Goslings have hatched & what to look forward to in June

French Toulouse Gosling hatched at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon near Exmoor

Love this time of year, the trees now have leaves, the spring flowers are amazing, the swallows are back and young animals are finding their feet!

Some of the goose eggs we obtained from The Black Venus Inn Challacombe, Exmoor have hatched – A great Inn to have a meal at whilst staying at Huxtable Farm B&B

Bo – Bottle fed tame lamb

This years tame orphan lambs (‘Baa-baa’ and ‘Bo’) are always keen to say ‘Baa’ to everyone and are waiting to be bottle feed their milk. All the other lambs & ewes are looking good in the fields too.

Baa Baa enjoying some company 🙂

There is so much to look forward to in June;-

The Jacob sheep will be shorn and we’ll have lots of beautifully soft Jacob & Jacob cross Texel fleeces for spinners & felters to purchase.

June is a great time to visit the beautiful gardens, National Trust properties, historic houses, harbours and market towns of North Devon & Exmoor or enjoy a stroll away from it all on Exmoor along the side of a river (We’ll share with you some special places to visit!).

Devon Cream Tea Welcome

With National Cream Tea Day on the 30th June, in Devon we like to put the cream on the scone and the jam on top of the cream. You can enjoy a Cream Tea welcome any time of year at Huxtable Farm B&B

Here are a few links to things that are taking place during June to put in your diary (18th June Fathers Day): –
RHS Rosemoor – Rose Festival June 17th June – 30th July
RHS Rosemoor – In the Night Garden Trail 1st May – 30th June
National Trust Arlington Court events
Getting active during your stay in North Devon
Beaches of North Devon
3rd &4th June Antiques & Vintage Home Show, Westpoint Arena, Exeter
3rd & 4th June 2017 – South Molton Vintage Rally
17th June 2017 – Point to Point at Umberleigh.
8th – 12th June – South Molton Olde English Fayre.
16th, 17th & 18th June 2017 – Gold Coast Ocean Festival, Woolacombe & Croyde (Kaiser Chiefs)
Clovelly and events taking place at Clovelly during 2017 e.g Clovelly Seaweed Festival 4th June

Gardens of North Devon
RHS Rosemoor Roses in June

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Wild flowers at Huxtable Farm B&B this May

Pink Campions

Apple Blossom

wild-flower

Foxglove

Yellow pimpernel

wild-flower

Ribwort

Corn Spurry

Hawthorn Blossom

Scarlet Pimpernel

Greater Stitchwort

Mose flowers

Thistle

Some of the wild flowers found around Huxtable Farm B&B during the month of May.

Most are named the few that are named ‘wild flower’ I would appreciate your input.

I know one is regarded as a weed but I understand that ‘a weed is a plant in the wrong place’ however these flowers look great on the farm!

Wild strawberry flower

cuckooflower and buttercups

Speedwells

Butterfly & Bluebells

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May – Bluebell walks, Gardens, County Show and much more …

Swallows at Huxtable Farm B&B

May – The woodland has this years fresh new leaves, the days are getting warmer & longer, the swallows are back and the bluebells are looking glorious–

Lambing has been good and the lambs are growing well in the fields

Please click HERE to view other video’s taken at Huxtable Farm B&B.

rhubarb in garden

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 now have a ‘Treasure Trail’ for you to enjoy!

Events taking place during May;

The Devon County Show, takes place this month on the 18th, 19th & 20th 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 Plant Heritage Spring Fair 13 – 14th May, Devon Chilli Fiesta 20-21st May & future event – RHS Rosemoor’s first Flower Show 18th -20th August.

21st May 4th & 11th June 2017 – Point to Point at Bratton Down.

Tomatoes, vines & sunflowers in greenhouse

Fun filled drop in craft and ranger days at National Trust Arlington Court

Bee Keeping experience days at Quince Honey Farm 11th & 13th May

Meet Marshall from Paw Patrol at The Milky Way Adventure Park 28th May

Meet Rex the T-Rex and his baby dinosaurs at The Big Sheep Adventure Park 28th May

In June you can look forward to;

The South Molton Vintage Rally: 3rd & 4th June : Cars, motorcycles, steam engines, crafts, & demonstrations of rural skills.

Clovelly Seaweed Festival, 4th June : Promoting seaweed for its immense health & nutritional benefits

or just come and enjoy panoramic views from Huxtable Farm B&B!

Enjoying the view South towards Dartmoor

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New children’s play area

Enjoying the children’s play area

It lovely to see the smiles on children’s faces as they play in the new children’s play area, swings, sandpit and wendy house adding to the games room (table football, mini snooker table & table tennis table)

Children’s play area

Build a den in the woods

There’s so many FREE things to see and do around the farm, in addition paid things to do within the local area

Treasure Trail at Huxtable farm B&B, near South Molton

Bottle feeding orphan tame lambs

Bench with a panoramic view of North Devon

Enjoying the view South towards Dartmoor

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April – Lambs, primroses and Easter chicks

Spring flowers at Huxtable Farm

The spring garden is looking so colourful with bright sunshine yellow daffodils and primroses (Devon’s County Flower), blue grape hyacinths and beautiful pink camellias.

This is my favourite time of year; the birds are singing, the ewes have started #lambing (the Jacob lambs are so adorable) and we have a few broody hens sitting on eggs and some eggs in the incubator due to hatch on #Easter day

With Easter (16th April) approaching here are a few event’s occurring near to Huxtable Farm Bed and Breakfast (click on this link), in North Devon.

Not only is there so much to see and do on and around the farm, there are so many #Easter #Egg hunts to look forward to at all the attractions in the area; Quince Honey Farm, The Big Sheep, The Milky Way, NT Arlington Court, RHS Rosemoor, Hartland Abbey and find the Easter chicks at Clovelly!

Hawthorn blossom

Other events this March in the area include;

RHS Rosemoor Easter Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt (1st -17th April) & Easter crafts

Easter fun at National Trust Arlington Court & Cadburys Easter Eggs Hunt (14-17Th April)

April at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon, Exmoor near Barnstaple and South Molton March at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon, Exmoor near Barnstaple and South Molton

Running across countryside field

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The March Hare

Leveret baby hare at Huxtable farm B&B, Barnstaple

I can’t believe it’s been six years since I hand reared this beautiful hare. I hope it’s him I see on the farm occasionally because we reared him and released him back into the wild once he was acclimatised to feeding himself.

He was found, as a leveret, under some branches Antony was about burn. Having researched how to rear a hare on the internet I read that they can be fed ewes milk. Our ewes were lambing at the time so an extra bit of ewes milk was warmed up when feeding the orphan tame lambs, he took to the bottle well!

Leveret drinking at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon

Known as the fastest mammal in the UK, the Brown Hare is capable of reaching speeds up to 45mph (72kph), making them able to outrun a predator.

A hare can be distinguished from their close relative the rabbit, by their distinctive long ears with black tips, powerful long hind legs and orange iris in contrast to rabbits eyes which are almost black.

The boxing behaviour that can be seen during March is usually female hares fending off amorous males.

The brown hare used to be a common sight in the British countryside but the population has declined since 1960 , due sadly to various reason such as changes in agricultural practices & traffic deaths.

Hare in field at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple Devon,

Hare at Huxtable Farm B&B Devon

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New sign at the entrance to Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon

Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple Devon, has a new sign at it’s entrance, thanks to our son Nigel Payne who is a Graphic Designer.

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Spring is in the air – Catkins, frogs spawn

Frog spawn in Huxtable Farm B&B’s pond

The wildlife at Huxtable Farm is starting to feel like spring is in the air;

The frogs have been busy laying their spawn in the pond and having seen a beautiful photograph of the delicate little flowers of the Hazel tree at the 2016 Wildlife Photographer of the year I have been keen to photograph the lovely delicate spider like flowers myself here on Huxtable Farm B&B’s Devon Wildlife Trail.

Hazel tee flowers and catkins

Broody hens are sitting on their eggs too!

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon during March we have some SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES at Huxtable Farm B&B until 30th March 2017.

Otherwise, please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2017 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar

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Watch North Devon on catch up TV

Our beautiful area of North Devon has had some great TV coverage this month, put them on your list of places to visit when you stay with us.

Robson Green visiting The Tunnels Beaches at Ilfracombe, the historic harbour Clovelly and beautiful Lundy Island situated 11 miles off the North Devon Coast. Catch up on ITV hub -Tales from the Coast with Robson Green Series 1 Episode 1

Julia Bradbury walking Lynton/Lynmouth to Watersmeet. Britain’s Best Walks with Julia Bradbury Series 2 Episode 5

Both are programmes illustrate how stunning and how much North Devon has to offer, all within easy access of Huxtable Farm B&B

Huxtable Farm B&B is situated on the Tarka Trail and Macmillan Way West, a days walk from Barnstaple and two days walk to Lynton/Lynmouth, stopping over night at Challacombe. With walks from it’s doorstep including it’s own Devon Wildlife Farm Trail this is a an ideal hideaway for those wishing to do some Walking in North Devon

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First flurry of snow! Lambing to commence about April fools day 2017

Snow on Devon Wildlife Farm Trail & Farm B&B North Devon

Jacob ram at Barnstaple B&B

November 18th 2016 we have our first flurry of snow making us feel a little Christmassy!

Also, the rams have been with the ewes since the 1st November so the ewes should start lambing round about April Fools day in 2017 for the month of April.

If you’re looking for some beautiful unique Jacob wool gifts for Christmas we have some beautiful, throws, cushions, scarves and other products made from Huxtable Farm B&B’s Jacob wool, click here to see what’s available.

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Blog

Goslings have hatched & what to look forward to in June

Wild flowers at Huxtable Farm B&B this May

May – Bluebell walks, Gardens, County Show and much more …

New children’s play area

April – Lambs, primroses and Easter chicks

The March Hare

New sign at the entrance to Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon

Spring is in the air – Catkins, frogs spawn

Watch North Devon on catch up TV

First flurry of snow! Lambing to commence about April fools day 2017

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