer Island a couple of times to see the seals and also Marloes Sands but I haven’t done this trip before and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone , tourists or locals, who are in the area. It lasted an hour and we sailed over to Caldey Island where we saw lots of seals, but also a lone Gannet, who we assumed was a long way from his home on Grassholom Island. There were also so many Shags, sitting on the rocks and diving into the sea on the far side of the Island and the rock formation and cliffs are amazing and make you feel very insignificant when you are at the base of them and they tower above you. We also saw a big flock of Curlews, who were over there and a Peregrine Falcon high on the cliffs and of course several Gulls including the big Black backed Gulls. It was a great trip and a super hour well spent.

News from the Farm.

Jim and Annie, the ponies are fine and beginning to get their winter coats. Annie is all fluffy, as she has a very fine coat, but Jim has a thicker growth and has been sweating in the sunshine over the last few days.  The 2 old hens have decided to start laying again and I have had a few eggs lately.  The goats, sheep and cats are all fit and Wilson (our beautiful old Retriever) plods on very slowly.

I have made some lovely Green Tomato Chutney, Cucumber Pickle (excellent) and picked lots of Blackberries from our fields. I am still digging carrots and beetroot from the veg. patch and still picking runner beans, but I have also been trying to tidy the garden in readiness for the winter but there are still a lot of plants in flower and several butterflies are still visiting them, so I won’t cut them back yet.

Tonight it is the Local History Group meeting and tomorrow the Film club are showing ‘Australia’. On Sunday a film ‘The End of the Line’ is being shown in Narberth, about over fishing our seas and I have meetings on Thursday and Friday, plus my Computer course starts again on Wednesday. So a busy week ahead and I must away

Regards to you all

Ann(Amroth Cottages)

Hello again Everyone,

What a glorious morning we awoke to here at our self-catering cottages in Amroth, Pembrokeshire  and how pleased I am that we are seeing the sun again for our guests. Yesterday was dismal with a sea fret that turned to light misty rain all afternoon, while I know most of you in England had a glorious day! However it was warm and I managed to do some gardening.

Well, the school holidays are over and I really miss hearing the children playing in the garden or asking if they can help feed the animals. We are still fully booked, so hopefully it will be a good month weatherwise for our guests.

Bank Holiday Monday was very windy and we were down on Amroth Beach with our 2 granddaughters watching some people Kite Surfing. It was really exciting to watch them and must be so exhilarating to actually be doing it. Not for the faint hearted I assure you, as one chap was going at a terrific speed and appeared to be so far out to sea I was quite worried in case he got into trouble!!! To see them jump and turn in the air was great but I can’t imagine how tired their arms and shoulders must have been. We then walked along to Colby Gardens where the National Trust had a ‘Hands On’ Craft day for children. It was really fascinating and our grandchildren wanted to try their hands at everything on offer. We came home 3 hours later with 2 hand thrown clay pots, some felt balls to make a necklace, 2 corn dollies, a card and some wools for Japanese braiding and lots of ideas. It really was a wonderful day.

Last Sunday saw me down at Saundersfoot beach for a Rocky Shore Exploration looking at the marine life in the sand and on the rocks, with some marine biologists. It was so informative and interesting to hear their knowledge and learn more about what is around us.

I also attended a Taster Course on Nordic Walking which they do in Saundersfoot and really enjoyed it. It is quite different from pole walking, when the poles are in front of you to steady you. You have the poles behind you in Nordic walking to basically push you along and you get a much better work out. So perhaps I may go on a days course and try to put it into practice. There are so many things on my calendar this month but I just love finding out about everything that goes on in the area and learning more about the glorious place we live in.

News from the Farm

Well this morning was one of those perfect moments that we all so rarely experience, perfect silence in the still morning air. As I was out at the stables, I looked out over the beautiful sea that was twinkling in the early morning sun and there was complete silence. No sound at all, it was fantastic. I remember having that feeling once when I was in Mauritus many years ago and this morning took me back to that time and you somehow feel privileged to experience it. We all live such busy lives and rarely have the time to stop and listen or to hear complete silence.

Anyway enough of reminising, the animals are all fine. The hens are taking themselves to bed before 8p.m. now that the evenings are drawing in, Dick and Harry, the goats, are enjoying the sunshine today and Jim and Annie the ponies are pleased not to be wearing their raincoats (rugs). Wilson, our retriever, has met and approved of the  dogs that are staying in our cottages this week and is gently watching the world go by.

The damsons have been great this year and I have made Damson Jam and Jelly and Damson Chutney and put a load in the freezer. I have also made Beetroot and Ginger Chutney, Beetroot and Orange Jam (delicious with strong cheese) and must now make some bean chutney and tomato chutney. The carrots have been fabulous this year from the veg. patch as has the beetroot, french beans and peas and the tomatoes in the greenhouse have done well.

Now I must away and I am torn between finishing the ironing of the sheets from changeover at the week-end or going in the garden. Anyone who knows me will guess my choice!!! Tonight I am off to the Film night in the village hall ‘The Last King of Scotland’ which I am looking forward to, Saturday sees a Curry night at the local pub for Macmillan, Monday a harvest supper, Thursday an Environment meeting and then a visit to a new Wind farm. So much to do and not enough time, as most of us say I am sure.

Enjoy your day. From a glorious view of the bay on a sunny day in Amroth

Regards to you all

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Hello Everyone,

Well the last 2 weeks have seen a mixture of sunshine and showers at our self-catering cottages here by the sea. You can watch the weather coming in over the sea from the farmhouse and cottages and run for cover as a shower approaches, some of which have been quite heavy, but within minutes the sun has been out and it has been really warm. This week hasn’t been as good as last, but everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves and had a few barbecues.

It is hard to believe we are more than 1/2 way through August and soon the children’s holidays will be over. Last week saw the return of 3 families who have stayed with us several times and the children had a great time helping me feed the animals. So a big thank you to Evan, Luke, Maddie, Aimee, Luke and Niamh, the animals have all missed you this week. This week  and next week we have families who have stayed with us before and it is always lovely to catch up and see the children growing up and still enjoying coming here.

The sea looks lovely at the moment, twinkling in the sun with patterns of silver all over it. The tide is out and I can see people on the beach and in the sea, as I sit writing this for you.  It has been the Pembrokeshire County Show this week, which has been a big draw for people and some of our guests went to Colby Gardens for an evening walk last night to find out about life in the woods. The children were delighted to have seen several bats and they also put out food for the badgers. Earlier in the day there was an activity session on woodland birds and Maria from the Birds of Prey Rescue Centre here in Amroth, was there talking about the Owls and other birds she cares for and  releases  back to the wild. Sadly some are too badly injured and have to be put down, others have to be rehomed into a safe environment, some remain permenant residents with her but her aim is always to get them well and release them. She works voluntarily and tirelessly for the birds and has to be really admired for her work.

Next week sees another village show, which I shall try to get to, Marley and Me is being shown by the Film Club at the village hall in Amroth, there are events at Pembroke Castle on Saturday and Sunday and several other activities are going on.

News from the Farm.

I have collected a big basketful of damsons from our tree in the garden and from the trees in our fields and I hope to make some damson jam and chutney this evening. There is masses of fruit on the trees this year compared to  last year, when I only found 2 damsons on the tree in the garden. I ate one and I think the squirrel or a bird had the other!!

My tomatoes are doing really well in the greenhouse and the beetroot and carrots have been wonderful in the veg. plot. The peas, broad beans and french beans have also done well and I am at last getting a few runners, but usually I have masses of these. My main moan this year is the armies of slugs and snails that seem intent on destroying my veg. and flowers and nothing seems to deter them.

The animals are all O.K. but mucking out the goat house yesterday was a trial as the goats refused to get up and leave the house as they didn’t like the wind outside!! If you have met Dick and Harry you will know how stubborn they can be!!!

Wilson, our beloved retriever now 13, seems to be struggling on his legs today, although he seems better this lunchtime than first thing this morning, when I was wondering how much longer he would enjoy his very little walk to the hens and goats. At the moment he is outside watching Mike cut the grass.

Well I seem to have rabbited on a bit so I must away to get everything in place for a busy changeover of the self catering cottages tomorrow. Bookings are coming in rapidly for next year which is great for us and keeping me busy with the paper work.

Regards for now

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Hello again everyone,

Well I was just about to write this blog on Friday, when one of our guests gave me the article below for me to include in the Amroth Community Newsletter, of which I am on the editorial team. It was so lovely and such high recommendation of Amroth that I have decided, with her permission, to share it with you.  Our guest wrote:

Why is this our 9th visit to Amroth?

We never thought we’d be the sort of people who’d come to the same place year after year—but we do!  We love Pembrokeshire and especially Amroth Cottages with its wonderful views over the sea. We love walking the Coastal Path and there are many interesting places to visit and things to do round about here.

We stayed in Amroth really by chance the first time but continue to come here because it has real charm for us. The village is a small place with an old fashioned feel to it. It is quiet  and you don’t have the busy amusement arcades and so on that you find in many seaside resorts. The little gift shops have become like old friends to us over the years and we love the Pirate Restaurant with its good quality food and friendly service. There is a small food and convenience store and it’s great to be able to walk to everything from the lovely self catering cottage where we stay.

Most of all it’s the beach that we love. It is huge and there’s always loads of space on it. The tide completely covers it twice a day, so it is lovely and clean. This also makes the sand excellent for sandcastles and playing games. We love swimming in the sea and it is super in Amroth, as the beach is sandy (no nasty pebbles to walk on as you get in and out of the water) and it shelves very gradually, so it is very safe for swimmers and young children. One end of the beach has great rockpools and we always have at least one session searching for sea flora and fauna.

Another thing we enjoy is fresh sea food and we’ve found this in the Amroth area year on year. There are so many more things we enjoy about this place.

We have been coming here with friends since our children were 6 and 4, and they are now 14 and 12 and don’t want to stop coming. For us coming to Amroth Cottages and the area is true relaxation. We know what to expect and everthing we want is here. It’s like going on holiday, getting away from it all, and coming home all at the same time.

News from Me!

This is a lovely article and many many thanks to our guests, who don’t want to be named, for letting me share it with you. Might I add that they have watched our lovely retriever Wilson, mature from an excitable puppy to a mature old dog. Their one son has especially loved him and spent ages each time he visits just stroking and talking to him quietly. Wilson has really loved him.

Well, the last 5 days have been wonderful here, blue skies, warm sun and twinkling seas. Everyone at our self catering cottages has been enjoying the seaside and returning home for a barbecue or tea on their patios.

Thankfully, they have cut the grass in our fields, so now I hope they can bale it before we get more rain. I have been digging carrots,  pulling beetroot and picking peas from my vegetable plot and the wonderful fresh flavour makes the effort all worthwhile. I have lots of tomatoes coming in the greenhouse, so we just need more sun for them to ripen. I have made some Beetroot and Orange Jam for the first time and it is delicious with a strong Welsh cheese.

There is lots going on in the area this week. Colby Woodland Gardens have a special day for children on Thursday learning about the Badger, Pembroke Castle have a Falconry display on Tuesday, Harry Potter is on at the cinema in Tenby and the village hall has several activities, but let’s hope the sun keeps shining and everyone can enjoy the beach. I hope to be in Saundersfoot on Tuesday helping to raise money for the Macmillan Nurses by selling Welsh Cakes. Let’s hope it’s not rained off again.!

Must away and oh yes, the animals are all fit and well

Regards to all

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Hello again Everyone,

I am so sorry it has been so long since my last update but life is so busy here at this time of year. I was so pleased to hear from a guest, who arrived this week, that they knew all our news as they had been reading my blogs. So the effort is worth it and I hope others of you enjoy the updates.

 We have remained fully booked in our self-catering cottages overlooking the sea in Amroth and what a varied sea it has been over the last few weeks!!. June was a wonderful month weatherwise, beautiful blue skies, calm seas and the plants in the garden, tubs and hanging baskets were doing so well. But since the beginning of July the weather has been mixed. Yesterday was wonderful, with lovely sun and everyone was on the beach and then a barbecue in the evening. Today we awoke to windy conditions, choppy seas and rain!! I feel so sorry for the holiday makers, Pembrokeshire is so lovely at any time of year but I appreciate everyone likes to see the sun especially on holiday. So much for the barbecue summer we were promised!!!

Today I was supposed to be helping cook and sell Welsh Cakes on the harbour in Saundersfoot to raise money for the Macmillan Nurses but it had to be cancelled due to the stormy conditions. So the 300 prepared cakes I made are now in the freezer.

On a bright note 2 of our guest’s children went on a 2 hour hack from Marros Riding Stables this morning and had a brilliant time, and another little boy is out on our lawn flying a kite, so I guess children don’t notice the weather as much as adults. Folly Farm also has a lot to offer for the younger child in all weather and of course there is now a wonderful pool (Blue Lagoon) on the Bluestone developement, which is open to anyone in the area.

Since my last update, I have managed to go to the Hampton Court Flower Show, which was fabulous. All the various plants and planting really inspires you to come back and try again with your own garden. I also managed a quick 48 hours in the Midlands to see 2 of our grandchildren, which was lovely. It is such a shame we live so far from them all, as the other 3 live in Newcastle on Tyne, but they love coming to visit us at the seaside.

News from the Farm 

Well we didn’t manage to get our grass in the fields cut, as I had hoped in June and since then we haven’t had a settled period to do it. Hopefully August may see an improvement, otherwise I can see myself buying in hay again for the winter.

Annie and Jim, the ponies, are fine, Dick and Harry, the goats, are hiding in their house today away from the wind and rain, which they hate, mind you they also hate the flies when it is muggy, so they seem to spend a lot of time in their house which they obviously love!! The hens are O.K., the sheep are well despite one of them losing a horn, how I don’t know, as I just found it lying in the field and the cats are all lolling around in the house. Wilson is asleep by the front door so he can keep an ear open for the guests, who he loves greeting.

The saddest news I have is that I had to have Smudge, our lovely black and white cat put down at the end of June, as the tumour in his jaw was making eating too difficult for him and I didn’t want to see him suffer any longer and go down hill, as there was no chance of him getting better. But he had had a wonderful life here and was 13 years old.

We had swallows nest in the garage again this year and despite one of our cats recking the nest the mother managed to raise 1 chick and it safely flew away with her. We watched it practising its exit several times and eventually it made it, so we shall look forward to them returning next year, hopefully.

Well I must away to complete next year’s tariff, which I will then put on line but bookings are already coming in for next year at quite a rate.

One more thing my veg. plot is doing O.K. not as well as I planned but the snails and slugs are a real pest here, and the squirrel has had my runner bean seeds once and the rabbit seemed to find the carrot tops. Frustrating I know but I keep plodding on!!!

Regards to you all

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Good Morning Everyone,

Well yestersday was the longest day and it was beautiful here in Amroth, Pembrokeshire. I began it with my usual walk/run in Colby Woods and Gardens. It is always so lovely in there early in the morning ,when you have the place to yourself to smell the lovely scents in the morning dew and hear all the bird songs. The guests that arrived at our self-catering cottages this week are in for lovely weather, according to the forecast.

Yesterday was a particularly busy day for me, as I was helping at a fund raising event for the Macmillan Nurses. It was a Midsummer Jazz Evening, held in the walled garden at Colby Gardens, the National Trust property in the valley below us. I had been asked to make some petit fours for the 100 plus guests, and anyone who has done these will appreciate how fiddley they can be!!! Still with my husband Mike’s help, I managed to produce 450 and along with the other wonderful canapes and desserts that some of the other ladies had produced, we had a wonderful spread which was appreciated by everyone. It was a very successful evening in such a lovely setting with great weather.  After all the waitressing and clearing up I got home about 10p.m. and this morning my legs and feet feel more tired than they did after the 1/2 marathon walk I did in May!!!

This evening there is a talk in  Amroth Village Hall entitled ‘The Forgotten Coalfield’  part of the Heritage of the area, so that should be very interesting. Tomorrow sees an open air  performance of  ‘The Tempest’ at Carew Castle, again a wonderful setting  especially if the weather is good and on Wednesday there is a Quiz night at the Village Hall and all guests to the area are invited. This is a new venture by the village and the last one was a great success, I believe so I have been persuaded to go this week. It is just a case of fitting in all the jobs!! and there is so much to do in the area  especially at this time of year.

News of the Animals

Wilson, our retriever, continues to plod along and has his 3 monthly check up at the vet this week. He seems to be doing O.K.  despite the tumour growing on his toe, but it doesn’t seem to worry him and he still follows Mike around as he works. They are trying to mend a hole in the hedge this morning that the road hedge trimmer (or slasher should I say) made on the corner last week. Mike has been pondering how best to fix it  and Wilson is supervising!!

Smudge, our cat, was in the vet again with his sore mouth but I’m glad to report that the other cats, ponies, goats and sheep are all well and happy. I must away now to muck out their sheds. We are hoping to have our fields cut for hay this week as the weather forecast is so good and that should be interesting for the little boy staying in one of the cottages. Our other guests will be off walking with their fabulous young retriever and I guess the keen fisherman staying in the other cottage will be off fishing today, if he wasn’t fishing all last night.

Well the sea looks silver this morning and there are one or two boats out on the bay. When I got home last night our guests in Granary Cottage were still sat on their patio enjoying the lovely evening and the view out to sea and we remarked how lovely it was to be able to sit out on the longest day of the year.

Must away to do some jobs. Enjoy the sun this week

Regards

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Hi Everyone,

Well all our guests at our self catering cottages here in Amroth woke up to another wonderful morning with a blue, cloudless sky.  As I write this I am looking out over our fields to the beach, the tide is out and it all looks so inviting. The same view greeted the guests when they arrived on Saturday.There are a few sailing dinghies in the bay and the view of Caldey Island is very clear this morning. You can get a boat from Tenby over to the island and it is a must for many of our guests. It is so pretty over there and a step back in time as it is so peaceful. If you look back at the mainland from there, you can see Amroth Cottages quite clearly.

All our guests have gone out this morning to make the most of this wonderful day. Last week was also pretty good weatherwise and some of our guests did a lovely walk around Stackpole Quay and Bosherton Lily Ponds with there dogs, which they all thoroughly enjoyed. It was a first time visit to this part of Pembrokeshire for them and they loved it here. The other families in the cottages had a great time at Heatherton Adventure Park and Folly Farm with their children, as well as enjoying the beach and rock pooling.

Yesterday I put up all my hanging baskets outside the self catering cottages and with the tubs it all looks lovely. The sun will bring them on well, as it is doing with all the plants and my seeds in the veg. plot.

News of the animals

Well Dick and Harry, the goats are sunbathing this morning. They love a day like this with the sun and no wind. The sheep are lying in the shade of the hedge and the hens are pecking away happily. I trimmed Jim’s(one of the ponies) mane at the weekend, as it grows so long in the winter to protect him but he just overheats in the summer. He is a Welsh Mountain pony so grows an enormously thick coat in the winter.

Wilson, our old retriever, finds this weather a bit too hot but he insists on sitting outside watching Mike work. He thinks he is the foreman!!!

All the cats are idling the day away in the sun somewhere and I am now off to do some jobs in the garden. I am constantly trying to keep up with everything!!

Enjoy the sun

Regards

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Good Morning Everyone,

What a fabulous morning it is. As I look over our fields from our self-catering cottages here in Amroth, the sea looks spectacular. It is calm and the patterns of the light giving the sea its appearance of different colours is wonderful this morning. There are a few sailing dinghies out on the bay and the tide is going out at the moment, so I can see the beach emerging.

Our guests in the cottages are certainly waking up to a perfect day and the children will be able to play on the sands and the guests who have bought their dogs will be able to have a wonderful walk along the beach.

I have just returned from my daily walk in Colby Woods, just down the valley from Amroth Cottages and the bluebells under the trees are still glorious. The colours in the rhodedendrons are fabulous and the scent from the yellow azaleas is a real treat.

Colby Woodland Gardens has a couple of interesting events for children this week, beginning tomorrow (Monday) with a ‘Grow your own Veg.’ event, where the children will be shown how to plant and nurture some seeds and then on Wednesday and Thursday they can forage with the head gardener for plants from the wild, that can be eaten, and then cook them over a camp fire. Sounds really good, if I have time I might go along.

Today I am planting up my flower tubs to put outside all the self catering cottages and then I will be in the veg. plot. Hope you all enjoy the Bank Holiday. It is a super day here in Pembrokeshire

 Regards

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Good Morning Everyone,

Well we are fully booked again this week and it is very windy and showery today and I am no longer looking at the calm blue sea with the sun twinkling on it this morning. Instead the waves and ‘white horses’ look spectacular. The ever changing view of the sea from Amroth Cottages is wonderful. I am sure our guests won’t mind the weather, as they have dogs and are used to going out in all weathers, and a walk on a windswept beach can really be rewarded with a hot chocolate or coffee in the Pirate cafe on Amroth Sea front.

For those of you who knew I was taking part, I am pleased to tell you that I completed the Pembrokeshire Dawn Walk on Sunday (13 miles) to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support in 3 and 1/4 hours and I felt as good at the end as when I started, so I think the walking and running I had done prior to it really helped my fitness. It was a lovely walk and the country lanes, many of which I had never been along ,were beautiful with all the spring flowers and wild garlic. Hopefully next year I will do the full marathon!!

News of the animals 

Sadly Stella our tabby cat, who lived in the barn died just before Easter and Charlie her son pined for several days. He now seems to be coping O.K. with lots of extra fuss. Now Smudge, our black and white cat, is not well and had to have an operation last week when the vet discovered a tumour in his jaw. So I guess we won’t have him much longer.

The sheep were all shorn 2 weeks ago and are sheltering under the hedge this morning. They do have access to a shed but seem to prefer being outside unless the weather is extreme. They are a tough bunch! Dick and Harry,the goats, of course love their shed as they have no lanolin in there coats.

Wilson, our beloved retriever, is still plodding along despite his arthritis and although can’t walk very far any more he still loves greeting all the guests. He has thoroughly enjoyed seeing the dogs we have staying this week, as he has met 2 of them before when they have been to stay.

Well I must away to muck out the stable and let the horses out and then off to the vets again with Smudge.

Regards

Ann (Amroth Cottages)

Hi Everyone,

 I walked up the lane from Amroth Cottages early this morning and the bluebells, pink campions and cows parsley looked fabulous and have now replaced most of the primroses and violets. I then crossed a field and dropped down into Colby Woods for my daily walk/run as I am trying to get fit for the Pembrokeshire Dawn Walk on May 18th to raise money for the Macmillan Nurses. While I was walking I was thinking of the lovely day we had yesterday at the Botanical Gardens, just the other side of Carmathen. There was a special Welsh Food event being held but we also got chance to walk around the gardens.

We went there when it first opened 9 years ago and the development that has been achieved in that time is fantastic. The planting has matured to make really interesting and varied garden areas but the most amazing change for me was in the Glasshouse Dome. The plants have grown beyond recognition and made walking round a wonderful experience.

Some of our guests went to an Owl Prowl event at Colby Gardens yesterday and said how much they learnt about the Owls and also managed to see a tame barn owl at close quarters. A great experience for the children.

The Sunday before we had gone to Picton Castle Gardens for a Plant Fair and again we walked around the gardens. The colours in the azaleas and rhodededrons were spectacular and the walled garden gave us several ideas for planting in our new area at Amroth Cottages. We then visited all the plant stalls and came home armed with several new plants. Now I just have to keep them alive. Work on the veg. plot is progressing well just never enough hours in the day, as I’m sure most of you find!

Tomorrow the sheep are being sheared, so lets hope the weather stays dry. I’ll let you know how it goes

Regards

Ann (Amroth Cottages)