We've just walked some of our sheep back from the summer grazing at Hetton Hall, for shearing with some of our young guests who are here from Rome. The sheep will be far more comfy without that thick fleece!  Andy hand shears them all, which is slightly slower than with electric clippers but makes the fleece better for spinning. There are so many colours from very light beige (Moget) to black and all the shades in between.  If you'd like a fleece please give us a call.

We were very surprised yesterday when one of our ewes gave birth to a lamb!  Very strange and the ram must have escaped in February! The lamb is fine and already quite enjoying all his playmates although some are now ten weeks old.

After a really difficult winter for our bees, we've had the first honey of the season....and it is so delicious Mmmm!  Andy extracted the honey on the 3rd and 4th of June, extracted it from the comb and now it's in jars just ready for breakfast toast!

The bees then swarmed and one of our heroic guests (Alex, that's you!) helped Andy to gather the swarm and the new Queen, and introduce them all into hive No. 3.  They all seem very happy now and although won't make honey this year, will produce it next season.  Hive No. 2 has quite a few full frames and extraction will be in the next month or so. This will probably be hawthorn blossom honey and is likely to have very delicate flavour.

Well we thought we'd had all our lambs but there were two new borns on Wednesday.  Very unexpected!  They are both doing well and seem so small compared to the ones born in early May.  A month makes quite a difference.  We have one pet lamb who needs hand rearing, gets a bottle three times a day and really guzzles the milk down.  He charges across the field when he sees you coming.  He's so cute and likes a tickle too.  If you are staying with us and would like to feed him over the next few weeks, please just ask.

The goslings are doing really well and are now allowed to graze by themselves.  The geese and ganders are very bossy and quite protective towards them so you have to stay quite a way back.

We have a Norfolk Black turkey that has hatched, we think, about ten chicks.  We're just waiting for her to bring them out so we can see them.

The first strawberries have been picked in the polytunnel.  Delicious!  We’ve been serving them with our breakfasts and everyone has really enjoyed them.

The veggie boxes are going well and the produce is coming on well.  We should have our own new potatoes within the next week or so and to finish with for this week................

The bees have been incredibly active the last few weeks on the hawthorn, gorse and wild flowers in the hedgerow.  We have been able to extract some frames from the hives.  The combs and ‘runny hunny’ has been fantastic and is wonderful with freshly baked warm bread.  The first batch has completely sold out already but there will be more available soon.

We have an article in the June/July 'Experience' magazine of One North East on Edutainment. Let me explain!  This type of holiday is on the rise and we are developing a range of events involving photography, art, fun fower arranging and more outdoor activities, including golf packages and game shooting for parties up to eight.

We recognised that a number of guests liked to take part in pre-arranged activities to add to their holiday expereience. It makes sense to be able to offer a complete package and by teaming up with local experts, we've achieved just that.  Go to the events page or call us for further details.

Well, as we said we expected our lambs to be born in early May.  We had two sets of twins on 28th and 29th April, a single on 1st May and a further two on Tuesday this week.  Such pretty colours and they are just so entertaining!  They have a 'silly half hour around 6 o'clock each evevning when they chase round the paddock.  Such fun to watch. 

We are waiting for six more ewes to lamb and this will probably be within the next few weeks.  Our ducklings have begun to hatch and the geese are sitting prettily on their nests.  The ganders are very protective and chase anything that approaches too closely.  Our turkey is broodie and the eggs should hatch this weekend.  Very busy but very exciting times.

What brilliant weather we’re having at the moment.  It really is starting to feel like spring.  There is so much life in the landscape.  The snowdrops bounced into bloom in late February, the purple and orange crocus are turning to the sun and even our bees are venturing out. Daffodils are slowly feeling their way into the bright spring sunshine.  Sky larks, that have been so quiet are celebrating, soaring so high in the sky, singing along the way. 

Evening is delightful, with lapwings, weaving, ducking, diving, calling, and showing off in the slipping shadows. Even the ducks are dancing, the geese are becoming gabby and our new lambs are expected in early May.  So much going on and even more to look forward to! 

We're waiting for our Shetland ewes to lamb.  They should be born in around 1st May.  Can't wait!  We'll keep you updated on their progress.test

We've got through the siberian blast of early January with the bitter weather, snow drifts and freezing fog.  In just a few weeks the snow has all but melted except for the top of the Cheviots.  The bulbs are just showing through the ground, the snowdrops are flowering and as our Dutch guests said last week, 'the birds are starting to make love'!

We are now planning our events for this season and have some really exciting things going on.  In April we have Jenny Blayney and her course 'Landscapes of the Soul'. This is a walking and painting holiday where you will visit sacred and celtic sites.  No previous painting experience is necessary, just come along and join in.  For more information and a booking form please visit our events page. 

We have just had some fantastic news!  We received a letter today advising us that Spylaw Farm B&B has achieved VisitEngland's new Breakfast Award following this year's assessment.

The new award is sponsored by Kellogg's, recognises both Hotels and Guest Accomodation that offer their guests both a high quality and good choice of breakfast and hospitality that exceeds what would be expected for our the star rating. 

There are only 7% of guest accomodation businesses that receive this award so we are really thrilled.  We look forward to improving and building on this success to offer you the service you deserve for your time out.

We have had a really busy month with lots of activity on self catering and DB&B deals.  The weather has been kind, pretty settled and has ensured that Northumberland has been visited at its best.  The leaves are taking on their Autumn hue with beautiful colours. Sunsets during October have been fantastic, although the nights are beginning to draw in and it is beginning to get a bit chilly.  Not too bad when you have a snug log fire to curl up in front of with a glass of whisky or wine!

It's been great to welcome people from overseas and we have had some delightful guests to stay, all with their own stories to tell.  This has included some foriegn visitors from the USA and Holland.  We do hope they had a comfortable stay and look forward to welcoming them back.  It's interesting to serve them fresh local produce with very few food miles and see their reaction.  Apricots from Northumberland...surely not!  The walled garden helps.  They seem to like the idea that most of the produce is from Spylaw or local producers and it seems to be something that is catching on. 

The local village of Chatton held the Harvest Festival on the 18th October in the lovely old church.  It was so nice to see all the seasonal produce the Cubs had collected and arranged.  There were some wonderful flower arrangements using seasonal fruit and flowers, from the village ladies too.  A real community event.  With plenty going on locally including the Halloween night and fireworks at Chillingham Castle, there are plenty of great nights out for all the family.

The run up to the festive season should be full of fun for everyone.

Well the thunder storms have subsided and the weather is really good.  We managed to get the grass cut for hay on 2nd August, it's been turned twice and now all we need is the bailing.  This will probably happen over the next week or so weather permitting!

New additions have been a clutch of ducklings who suddenly appeared and are now settling in at Spylaw and enjoying the dry weather. The fruits are ripening in the orchard and we've had our first melon and aubergines from the polytunnel.