snowdrops

February – Snow drops, Valentines, Pancake day and things to do

Snowdrop bank at Huxtable Farm B&B North Devon

Snowdrop bank at Huxtable Farm B&B North Devon

 

 

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 Whedden Cross open to the public 27th Jan – 25th Feb)

This February you can also get a taste of Exmoor by sampling the delicious, local food prepared by some great Exmoor restaurants during ‘The Exmoor Food Festival’ – Eat your way across Exmoor during February 2018! Participating restaurants across the region will offer 2 courses for  £10.00 / 3 courses for £15.00 between 1st and 28th February

Breath taking sunset at the end a fresh, crisp frosty day at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon, with Valentines approaching!

Breath taking sunset at the end a fresh, crisp frosty day at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon, with Pancake day Valentines approaching!

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.

Roaring log fires at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon and the first frog spawn of 2017 will soon be appearing in the Devon Wildlife pond!

Roaring log fires at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon and the first frog spawn of 2018 have appeared in the Devon Wildlife pond!

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon in February and March we have some SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES at Huxtable Farm B&B until 13th March 2018.

Otherwise, please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2018 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar

 

Happy New Year - 2018

Happy 2018

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy 2018 from all at Huxtable Farm B&B xx

Huxtable Farm B&B North Devon Exmoor

Huxtable Farm B&B North Devon Exmoor

Please click on this link (2018 events dates) for some events to look forward to whilst staying at Huxtable Farm B&B and here for things you can do for free

Such as ;- Witness our ewes lambing during the three weeks 26th March – 14th April. Easter is on the 1st April; to look forward to Easter Egg hunts at all the attractions in the area; Quince Honey Farm, The Big Sheep, The Milky Way, NT Arlington Court, RHS Rosemoor, Hartland Abbey and find the Easter chicks at Clovelly!

Other dates to remember: 14th February – Valentines Day, 11th March Mother Day, 1st April Easter Day & Bank Holidays 7th & 28th May. 17th June – Fathers Day and Summer Bank Holiday 27th August.

 

Autumn leaves at North Devon B&B

October – North Devon things to do

So much happening in North Devon this October. . . .

Autumn conkers, North Devon

Autumn conkers, North Devon

‘Things you can do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon’  – Feed the hens and collect their eggs, identify bats at dusk, enjoy the beautiful colours of the leaves in the woodland whilst taking a braising walk around Huxtable Farm’s Devon Wildlife Farm Trail, pick apples, collect conkers, see how many different fungi you can find and more . . . .

Autumn leaves (Autumn walks in North Devon)

Autumn leaves (Autumn walks in North Devon)

 

A variety of fungi in the woodland at B&B near Barnstaple

A variety of fungi in the woodland at B&B near Barnstaple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin Face at RHS Rosemoor Gardens

Pumpkin Face at RHS Rosemoor Gardens

To see what else is happening in North Devon  this October please click on the following links;

RHS Rosemoor in October,  7th & 8th October Apple Festival, 13th -15th October Wood Festival, 21st & 22nd Antiques & Collectors Fair, 28th & 29th Pumpkin Weekend.

Halloween Festival at The Big Sheep 21st – 29th October – Pumpkin carving, haunted house, spooky castle, free face painting and much more!

Star Wars at The Milky Way 28th Oct

National Trust Arlington Court in October: 21st – 29th October Haunted Halloween Trail, 27th Oct Spooky Night Walk, 24th & 27th Oct Halloween Crafts

North Devon Food Festival

North Devon Food Festival

 

North Devon Food Festival 22nd October

19th – 29th October Exmoor’s first Dark Skies Festival, celebrating Exmoor National Park’s status as Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. The Festival will appeal to families and children as well as those more experienced in watching the stars.

Don’t forget there’s so much you can do at Huxtable Farm B&B for FREE too

Butterfly tortoiseshell in garden

August/September

We’ve seen quite a few different butterflies this year enjoying the insect loving plants at Huxtable Farm, all majestic but this is one of my favourites, the small Tortoiseshell butterfly.

Saw quite a few butterflies at this years RHS Rosemoor Flower Show. Here are some photographs of the show for you to enjoy, the date for next years Flower Show will be the 17th, 18th & 19th August 2018

Other events & things to do during August and September in North Devon  ; –

RHS Rosemoor Gardens –  Enid Blyton Exhibition of Memorabilia exhibition 15th July – 28th August. Famous Five fun at Rosemoor (childrens activities) 29 July – 3 September Mon – Friday

Tapeley Park Gardens, Instow, Devon

Tapeley Park Gardens, Instow, Devon

Gardens to visit in North Devon

National Trust Arlington Court – Family ranger days, drop-in family crafts & garden days – PDF of events

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

Barricane beach Woolacombe

Barricane beach Woolacombe

 

 

Beaches to visit in North Devon

Arts and Crafts in North Devon

Family Fun in North Devon

Huxtable Farm Jacob wool cable wrist warmers & scarf Knitting Kit

Huxtable Farm Jacob wool cable wrist warmers & scarf Knitting Kit

 

September – I have entered this year’s Art Trek 2017 – North Devon Open Studios, so that you and others can view Huxtable Farm’s Jacob wool products. We will be open on the 16th, 17th, 19th, 26th & 30th September & 1st October 11am – 4pm.

 

Blackberries

Blackberries

 

With September approaching, foraging and harvesting fruit from the wild will begin; The elderberries are ripening and we’ve already pick a few blackberries – You are welcome to pick your own too and do some fungi spotting whilst staying at Huxtable Farm B&B!

 

 

North Devon fields of thatching straw

August – Things to do whilst visiting North Devon

I love seeing these fields of thatching straw drying out in the summer sunshine – An ancient craft still maintained.

Wellies

With the North Devon Show taking place on the 2nd August– at Umberleigh EX37 9DX (Sadly CANCELLED due to wet conditions under foot) you’ll be able to see many other North Devon crafts, horticultural, farm animals, machinery, displays, exhibitors, food & drink local to the area. A great day out for everyone. You’ll probably need some wellies though!

 

Other things to do during August in North Devon ; –

RHS Rosemoor Gardens, rose festival and hot garden

RHS Rosemoor Gardens, roses and hot garden

RHS Rosemoor Gradens –  Enid Blyton Exhibition of Memorabilia exhibition 15th July – 28th August. Famous Five fun at Rosemoor (childrens activities) 29 July – 3 September Mon – Friday

Gardens to visit in North Devon

National Trust Arlington Court – Family ranger days, drop-in family crafts & garden days – PDF of events

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

 

Westward Ho! Sea pool and Westward Ho! beach

Westward Ho! Sea pool and Westward Ho! beach

 

Beaches to visit in North Devon

Wildlife & Nature of North Devon & Exmoor

 

Spinning Jacob wool

Arts and Crafts in North Devon

 

Arts and Crafts in North Devon

Family Fun in North Devon

September – I have entered this year’s Art Trek 2017 – North Devon Open Studios, so that you and others can view Huxtable Farm’s Jacob wool products. We will be open on the 16th, 17th, 19th, 26th & 30th September & 1st October 11am – 4pm.

 

 

 

 

Butterfly

Butterfly Count & Exmoor – South West Coast Path

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 Peacock

Butterfly Red Admiral

Butterfly Red Admiral

Butterfly Speckled Wood

Butterfly Speckled Wood

Butterfly Meadow Brown

Butterfly Meadow Brown

Butterfly Green Veined White

Butterfly Green Veined White

Butterfly Gatekeeper

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 ; –

RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival has 2000 roses on display now 17th June – 30th July – The largest rose gardens in the South West. Enid Blyton Exhibition of Memorabilia exhibition 15th July – 28th August. Famous Five fun at Rosemoor (childrens activities) 29 July – 3 September Mon – Friday

National Trust Arlington Court – Family ranger days, drop-in family crafts & garden days – PDF of events

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

Gardens to visit in North Devon

Beaches to visit in North Devon

Wildlife & Nature of North Devon & Exmoor

North Devon Show 2nd August

Sunflower

July – A bountiful of fruit & roses

July fruit

July fruit

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

 

Raspberry picking

Thank you to my little helps ! 🙂

 

 

 

 

Hampton Court Flower Show Roses

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

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

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

Wild Flower patch at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon

Wildlife pond at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, 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.

Lynmouth Raft Race 22nd July

Clovelly Maritime Festival 16th July

Mid Devon Show – National Trust Knighthayes, Tiverton 22nd July 

National Trust Arlington Court – Family ranger days, drop-in family crafts & garden days – PDF of events

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

Gardens to visit in North Devon

Beaches to visit in North Devon

Wildlife & Nature of North Devon & Exmoor

North Devon Show 2nd August

July – Picking fruit & making jam – Things to do

Blackberry flowers at Huxtable Farm B&B

Blackberry flowers at Huxtable Farm B&B

 

Looks like there’s going to be a bumper crop of blackberries this Autumn. However, there’s plenty of fruit to pick for the breakfast table at the moment to eat fresh or to make jam with – Fresh raspberries, ‘Gooseberry & Elderflower’ and Loganberry jams.

July fruit

July fruit

 

 

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.

Lynmouth Raft Race 22nd July

Man vs Moor 15th July

Clovelly Maritime Festival 16th July

National Trust Arlington Court – Family ranger days, drop-in family crafts & garden days – PDF of events

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

North Devon Show 2nd August

 

Honeysuckle

June – some wild flowers found around Huxtable Farm B&B

Some of the wild flowers you can find on the Devon wildlife farm trail at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, situated between Barnstaple & South Molton, near Exmoor, North Devon.

Thistle

Thistle

Water Lily

Water Lily

Red dead nettle

Red dead nettle

Meadow saxifrage

Meadow saxifrage

Iris

Iris

Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle

Hop Trefoil

Hop Trefoil

Groundsel

Groundsel

Elderflower

Elderflower

Cow parsley

Cow parsley

Common hemp nettle

Common hemp nettle

Clover

Clover

Birds foot trefoil

Birds foot trefoil

Charlock

Charlock

Wild flower ?

Wild flower ?