Poachers' Diary

June

Jacki — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:30:25 +0000

The weather has been kind and unkind in equal measure so far in June….today has been lovely and the views across the valley on a clear sunny day really do take some beating. The warm evenings we have had our guests have been able to sit out and watch the badgers and foxes about their business.

The Lincoln reds are calving and we had one born this morning, the chickens are broody and we are hope they will bring off some chicks. The donkeys have gone back to Sutton-on-Sea for the summer. The swallows have been busy nesting in the barn in record numbers….a sure sign of summer!

Andrew’s Mum and Dad have moved up to the farm, Peg has brought lots colour to the place with her by making up all the tubs and hanging baskets. Our organic garden is producing some lovely first early taties and salad crops.

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Jacki — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:41:03 +0000

I’m not sure where March went to? We are already part way through April….we have had a mixed bag as far as the weather goes, snow, rain and some beautiful sunny spring days. The early Bluebells are just appearing in the woods. The Lincoln Red cattle have arrived today and are now grazing in the wild flower meadows. The lambs have all arrived now and are in the meadow along the drive to the farm….they have really enjoyed the sunny days and are a joy to watch. The new hens have turned out to be good layers and our guests have enjoyed free range eggs in the cottage welcome packs once more.

Good news….eggs and an award

Jacki — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:25:24 +0000

Poachers Hideaway was awarded “Highly Commended” in the accommodation of the year category at the Lincolnshire Tourism Star Awards on Monday. We were just pipped at the post for overall winner….all I can say is they must be good to beat us!

The new hens are settling in and we have had three eggs so far this week , hopefully our guests will be able to have fresh eggs again soon in their welcome packs.

Spring arrives early at Poachers Hideaway

Jacki — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:55:55 +0000

The Snowdrops are out and the Bluebells are through and the birds are singing, the lovely sunny days we have experienced recently have given a real spring like feel here at Poachers Hideaway.

Christine and Paul who live in The Lookout Cottage have taken on new roles as Caretaker and House keeper and you will see them around this year.

We have been short listed to the final three in the Lincolnshire Star Awards for Self Catering properties, Christine and I will be attending the award ceremony on Monday…so fingers crossed!

The new bedding we bought last month and other soft furnishings for the Granary and Shire Horse Barn all look nice and fresh and give that real 5* appeal.

Anna has taken over the therapies and the service has been expanded and renamed “The Spa Therapy Retreat” as we are now able to offer a full range beauty and holistic therapies…..we are making lots of appointments for men who have their own menu of therapies available.

The guided walks start again on the 1st March. There should be plenty of eggs in the Spring as we have a new flock of free range brown hens. The organic garden is dug and ready for planting and the Lincoln Red cattle will be going out to graze soon.

New Year

Jacki — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:06:13 +0000

We have had a busy Christmas and New Year here at Poachers with all the cottages taken….we hope to have a bit of a breather in January and spend some time decorating and making some changes to the soft furnishing….sorry Andrew yet more shopping!

To quote J.B. Priestley “….the first fall of snow is not only an event, but a magical event….” and today saw the first snow. It has made our view of the countryside even more spectacular with just enough to be pretty, but thankfully not enough to cause havoc!

Frosty mornings

Jacki — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:25:40 +0000

W.H. Davies poem Silver Hours summed my first sunrise at the farm up perfectly “….Come, lovely morning, rich in frost, on iron, wood and glass…” Several of our guests have commented on the wonder of seeing the sunrise over the lake at Poachers, I can truly say it was worth getting up early for, the heavy frost was literally the icing on the cake!

We have had a busy month with lots of family groups coming to stay , Sue our caterer has provide some excellent meals and the function room has been decorated for Christmas and looks really nice and inviting especially when the log burner is lit.

November already half gone!

Jacki — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:53:07 +0000

Thomas Hood wrote of November “…..no warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease….” all I can say he would not have had penned the above if he had stayed here with us at Poachers Hideaway! The log shed has been replenished ready for the winter months so plenty of warmth guaranteed. We have had a very busy few weeks with our guests making the most of the therapies on offer to refresh and recharge ready for the party season. Val has been very busy and we have welcomed Sehar back to the therapy team from her maternity leave. The hot tub has also proved very popular in the evenings for our guests following a day of walking in the wolds…..what could be more cheerful and healthful?

The seals have arrived at Donna Nook and a good many pups have already been born and the area is well worth a visit and we have been updating our guests from the web before they visit the site.

Misty mornings

Jacki — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:44:38 +0000

To quote Keats “….season of mists and mellow fruitfulness….” just about sums up Poachers Hideaway in October.

The weather continues to be kind and we have enjoyed some lovely misty mornings. Our guests have made the most of the log fires as the evenings are beginning to get that autumn feel.

The fishing lakes have seen a good deal of action in the last few weeks. Despite being hooked at least twice our “big” fish remains as elusive as ever and continues to tease! The hens have started to lay well again and our younger guests have enjoyed collecting their own eggs from the hen house.

The Tastes of Lincolnshire Christmas Food Fair at the Lincoln Show Ground 17th-18th November is well worth a look, our old friend Rachel Green is running her food theatre.

Andrew and I are shopping for new linen for the cottages this week, I think I will enjoy the experience more than him…..

Autumn at Poachers Hideaway

Jacki — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:41:59 +0000

The Indian summer here in the Lincolnshire Wolds has brought a bumper crop of sloes blackberries and crab apples (free for guests to pick). Walking in the Wolds at this time of year is a pure delight with the autumn colours most striking. In September and October we have a Special offer of free fishing.

Sally has moved on to pastures new and Jacki has taken over the day to day management, with Eve responsible for cottage housekeeping. Don’t forget the Lincoln Christmas Market, which takes place on the 6th - 9th Dec this year, although you’ll need to be quick as we only have 2 cottages remaining available for those dates.

Our seaside donkeys will be arrive this week for their winter home, (free rides can be arranged for the children). If you are hoping to come to see the seal pups on the East Coast, please book early. Our resident Barn Owl has raised three young, which have moved into the new owl boxes we have erected in our ancient woodland. Autumn is also a good time for badger watching.

Sadly Red Bull our Black Lab has died and Go-Go one of Carrie’s pups has returned to the farm. Guests are more than welcome to take them for walks.

Don’t forget our therapies, sauna and jacuzzi, which give an instant wind down to many of our stressed visitors.

Summer at Poachers Hideaway

Sally — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 19:59:38 +0000

Well this is summer time, but you could be excused for thinking differently. As around the rest of the country we have been affected by too much rain, the advantages of this weather are very few & far between but frogs, fish and trees seem to be benefiting here. We have had some very excited fishermen staying with us and catching incredibly healthy looking fish, ranging form 1lb to 10lbs in weight. Between the showers there has been sunshine and guests have made the most of our walks around the farm to enjoy the beauty of the Lincolnshire Wolds.

We have very few spaces on our booking calendar for August, and keep our fingers crossed for farmers and guests alike that we will have some well earned sunshine. My tomatoes are ripening well and I will be offering them to the guests in the cottages along with lovely salad and free range eggs from our hens.

One exciting event occurred this July I was able to act as doula for Sehra, a dear friend and also an excellent masseur, who practices at Poachers Hideaway for the benefit of our guests before, that is, Jack was born. Charlie & Sehra are very proud parents of lovely Jack who was born on the 9th July and it was an absolute privelege to be present at the birth. Doula work is an area I am diversifying into; having been trained as a midwife and being passionate about natural birth and supporting women through their pregnancies and birth I have decided to offer my skills in the hope that I can make a difference to Mums. “Bump to Baby doula care” is my new business & I hope to run it along side Poachers Hideaway work.

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