Lovely Weather for Ducks

Posted on May 31st, 2012

We all new that the fabulous weather couldn’t last forever, another weekend would have been nice, but the gardens need the rain, and the ducks don’t seem to mind.

Seeing the cheeky ducks on the Village is one of the things that many of our guests look forward to, and feeding the ducks at the local park is often one of our first experiences of nature when we’re little. It surprised me to find out that these unnofficial symbols of Ribby are in fact on the amber list of species of conservation concern, due to a recent drop in their poulation nationally.

This made me wonder which other birds on the lists of birds of conservation concern we are home to or visited by here at Ribby, and the results surprised me.

It makes me glad that I live and work in a place that is home to so many different species.

Next week is the RSPBs ‘Make Your Nature Count’ week, so why not come along on Tuesday or Wednesday and meet Jen, she’ll help you to spot these and some other species on the Village, and maybe even inspire you to have a go at a bit of nature spoting in your garden when you get home.

And just because these guys got such a lovely reaction on our Facebook page, here are some of our, thankfully thriving, mallard youngsters.

Here’s hoping we’ll see the sunshine again soon!

Lydia

We found Keith!

Posted on May 23rd, 2012

He exists! He really does! now that the threat of frost has completely passed (we hope) Keith has been able to get some of the young plants out into the beds, when we found him he was putting in some of the flowers that are used on the tables in some of our restaurants, but I spied in the greenhouse some other bits and pieces including leeks, pak choi and courgettes.

Out in the garden, I was stunned by the range of the colour in the chard

I promise you, this photo is in no way doctored, that pink is amazing! can you imagine seeing this on your plate? It’s absolutely stunning!

In my state of foodie rapture, i did take quite a few pictures of food that’s not quire ready to eat yet.

As well as some that is! (or nearly)

After your meal…?

Or do you prefer something savory…?

I’ve gone and made myself hungry again haven’t I?

Lydia x

May or March?

Posted on May 17th, 2012

We’ve been having some pretty interesting weather here these last couple of weeks, with cold wet and windy being the order of the day. I know that here in Lancashire we’re not exactly strangers to a spot of rain, and that some places have had snow this week(!) but I’m British, so have to comment on the weather.

In a rare break in the clouds I decided to clear my head and use the blog as an excuse to have a walk around The Village. I love that I get to work in a place that has such a lot of grounds, being in 106 acres means that you can stretch your legs on your lunch break and really feel like you’ve been out.

Weather for Ducks?

All of the wet weather seems to have agreed with the young family that came to meet me as I walked up towards the Spa Hotel, these youngsters were really very friendly and came really close to me as I stopped to take a picture, mum stayed a little further back and was quacking away, as if to say “now don’t you go too close to that human, you really don’t know where it’s been”

The wildflowers seem to be doing well too.

Floral Carpet

My photography isn’t great in this one, but I love these delicate little blue flowers and couldn’t leave them out of the post, especially as I managed to take the picture without getting stung by the nettles, I kept having to remind myself, they’re good for the butterflies!

I’m hoping the weather might improve soon, spring’s almost left us and I don’t feel like I’ve had much chance to enjoy it at all.