Stormy Sky, view from the Bee Shack over Bulbarrow Hill

Here at Honeybuns we believe in eating well and wasting very little. The team eat together 3 times a week in the Bee shack and nothing goes to waste, windfall apples are turned into apple crumble, and burnt…… erm,I mean well done! … cookies & cakes are turned into trifles and knicker bocker glory for all to enjoy.

Even the wildlife around the site eat incredibly well, on a chilly morning last week I topped up all the bird feeders with reject pecans & almonds and the ground feeding birds got out of date cranberries and apples. Although I think the ground feeding dog – Peggy, ate most of the cranberries!

Em & I spent a ’ Bee green Day’ a couple of weeks ago, planting out more shrubs and bulbs for the spring and lots of willow,  filling in the sides of our willow bird hide. We got to use our first batch of home made compost, we compost all of our kitchen waste, from fruit skins to blue paper towel. It’s a very  satisfying feeling to  be able to return it to the ground and use it to grow more fruit & veg for the team and our lovely Bee shack customers to enjoy.

Graham and I are all set to get cracking with the next section of hedge-laying in Jan. Graham took part in a coppicing course with the lovely people at Monkton Wyld Court www.monktonwyldcourt.co.uk in Oct, he spent a very enjoyable couple of days learning all aspects of coppice planting and harvesting, he is now raring to go with planting our coppice.

We are planning  to plant a hazel and willow mix  and aim to create an extra wildlife haven as  part of our nature reserve.

Thanks for reading,

Charlotte

Remember….Bee Green!

Peggy, The ground feeding dog, fleeing the scene!

One of our set aside areas

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly outside the bakery

Is it just me or is it feeling Autumny all of a sudden? The evenings are getting Chilly and dewy. The hedges are bursting with juicy blackberries, hips and haws, that lovely autumn smell is in the air.

Here at Naish farm we are busy preparing to plant the next section of conservation hedging and hazel copse. We have left all the set aside to go to seed so we have an abundance of thisle heads for the finches to feed on.

Graham and I will start the next round of hedgelaying in October, I can’t wait, it’s so much fun and so rewarding to see the hedge grow back thick and healthy. Also exposing the banks mean that the ferns and primroses have a plenty of light and are able to grow.

Last weekend Honeybuns had a stall at the Oak fair at Stock Gaylard www.stockgaylard.com , Graham had an excellent show and had lots of lovely feedback. Whilst there I picked up lots of info about wildlife, conservation and rural crafts.

Anyone interested in learning a new rural skill should visit www.dorsetcoppicegroup.co.uk for course information. It’s run by a lovely group of people passionate about woodland conservation and rural crafts.

On Tuesday 2nd Sept I had a very exciting day in London at the Tate Modern at the Launch of 10:10. A campaign to cut 10% of carbon emmisions by the end of 2010. Individual households, business’ and organisations can all sign up. Visit www.guardian.co.uk/environment/10-10 to sign up and find out more.

Charlotte

Thanks for reading, and remember Bee green!!!

Hello

After a wonderful, inspiring, wildlife packed weekend away at Downshay farm campsite nr Swanage www.downshayfarm.co.uk exploring glorious meadows and coastal walks around the purbeck hills it’s back to work on the Bee Green projects here at Naish Farm, we have already left set aside areas of meadow grasses, thistles & teasels to give the birds & butterflies a helping hand, but we’ll soon also be planting specific plants to attract them. Which will include hops – which are great for Comma butterflies, buddliea, - which are loved by Butterflies , Bee’s & the humming Bird hawk moth. To find out more about how to attract butterflies to your garden & how to help endangered species visit www.butterfly-conservation.org

The new Bee shack garden will include a Butterfly & Bee flower bed, a wild area, a raised veggie patch for the team, a herb bed & a picnicing lawn for our lovely Bee shack customers to enjoy.

My Husband Marcus ( The Thatcher) Has spotted some amazing wildlife this week from his vantage point on the Farm house roof, he saw a Hobby flying over, a flock of around 80 + finches in the trees next to the garden and a sparrow hawk attacking a small bird ( The bird got away!) .

Thanks for reading, Charlotte x

view from farm house roof

Devils bit Scabious

Each Month Graham our bird expert spends an hour seeing which of our feathered friends can be seen here at Honeybuns.

July’s List.

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Magpie, Pheasant, Pied wagtail, Robin, Rook, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Wood Pigeon, Wren, White Dove.

Total: 27 species

Look out for next month’s survey.

George

Hello & Welcome to the all new BeeGreen blog!

Graham & I ( The Honeybuns Green Crusaders!) are very excited that we’ll now be able to keep you up to date with all the BeeGreen news here at Naish farm. We’ll have tips & ideas on how to make your garden more attractive to wildlife &  links to interesting & inspirational websites. We’ll be posting our monthly bird surveys, results of our wildlife sighting log book, photos, hedglaying demos, movie clips & much more. If you have any green tips & comments you’d like to share please comment on the blog.

Thanks for reading,

Charlotte

Green Crusader

Honeybuns Nature Reserve