Newletters
To receive our newletter with news about Steep Meadow and details of our special offers
click on subscribe below - we will not inundate you with newsletters.
Please don't forget to add us to your OK list otherwise we might end up in your spam box!
August
17th
Tragedy in the night!! Mr Fox has paid us a very unwelcome visit in the night.
He managed to sqeeze into the run where the growing chickens were peacefully sleeping and killed all of them. He only took away one hen and left the others.
Obviously Mr Fox doesn't think I will just have one now and I'll leave the others for another time - he being a fox just kills because he can. Luckily he couldn't get into the big chickens's run but we shall have to be extra careful now.
14th Here are William and Harry enjoying their breakfast
13th
The last few days has seen brilliant sunshine and downpours of rain - hopefully good for the blackberries. Our visitors have still managed to visit places like Goodrich Castle, the Old Bridge in Monmouth, - Symond's Yat and see the peregrine falcons, Raglan Castle, Tintern Abbey and take walks beside the Wye.
Here at Steep Meadow the hens have decided to have a go slow with egg laying so it has been touch and go whether we would have enough of our own eggs for breakfasts - but they are just keeping up with demand. I am going to have some new hens for my birthday (this August) so the older hens will not have so much pressure put on them!
11th
We use a wormery as an environmentally friendly way to recycle any leftover foodstuffs We don't give the worms meat and they don't like citrus fruits or onions, but they enjoy teabags, loo roll middles, napkins, peelings, scraps, coffee grinds, torn up newspaper etc.
They cannot digest seeds so when we have melon or squashs the seeds go to the chickens who think they are a wonderful treat. Our wormery is supplying lots of good liquid gold for the garden as well as compost.
Nowadays if we cut up a cabbage it is difficult to decide who would enjoy it most - the worms, chickens, goats or pigs!
4th
Despite the odd day of rain our visitors have explored the Forest of Dean and everyone has enjoyed the Sculpture trail at Beechenhurst. There are a number of trails there suitable for those wanting long/short walks and those with pushchairs.
There are also mobility scooters that can go for several miles which allow you to explore the forest and its wonders.
Our
visitors have been having a lot of fun canoeing down the river Wye -
you can do a half or a whole day trip. take a look at our photo album for pics of visitors enjoying themselves on the Wye . This photo was taken by the old railway bridge at Redbrook. It is now a footbridge that leads to The Boat.
1st We have two new little piggies - Tamworth's. Their father belongs to Prince Charles and so obviously we have had to call them William and Harry!
.
July
We have had some wonderful weather lately and I have even had to water the pots. The plastic bags which I have hung up as a deer deterrent seem to be working as the new honeysuckles are still intact!
We have decided to move the chickens to a new run so there's another project for John - building a new hen house that will be level on our steep hillside.
Yesterday at breakfast we looked out of the window and saw these deer also having their breakfast!
The sun has been shining all week!! even though it has been Wimbledon. The little chicks have nearly got all their feathers and it looks as if at least 2 and probably three are cockerels.
The top field is looking good we are managing to cut the docks before they seed this year.
We have a Special Offer for the summer months, please click here to find out more.
June
I have been on a Welcome Host course, to learn the correct prodecures and language I should be using to greet guests and the subtle nuances of body language.
The youngest son's wedding went like a dream and the sun shone on them all day despite the weather
forecast predicting rain. 
It is always lovely to see your family altogether - especially as ours is so far spread out - from Norfolk, Suffolk, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and London
Now we can concentrate on getting outside jobs finished but are looking forward to the wedding photos.
John's concrete table looks great! We are going to tile the top and are busy trying out different patterns - then it will be ready to breakfast from - actually it's perfect weather right now - we are in our 6th day of glorious sunshine.
The chicks are busy growing the grey one is getting white feathers and the black and cream ones are getting black feathers like their mum and dad.
May - We have 5 little chicks four black ones and one light grey and they all seem very healthy despite the rain!
John has been busy designing and building a concrete table in the sunken garden. We are going to tile it and hope for some sunny weather so guests can eat their breakfasts or evening meals outside.
This last few days has seen everything burst into fearsome growth John has had to get out the maximum(sit on brush cutter) to help the goats deal with the docks and nettles. The bluebells are practically over and the foxgloves are shooting up.
We now only have one broody hen busy sitting on 7 eggs (the other hen gave up!) so we still might have some chicks at the end of the month . The blue bells are wonderful at the moment - the sunny weather has really made they all come out.
Bank Holiday Monday was spent in the garden and fields as all the plant life has decided to grow like mad things.Today we saw our first newt and we have both frog and toad tadpoles.
The diamond wedding celebrations were a big success with all the family turning up and everyone had a marvellous time. Felixstowe is a long way from us!!
Hurrah we have been awarded 4 stars by Quality in Tourism - we are now waiting for our signs to be sent to us!
The
trees are all coming out and the bluebells are just just coming out. Two of
the hens have gone broody so it looks as if we shall have some chicks
later in the month. My mum and dad celebrate their diamond wedding
anniversary this month - 60 years is a long time to be married!
April - and it looks as if the Bluebells will be early again this year - especially as the weather at the moment is so pleasant. The foxgloves have all started to grow - we have alot on the bank and there are many more on the Meend.
The village hall is having a jumble sale on the 19th of this month so is an extra incentive to find things I don't need or use - but why is it that as soon as you get rid of something you think you will never use again suddenly you need it!
The grass is growing as are the weeds - much to the goats' delight - they prefer weeds including docks, nettles and brambles to grass!
April 22nd - we have been assessed and we think we have 4 stars but there is a question about the doors!? will keep you posted !
March
John has finished laying the hedges in the top field and is preparing to fence them - this will allow us to let the goats in without too much escaping!
The wild boar have been along our lane again - digging up the verges searching for tasty roots. I have only seen them a couple of times - both as it was dusk, and of course I didn't have my camera handy.
The hens have all starting laying like mad things we are now getting up to 7 eggs a day - 2 of our hens are quite elderly and lay an egg when they feel like it perhaps once a week! however we prefer to let them have a graceful retirement - as you probably know farmed hens only are allowed to live for one year as that is when they are laying their best.
There are lots of deer about and in the woods near us is a lovely white stag - which is quite surprising when you first spot it - but is a magnificent animal. It looks like it is going to be a good year for bluebells although I am sure they will bloom very early this year - unless we get some really cold weather which seems unlikely- the flowers are already forming and there is just a sea of them in the beech woods.
The Meend (or Common) which borders our field is being restored to an acid heath land and this spring we have heard a skylark for the first time.
Easter has come and gone and only a week now until the clocks change which will be good as I can get to grips with the garden in the evenings.
February
John is busy laying the hedges in the top field! It already looks good and has let a lot more light into the field. We just need to goat-proof the fencing and then the goats can get to grips with the lovely weeds and nettles.
As the days get a bit longer the hens have started laying again. As they are old fashioned breeds not modern hybrids they tend to stop laying when the days are at their shortest so eggs in the nest boxes means spring must be nearly upon us.
We have four new Oxford Sandy and Black pigs.
We made a new pond last summer and are just waiting to see what wildlife will find it this spring - we have seen lots of toads about but it will be interesting to see if we can attract frogs and newts. We know the deer come and drink from the pond by their footprints.