Poachers' Diary

The Samuel Taylor Coleridge quote”summer has set in with its usual severity” just about sums things up weather wise.  The summer has been a bit of a damp one so far…but on the bright side the farm looks lovely and lush! The veg patch has produced some fine crops; Andrew’s mum is busy making tomato sauce in vast quantities from the bumper tomato crop. The plums are just coming ripe so there will be home made plum jam for the cottages too.  Our guests have found plenty of places to visit even on the damp days and Andrew has been busy drawing maps to help them on there way.
 

I’m busy spending Andrew’s money (despite his moaning!!) on new towels and bed linen for the cottages, we have also had some new furniture in Shire Horse Barn so everywhere is looking really nice and inviting.
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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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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. 

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.

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.

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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!

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.Š

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.

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…..

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.