Farm News
Can you help?
One of our lambs needs a name and we can't decide what to call him. We've put our heads together and come up with a shortlist of three names - can you help us choose one? The name with the most votes will be given to the lamb. Please vote on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/BampfieldFarm).
That's my Girl! (and that one and that one...)
Its been very busy down on the farm. 3 beautiful calves born on the same day and all of them girls.
Here they are pictured with their proud Dad, Farmer Neil.
Easter Egg-stravaganza
The eggs have been in the shops for months now so Easter must be just around the corner.
As you would expect, April sees North Devon leaping into Spring with a calendar jam packed full of exciting things to do including egg hunts, walking festivals and plenty more besides.
So whether your looking for family fun, ways to celebrate the holiday with friends or somewhere to relax and unwind, North Devon has something to offer everyone.
Here are just a few of the things that might give added relish to your stay here at Bampfield:
Easter Fun Trail at Arlington Court National Trust. £2.50 per trail with a chocolate prize. Don't forget to bring along your most hilarious joke to win..
Wild Wednesdays - discover the great outdoors again at Arlington Court - bug searches, den building etc. with the rangers.
Easter Bunny Hunt at Castle Hill Gardens, Easter Egg stravaganza at The Big Sheep
Bluebell Days at Hartland Abbey and Gardens
North Devon and Exmoor Spring Walking festival with 41 featured walks.
Saturday 27th April World Record Breaking Bubble Festival at The Big Sheep - balloons of all shapes and sizes to amaze you...
There really is too much going on to list in this small place but rest assured that if you want something to do - there is never a dull moment in North Devon!
Meet the newest member of our team!
Here is a picture of the newest member of the Bampfield family, Tally.
He has joined us here to enable Honey to take it a little bit easier and will be giving pony rides on a regular basis. Tally has already made firm friends with Woody and Honey and is a real softy....
A bargain for egg collectors!
Egg collectors at Bampfield always have a great time - all that fresh air and yummy eggs for breakfast...
But recent visitors to the hen house had an extra special treat - a swallow had decided to make a nest in the comfort of one of the corners.
Here is a picture of the very hungry mouths that greeted us when we opened the hen house door that morning,
Minibeast Madness
This week we have been creating a really exciting home for our smaller garden visitors - a multi-storey modern but quirky des- res for insects, frogs, snails and the like.
We chose a quiet corner of the vegetable garden and used recycled and left-over materials such as tubes, logs, plant pots, twigs, dried leaves and vegetation. Even an old carpet was given a new lease of life as the roof to our hotel.
The photos show us getting the materials together and then the finished product - loads of individually decorated apartments ready for occupation by discerning mini-beasts from far around. We even made a hotel sign to make sure no one misses out...
Name that cow!
The calf pictured below was born during the recent celebrations for the Queen's Jubilee so we called her....Jubilee. Calves are born all year round at Bampfield and if a calf is born while you are staying it could be named after you....
Look at me now!
Who could resist those beautiful eyes? Just one of four adorable bundles of fluff at Bampfield right now. Could there be more on the way? Watch this space...
Jubilee Chickens
Its not just the adults that are getting ready to celebrate Her Majesty's Jubilee, here at Bampfield. It's red, white and blue for our chickens too!
What's on if I come in June?
There is so much going on on the farm in every season of the year so you might not want to stray very far, but just in case, we have searched the local area for things which might interest you and help to make your stay even more special.
As we mentioned last month, the programme of activities on Lundy Island is very interesting. There are a series of warden led activities including walks, talks, rockpool rambles and snorkelling safaris. Check out the website (www.lundyisland.co.uk) for more details. Lundy is also popular for painting, photography and bell ringing!
The beginning of June sees a folk festival at Dulverton - music and dance in the beautiful surroundings of this Exmoor village. It runs from the 1st to the 5th June. On 2nd and 3rd June South Molton has a vintage vehicle rally whilst on the 3rd of June Combe Martin celebrates with a Strawberry Fayre. From the 9th to the 17th June Ilfracombe sees the 25th anniversary of its "Victorian Celebration" Townspeople dress in Victorian costume and the town is filled with horse-drawn carriages, steam engines and Punch and Judy! The website "www.staynorthdevon.co.uk" has lots more details of all of these events.
Later in the month, Croyde Bay hosts "Goldcoast Oceanfest" (June 15th, 16th and 17th) a popular surf and music festival. There is also an outdoor theatre performance of "Nicholas Nickleby" in the beautiful setting of Hartland Abbey. This takes place on June 17th.
And for something a little more silly, The Big Sheep is organising a "Farm Olympics" on the 24th June.
Alongside all of these activities, many North Devon villages, including Goodleigh, will be celebrating the Queen's Jubilee in style with a whole host of fun and frolics. Why not join in and get to meet the friendly Devon locals?
We think there is something for all tastes and once again - never a dull moment in North Devon!
