The first day when a light mist blurs the outlines of the trees across the valley signals the beginning of Autumn for us. The leaves changing to gold and red sometimes takes months. The Redwings and Fieldfares arrive from Scandinavia in sixes and sevens at first, then dozens and hundreds fly down the valley, descending on the hawthorn trees and stripping them of berries in a few hours.
Hareley Barn benefits from being an individual property with its’ own entrance. It has a new smart EV charging point which is compatible with all electric cars. EV drivers visiting us now don’t have to worry about running out of charge or stopping over at in-transit rapid charging points before arrival. The independent shops in the nearby town of Bromyard, three miles away, are handy for guests’ needs whilst on holiday and include two craft butchers and delicatessens and a bakery that bakes on the premises.
It’s a good time of year to stroll down the lane to the Common, with its fine views from the Malvern Hills to the South to Clee Hill in Shropshire to the North. It’s also a good time to eat out at one of the many traditional inns in the area. The three nearby National Trust properties are open and the Black & White Village Trail offers beautiful villages to explore (and more inns!).
We’ll consult the calendar and decide the best timing for lambing our Southdown and Welsh Mountain ewes next Spring. Our rare breed poultry has had an excellent hatching rate this year and the chicks and poults are growing away very well.
