Antony & I have been using our time to clear fallen tress around the farm, to be used for this winters firewood, as they are already well seasoned.
Fallen Tree
Although we are not open for 2020 we do have some lovely items available to purchase , which can be sent by post within the UK; Jacob wool items; throws, cushions, hand knitted hats & new this year vegetarian Jacob sheepskin rugs, made from the fleeces of our ewes. I’ve also had my paints out again and have some prints and cards of my water colour paintings available to purchase. Cards £2.50 each (including envelope & wrap) or 5 for £10, mounted A4 prints £25.
Water colour painting of Devon house
Wild Flower Meadow Water Colour Print
Card of West Buckland School
Springer Spaniel – Print of acrylic painting by Jackie
We are sorry not to be able to accommodate you this year as there are so many beautiful gardens to visit in North Devon at their bestright now; Castle Hill only 2 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B, RHS Rosemoor, Marwood Hill gardens just the other side of Barnstaple, Tapeley Park at Instow and National Trust Arlington Court 12 miles away.
Gardens of North Devon RHS Rosemoor Roses in June
Next year could be a busy year so you may wish to provisionally book ahead
We hope you are keeping well and staying safe as we enter our nineth week in lockdown.
Antony & I have been staying at the farm, looking after our stock, carrying on with the upkeep and maintenance of Huxtable Farm’s accommodation, gardens and farmland so that we are ready to welcome you back when the time comes.
We are monitoring government advice and bearing in mind the welfare of everyone who visits Huxtable Farm B&B, we are now closed until the 4th July 2020. However, we will continue to monitor the situation closely, take advice from the appropriate authorities and we will only reopen when it is confirmed that we have the ‘all clear’ to do so. If this means that we have to extend the temporary closer further, we will keep you updated.
Rebook for a future date; We very much look forward to the day when we can welcome you to Huxtable Farm B&B again. With this in mind, if you already have a booking with us we very much hope that you will postpone your booking and rearrange for a later date. Please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail at jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk
Please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you. Click or the button below to Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B.
Right now, it’s essential that we all continue to follow government advice, stay at home and support our dedicated front line service personnel. We would like to thank them all for the incredible work they are doing keeping this country going. We would also like to thank you for your patience, understanding and support during this extraordinary time.
We hope you enjoy this month photographs of the sheep getting shorn and guinea fowl chicks at Huxtable Farm B&B. For more videos & photographs please do not hesitate to connect with us via our social media channels; Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Blog (News) on our website.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Huxtable Farm B&B just as soon as we are able to do so.
In the meantime, please take care, keep well and stay safe.
We hope you are keeping well and staying safe as we enter our sixth week in lockdown.
Bluebells Pinkbells-&-Whitebells
Antony & I have been staying at the farm, looking after our stock, carrying on with the upkeep and maintenance of Huxtable Farm’s accommodation, gardens and farmland so that we are ready to welcome you back when the time comes.
We are monitoring government advice and bearing in mind the welfare of everyone who visits Huxtable Farm B&B, we have decided to close Huxtable Farm B&B until the 4th July 2020. However, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and take advice from the appropriate authorities and we will only reopen when it is confirmed that we have the ‘all clear’ to do so. If this means that we have to extend the temporary closer further, we will keep you updated.
Bee on Blossom
Rebook for a future date; We very much look forward to the day when we can welcome you to Huxtable Farm B&B again. With this in mind, if you already have a booking with us we very much hope that you will postpone your booking and rearrange for a later date. Please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail at jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk
Please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you. Click or the button below to Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B.
Right now, it’s essential that we all continue to follow government advice, stay at home and support our dedicated front line service personnel. We would like to thank them all for the incredible work they are doing keeping this country going. We would also like to thank you for your patience, understanding and support during this extraordinary time.
We hope you enjoy the videos below of this years lambs at Huxtable Farm B&B. For more videos & photographs please do not hesitate to connect with us via our social media channels; Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Blog (News) on our website.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Huxtable Farm B&B just as soon as we are able to do so.
In the meantime, please take care, keep well and stay safe.
As I fed the sheep, lambs, hens & chicks followed by a walk around the farms Devon Wildlife Trail this morning I thought about the many happy Easter weekends we have spent with our guests at Huxtable Farm B&B. After breakfast, the excitement on the faces of children looking for Easter eggs on the Easter Egg Hunt in the garden, followed by bottle feeding the tamed lambs and holding a real live Easter chick. We’re missing sharing these special Spring moments with you all Antony, Bella(dog) & I are sorry that you are unable to join us this year, but we are thinking of you and sending you all our very best wishes for a Happy Easter and hoping that you can enjoy this weekend as much as possible, despite the very challenging circumstances that we all facing.
Jacob lamb resting
I hope you enjoy the video below of this years Easter Chicks at Huxtable Farm B&B. For more videos & photographs please do not hesitate to connect with us via our social media channels; Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Blog (News) on our website.
Hopefully, when this pendemic is all over we will see you later in the year.
Please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Huxtable Farm B&B just as soon as we are able to do so. In the meantime, please take care, keep well and stay safe.
Now that the summer days are longer and warmer camping at Huxtable Farm is available as alternative accommodation or in addition to B&B accommodation for other members of the family. With the farm to explore via it’s Devon Wildlife Trail the family have a chance to get back to nature, here’s a link to some ideas of FREE things you can do on the farm
Cards
In addition to Jacob wool items; throws, cushions, made from the fleeces of our ewes Jackie now has some prints of her water colour painting available to purchase too
The orphan tame (Romney) lambs are growing well, enjoying their bottles of milk
The wildlife on the farm are busy too; The Tawny Owl chicks have left their box, the Blue tit is busy feeding it’s chicks and bees are collecting nectar. Do come enjoy Huxtable Farm’s Devon Wildlife Farm Trail around the farm.
Events taking place during June in the North Devon area;
Point-to-point racing in North Devon (Bratton Down & Umberleigh)
June 15th & 16th – Devon D-Day Saunton Sands Beach – Historic vehicles and re-enactments, live music – 40’s disco, bar tent, picnic on the beach, Military Wives Choir & Spitfire fly past.
June 1st & 2nd – South Molton Vintage Rally, Steam engines, vintage cars, motorbikes, military vehicle and much more…. Comsland Cross EX36 3NW
There are so many beautiful gardens to visit in North Devon; Castle Hill only 2 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B, Marwood Hill gardens just the other side of Barnstaple, Tapeley Park at Instow and National Trust Arlington Court 12 miles away.
Winter is a special time to see a wide variety of Devon Wildlife from Exmoor Red Deer and the iconic Exmoor ponies in their fluffy winter coats to otters and dolphins in the rivers and sea respectively. Spotting wildlife on the farm during February and March is great too; – The trees don’t have their leaves yet so you can spot the Roe deer and Exmoor Red deer in the woodland, brown hares in the grassy verges, hear & spot lesser spotted woodpeckers and see buzzards and more recently Kites soaring over head.
woodpecker
February is a fabulous 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 Wheddon Cross open to the public 2nd Feb – 3rd March 2019)
Throws by the fire
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 after taking Bella, the Springer Spaniel, for a farm walk or having fed the sheep.
During February 2019 a range of restaurants on and around Exmoor will be offering outstanding food at an affordable price as part of the Exmoor Food Fest. Customers will be able to eat their way across Exmoor from £10.00 per meal Click on the following link to find out the participating Exmoor Food Fest Restaurants #ExFF19
Bo – Bottle fed tame lamb
Our small flock of Jacob sheep are due to produce lambs April – Do come and enjoy this time of year with us when the hibernation period is coming to end and our stunning countryside is waking up.
Please also have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2019 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you.
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 ; –
The abundance of fruit (gooseberries, rhubarb, red currants, black currants, loganberries & raspberries) has kept us busy picking fresh fruit for the breakfast table and making a variety of preserve jams also for the breakfast table to enjoy with warm butted toast or croissants.
Raspberry picking
Raspberry picking
Thank you to my little helps ! 🙂
Hampton Court Flower Show Roses
Having been to Hampton Court Flower Show 2017 and loving the roses purchased there,
Hampton Court Flower Show, Monty Don and Joe Swift
makes me so grateful that we have RHS Rosemoor so close to visit at anytime of year, so special at the moment as it’s RHS Rosemoor’s Rose Festival until 30th July, the roses and their scent are amazing as is the gorgeous ‘Hot garden’.
RHS Rosemoor Gardens, rose festival and hot garden
Mean while here at Huxtable Farm B&B the newly created ‘Wild Flower’ patch is looking lovely and is a great hit with insects and butterflies, as is the wildlife pond too!
Wild Flower patch at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon
Wildlife pond at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Devon
Recently caught on camera, whilst on the Devon Wildlife Farm Trail at Huxtable Farm a ‘Funnel-web spider’ with it’s prey, a grass hopper.
The French Toulouse Goslings are now fully grown
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.
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
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.
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,
