We’re all off tonight to Borough Farm near Woolacombe for the excellent sheepdog and falconry displays. Local celebrity and author David Kennard is accompanied by his sheepdogs Fly, Mist and trainee Alfie, who demonstrate the amazing skills of sheepdog and shepherd. And Jake is on hand to show the it’s not just sheep that he can master, with his hilarious display of sheepdog-duckery!
David and his family farm at Borough Farm on this beautiful, rugged part of the North Devon coast. The farm is home to a flock of 700 breeding ewes, plus their lambs which graze across over 400 acres . Working with David is his team of 9 sheepdogs, ranging from retiree Fern, now 11 years old, down Zola and Colin who were born in February 2011. David is the creator of Channel Five’s children’s series ‘Mist-Sheepdog Tales’. Mist along with the rest of the Borough Farm sheepdogs, can be seen in action during weekly displays held at Borough Farm throughout the summer.
A must for young and old!
Looks like its another great week down in Clovelly. This weekend they are paying tribute to Clovelly’s famous lobsters and crabs with a day of live folk music, quay kitchens, beer tasting, local food stalls, prize draw, arts and crafts stalls. For the children there’s face painting, a creative workshop and storytelling, walkabout magic, balloon modelling, street theatre and N. Devon A.O.N.B.’s event-themed craft activities.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the world famous lobster hypmotist. A sight not to be forgotten if ever there was one!
Yes there are lots of great things happening this Bank Holiday weekend, but today the Blog is about the simple pleasure of a beautiful drive to work. My daily journey takes me along the coastal stretch of the A39 from Bude to Barnstaple and then on to Braunton, known as the Atlantic Highway. I always count myself lucky that instead of rows of congested traffic and grey factory outlets I get to pass the odd tractor and fields of cows, but today it was especially uplifting.
An early morning mist hung over the valleys around Hartland and Clovelly giving a hint of sunshine which will burn through later today. The view from the Torridge Bridge across to the twin villages of Appledore and Instow was spectacular and as I descended down into Barnstaple with Elbow’s ‘Beautiful Day’ blasting out the car radio I couldn’t help but smile.
Children are having fun, mums and dads are getting a lay in and it is going to be a beautiful day. Three cheers for the summer holidays!
Monday evening saw friend and I strolling along the waterfront at Appledore. First stop was the Hockins ice cream van where we treated ourselves to a scoop of their award winning locally made ice cream resisting though the addition of clotted cream topping! Armed with our mouth watering purchases our leisurely amble continued. The balmy evening had also attracted several others who, like us, were being entertained by the many youngsters lining the sea walls with packets of bacon and crabbing buckets excitedly anticipating the big ‘un! The adults too were entertaining when it came to eventually landing the valued catch some were not as brave as they first appeared! The local brass band had also attracted quite a crowd and the dulcet tones of tuba and trombone followed us as we wandered along the quay and on through the narrow streets lined with character cottages. Many plaques still display the trades, hobbies or even names of previous inhabitants and one describing the cottage itself, simply being called The Dolls House. Back onto the quay, passing The Beaver Inn, which was packed with locals and visitors enjoying the in-house live music. The aroma of fish and chips tantalized our taste buds as we made our way back to our car, a very enjoyable and relaxed evening.
