Becky Sherman, The Squire Farm, Chapel Lawn, Bucknell, Shropshire. SY7 0BW
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Shropshire, South Shropshire, Clun, Ludlow, Knighton, Offas Dyke, Marches, Leominster, Presteigne, Bucknell, Long Mynd, Craven Arms, Bishops Castle, Chapel Lawn, Bucknell, Brampton Bryan, Leintwardine, Newcastle, Anchor, Kington
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Cottages for you, country retreat, beautiful landscape, hills, AONB, area of outstanding natural beauty, forgotten countryside, trees, grassland, sheep, horses, cattle, forestry, natural woodland, small fields, hedges, ancient woodland, ancient oaks, river, stream, crayfish, buzzards, kites, rolling hills
Traditional, low beams, farm cottage, open fire, inglenook, hot tub,
THE SQUIRE FARM
The Squire Farm, Chapel Lawn, Bucknell, Shropshire SY7 0BW
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FARM NEWS
For Sale
Eggs from our own hens are for sale at £1.25 per half dozen.
(Subject to availability and when we can find them)
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Follow the link for details or ask me, Becky on
01547 530530 or e-
This page is a sort of ‘blog’ I suppose, but I prefer to call it ‘News’ and try to keep it up to date with what is going on on the farm and property. If you are interested in anything in particular, please ask!
2019
November 2018
18/11/18
The pond in Xidong garden is coming on a treat. Peter has been hard at work this last week as the cottage was empty and has finally finished filling the old part of the pond. He reckoned he has shovelled and barrowed about 7 tons of ‘filler’ -
January
31/1/19
Peter and I had a long overdue break for three weeks during January. We left the farm and cottages in the willing and capable hands of Jodie and her son Jake. They say they had a lovely time and there were no major disasters like burst pipes or animal accidents, except for another hen being killed by a fox (mid afternoon in broad daylight).
As for our three weeks away… we sought the sun in South Africa; some of time was staying with family and some was exploring the Kruger National Park and the Drakensburg Mountains. I know these pictures are not of Squire Farm, but I’m just brightening up some dreary British winter days!
These elephants are all rescued and rehabilitated at Knysner Elephant Sanctuary. Here they are waiting to be fed on fruit and vegetables supplied to the tourists. After feeding them, you can walk up to and touch them and have your photo taken with them.
It is Summer now in the Kruger and the rainy season, which means there is more vegetation and more to eat for everyone, so also it is the time of new life and that was in abundance. We saw baby elephants, baboons, zebra, warthogs, monkeys, impala, water buffalo and young hippos as well as the three pictured above. We were also fortunate enough to watch a lion mating in the road right in front of us. It was the most fantastic visit to a great country.
March
17th March.
While I was away learning how to mess about with chocolate -
Chocolate making course at Harts Barn Cookery School near Mitcheldean in Gloucestershire.
These were an experiment with orange flavouring and pretty edible transfers. Not the most elegant chocolate I’ve made!
April
From 17th March to 13th April; we now have 18 healthy lambs, some white, some ‘badger faced’. All of them adorable! The weather has not been too bad for them. The snow we had a week or so ago only lasted for a few days and even then there was no wind and therefore not that cold.
June
Spot the bird!
(Hover over the image)
He is quite a frequent visitor to our cherry tree -
Jack and Peter are digging up the vegetable garden currently. Jack is looking for possible moles and Peter is preparing the ground for my new greenhouse -
When I explained that we were having a greenhouse to my Grandson, he asked where the redhouse was? Which is why I thought that I ought to call it a glasshouse!
Shearing took place one Sunday at the end of June. The first group of sheep came in, no problem. The ewes and lambs however, having seen what was going on, decided to be difficult -
July
Water Feature Update
From next week (8th July), Xidong will be closed to visitors for two weeks so that Peter can finally get to the new water feature and pond to finish it. I know some of our guests have been disappointed that it is only half done, but we have been so busy that there has not been time to do anything. I don’t think that guests would appreciate Peter mixing cement, barrowing stone and tramping around barefooted while they are trying to have a relaxing break!!
Meanwhile; the sheep have been shorn and my greenhouse is nearly finished. A friend came to stay at the weekend and quickly spun up a hank of fleece from one of my cheviot wethers (castrated male). Check out Fiona Nisbet’s website, it is full of interesting information about spinning, weaving and dying.
She has left the wool for me to make into something -
August
Fishpond and ‘Stream’
Our beautiful new fishpond with it’s accompanying waterfall is now finished. It has been stocked with goldfish (5) and a few water plants and lilies.
~The pond is even overlooked by it’s own Philippine bhudda.
Spot the difference!
Where the ash tree came down over the old sheep wash in the stream, water was washing over the track instead of going underneath it. A new stream formed, down an old sunken road!
October
Flooding!
This was the extent to which our own fields flooded, thanks to the hills,
but (below), the river flowed out over the road and took a different route through our neighbour’s field…
… and his yard!
December
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2020 to all our guests, old and new!
We have decided, reluctantly, to give up keeping sheep ourselves. There will still be sheep in the fields, but in the next few months we will be selling our own stock and renting the land to a local young shepherd. Neither of us is getting younger and are finding it more and more difficult to handle the dear things (the sheep, not the local young shepherds!). I have been keeping sheep for about 35 years, so it will be a bit of a wrench.