Peaceful Surroundings
The stone built cottage has lovely views over the woods and fields behind. You can explore the farm lanes, lakes, woods, or just sit back, listen to the cry of the buzzards and take in the scenery from the veranda.
This region of the Vienne is an area of lower rainfall than is usual in the UK. The warmer climate encourages a wide variety of flora and fauna to the region. Part of the farm is a 'Natura 2000' site – of special interest and beauty, and we have adopted environmentally friendly measures in the meadows around the lake.
Birds
While you will see many of the same birds found in many rural areas of Britain, you will certainly also find others never, or rarely, seen there. A bird lover listed the following birds he observed during a week's stay with us:
Buzzard, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Stone Curlew, Quail, Golden Plover, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Nightingale, Stonechat, Wheatear, Fieldfare, Redwing, Nuthatch, Serin, Hawfinch, Brambling, Short-toed Treecreeper, Golden Oriole, Cirl Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Siskin, Melodious Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Pied Flycatcher.
Wildlife
With more than 100 acres of woodland we have many deer which are frequently seen across the fields, but the fauna that everyone wants to see is the wild boar! We have 250 acres of maize most years and the wild boar are there in abundance, but although the tracks are visible, only a few actually spot them!
Starry Nights
The evenings out on the terrace decking are a perfect time to enjoy the nocturnal flights of our barn owls, and bats. Or a little later, why not star gaze! At any time of year when there are the clear skies, you can observe the Milky Way, the Great Boar, and many more (although I'm not an astronomer), it's quite unlike the sky above towns and cities in the UK - so you might like to bring a telescope! In the second week of August, towards midnight, sit or lie out under the night sky and watch the shooting stars...
