Butterflies & grasshopper at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon/Exmoor
The beautiful weather through out May and July has been lovely for the butterflies, grasshopper and insects around the farm but the sheep are looking forward to getting shorn on the 1st July –
The ‘King’ sheep at Huxtable Farm B&B
Some sheep decided to shed their fleece already and who blames them, this Jacob obviously is keen to be the ‘King’ of the flock keeping it’s mane 🙂
Gooseberry & Elderflower Jam
Fruit picking has started – Gooseberry’s, redcurrants and the raspberries will be ready soon.
Fresh home-grown fruit for the breakfast table and homemade jams – ‘Elderflower & Gooseberry’ is a favourite jam with many to have on Huxtable Farm’s home baked granary toast or croissant.
Things to do/Events this July;
RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival has 2000 roses on display now 16th June – 22nd July – The largest rose gardens in the South West.
We’ve just enjoyed this years first rhubarb at breakfast and soon I’ll be able to plant out the various seedlings from the greenhouse too. With so much to do in the garden at this time of year it’s always great to have a break and visit RHS Rosemoor Gardens and see what the experts are doing and get inspiration from the other glorious Gardens of North Devon; Castle Hill Gardens (just down the road from Huxtable Farm) is looking good this month with it’s camellias in flower. Marwood Hill Garden with it’s beautiful wisteria archway.
Walking in North Devon during May is very popular staying over night at Huxtable Farm B&B whilst walking the Macmillan Way West or Tarka Trail, both passing the entrance to Huxtable Farm – We always enjoying hearing about everyone’s adventures! Click here for information on walking & cycling in North Devon.
Treasue Trail at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon
If you enjoy a walk in the countryside, Huxtable Farm’s Devon Wildlife farm trail has a variety beautiful wild flowers and foliage to enjoy in its variety of habitats; woodland, pasture, pond, bracken slope and hedges. To make it even more interesting we even have a ‘Treasure Trail’ for you to enjoy!
Events taking place during May;
The Devon County Show, takes place this month on the 17th, 18th & 19th May, near Exeter. With something for everyone from prize winning animals, new vehicles & machinery to beautiful crafts & scrumptious food & drink, this is a great day out for all.
RHS Rosemoor Gardens Spring Design & Living Fair 5th – 7th May, Plant Heritage Spring Fair 12th – 13th May & future event – RHS Rossmoor’s Flower Show 17th -19th August.
Time to enjoy the beautiful snowdrops of North Devon, littered in the hedgerow at Huxtable Farm B&B , RHS Rosemoor and at Snowdrop Valley (a privately owned remote valley in a hidden part of Exmoor close to Whedden Cross open to the public 27th Jan – 25th Feb)
The bird boxes are up around the farm again – Looking forward to house this year’s Spring birds.
Stream on Devon Wildlife Farm Trail
This February you can also get a taste of Exmoor by sampling the delicious, local food prepared by some great Exmoor restaurants during ‘The Exmoor Food Festival’ – Eat your way across Exmoor during February 2018! Participating restaurants across the region will offer 2 courses for £10.00 / 3 courses for £15.00 between 1st and 28th February. Great to stop off at during a walk on Exmoor or after having done Huxtable Farm’s Wildlife Trail
Our flock of sheep are due to start lambing at the end of March and during April – Do come and enjoy this time of year with us.
Otherwise, please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2018 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar
Time to enjoy the beautiful snowdrops of North Devon, littered in the hedgerow at Huxtable Farm B&B , RHS Rosemoor and at Snowdrop Valley (a privately owned remote valley in a hidden part of Exmoor close to Whedden Cross open to the public 27th Jan – 25th Feb)
This February you can also get a taste of Exmoor by sampling the delicious, local food prepared by some great Exmoor restaurants during ‘The Exmoor Food Festival’ – Eat your way across Exmoor during February 2018! Participating restaurants across the region will offer 2 courses for £10.00 / 3 courses for £15.00 between 1st and 28th February
Breath taking sunset at the end a fresh, crisp frosty day at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon, with Pancake day Valentines approaching!
We hope everyone is keeping warm during these fresh, crisp, frosty days. Here the wood burners are roaring with wood from the farm – great for warming up next to having come in from outside.
Roaring log fires at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon and the first frog spawn of 2018 have appeared in the Devon Wildlife pond!
Otherwise, please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2018 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar
Other dates to remember: 14th February – Valentines Day, 11th March Mother Day, 1st April Easter Day & Bank Holidays 7th & 28th May. 17th June – Fathers Day and Summer Bank Holiday 27th August.
September and here at Huxtable Farm B&B, we are busy harvesting natures delicious, natural food from the hedgerows and trees, blackberries, elderberries, sloes, hazelnuts and a wide variety of apples from small crab apples to pippins. – You are welcome to pick your own too and do some fungi spotting whilst staying at Huxtable Farm B&B!
The forbidden fruit – Apples, are well used in Devon to produce delicious apple juice and Devon Cider/Scrumpy! You can sample local apple juice at Huxtable Farms’ breakfast. Two of Devon’s Cider makers are situated within 10 miles of Huxtable Farm; Hancocks Cider, Clapworthy Mill, established over 50 yrs ago uses 35 tons of Devon apples to produce about 5,000 gallons of Cider a year. Ostlers Scrumpy Cider is based at Goodleigh near Barnstaple.
Autumn leaves at Huxtable Farm B&B North Devon
There is still so much to do in North Devon during September, from enjoying autumnal walks from Huxtable Farm, through woods amongst the glorious golden colours of the tree canopy, to tasting delicious west country food at food festivals, book and craft fairs, or enjoying all the fun & excitement of Barnstaple and South Molton Carnivals & Fun Fairs.
RHS Rosemoor Gardens – 17th September Autumn Food Fair. 23-24th September Autumn Plant Fair. 29th September – 1st October Real Ale, Wine & Cider Weekend.
We’ve seen quite a few different butterflies this year enjoying the insect loving plants at Huxtable Farm, all majestic but this is one of my favourites, the small Tortoiseshell butterfly.
Saw quite a few butterflies at this years RHS Rosemoor Flower Show. Here are some photographs of the show for you to enjoy, the date for next years Flower Show will be the 17th, 18th & 19th August 2018
RHS Rosemoor Flower Show 2017
Other events & things to do during August and September in North Devon ; –
September – I have entered this year’s Art Trek 2017 – North Devon Open Studios, so that you and others can view Huxtable Farm’s Jacob wool products. We will be open on the 16th, 17th, 19th, 26th & 30th September & 1st October 11am – 4pm.
Blackberries
With September approaching, foraging and harvesting fruit from the wild will begin; The elderberries are ripening and we’ve already pick a few blackberries – You are welcome to pick your own too and do some fungi spotting whilst staying at Huxtable Farm B&B!
I love seeing these fields of thatching straw drying out in the summer sunshine – An ancient craft still maintained.
With the North Devon Show taking place on the 2nd August– at Umberleigh EX37 9DX (Sadly CANCELLED due to wet conditions under foot) you’ll be able to see many other North Devon crafts, horticultural, farm animals, machinery, displays, exhibitors, food & drink local to the area. A great day out for everyone. You’ll probably need some wellies though!
Other things to do during August in North Devon ; –
September – I have entered this year’s Art Trek 2017 – North Devon Open Studios, so that you and others can view Huxtable Farm’s Jacob wool products. We will be open on the 16th, 17th, 19th, 26th & 30th September & 1st October 11am – 4pm.
We’ve done the 2017 Butterfly count , have you? Here’s some of the butterflies we spotted at Huxtable Farm B&B.
Butterfly Peacock
Butterfly Red Admiral
Butterfly Speckled Wood
Butterfly Meadow Brown
Butterfly Green Veined White
Butterfly Gatekeeper
It’s National Parks Week from 24th to 30th July and we’re so lucky to have Exmoor National Park just up the road from Huxtable Farm B&B. Exmoor National Park boasts the highest sea cliffs in England and some of the most stunning sea views, making this part of the South West Coast path dramatic and stunning!
Exmoor is home to an amazing variety of habitats & wildlife, including historic Exmoor ponies and Red deer. There’s vast open moorland to deep wooded valleys with rambling rivers & waterfalls e.g. at Watersmeet. There’s so much to explore on Exmoor.
Things to do during July & August in North Devon ; –
Looks like there’s going to be a bumper crop of blackberries this Autumn. However, there’s plenty of fruit to pick for the breakfast table at the moment to eat fresh or to make jam with – Fresh raspberries, ‘Gooseberry & Elderflower’ and Loganberry jams.
July fruit
Things to do this July;
RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival has 2000 roses on display now 17th June – 30th July – The largest rose gardens in the South West. Pick up your free Rose Trail Garden Map when you get there.
