As the months quickly roll by Spring is in the air at Wheatacre. Many of the ducks are now laying and sitting tight on their eggs so soon many duckings are expected to be seen on the pond. The weather on the other hand has not quite been as expected. At present we are having our share of April showers but luckily between the showers the sun has been shining. A very busy Easter period has now passed with many children now returning to school. Easter brought us snow. Plenty of snowmen suddenly sprung up on Easter morning around the yard. It was Easter not Christmas wasn't it??

The Games room which opened in October has become a firm favourite along with the Hot Tub which was used throughout the Winter months - a quick dash back to the warm interiors of the barns after a long lingering relax has been a popular activity.

A new service has just been launched at Wheatacre. A local caterer and friend has produced a menu to suit all tastes, meals produced locally from fresh local ingredients can await guests on their arrival or be ordered during their stay. No more worries for your first meal just relax and open a bottle of wine and your meal awaits. Country Cuisine menus are sent to guests before their arrival and meals can be ordered in advance.

On the farm many new calves continue to arrive and are soon moved up to the barns site where they enjoy their visits from guests. Milking still proves a popular afternoon activity, many children getting their first encounter up close with the cows!

On the land work has been very slow due to the excess rain we have had in the area over the past few weeks, once weather permits sugar beet drilling will be in full swing, fertilizing and spraying jobs are all mounting. Although everything always seems to get done in the end!

Bookings are very pleasing over the coming months and I look forward to meeting many new faces from all over the country in the weeks ahead. Lets hope for a sunny, warm and long lasting Summer!!

At last I am pleased to report the Games Room at Wheatacre Hall barns is open. The half-term break at the barns has been very busy with the new games room proving to be a big hit with our younger and older guests!!

We have a pool table, table tennis and football table and to view a large projector screen. Many family tournaments have been played over the last week with mostly the younger guests getting the upper hand over their parents!! With only a few outside jobs to complete on our latest project it will be time to reflect before a new idea takes shape. Perhaps a pool...............or their are two more barns I wish to convert.........in time.

On the farm the weather has been very kind for a change and drilling is nearly complete most of the winter corns are now in the ground and sugar beet is starting to be lifted. As we are now calving our cows all the year round there is usally a calving during the week for our vistors to see, the new born calves are a joy for the younger guests.

As well reported in the press Blue Tongue has come to our area, all our cattle have been blood tested by DEFRA who are now just plotting the cases and no direct action is taken. With an insect bore disease and low laying marshes with wetlands I believe it is a disease that will be here to stay in the UK and we will learn to live with it in the future.

Christmas is rapidly coming and it is now time to plan for the festive period for our first Christmas at Wheatacre Barns bookings are very good and I look forward to meeting some new friends over this period.

As I am writing this on a Saturday the sun is at last shining, the weather for the last few days has become settled and hopefully we have seen the last of the heavy showers for a few days.

My guests at the barns are making the most of the improved weather and heading for the coast to enjoy the great beaches. Africa Alive and Fritton Lake are also proving very popular, and for the under 5's Pettitts is a must.

On the farm harvest has begun, the Oilseed Rape and Winter Barley has been harvested and now the Wheat is in full swing. The straw is being baled for forage and bedding for the winter months, we have to bring straw in from other farms also to enable us to have sufficient stocks for the winter. The grass silage was at last cut and placed in the large Ag-bags, another crop for the winter months for the cows.

Work on the games room has at last begun, a delay in obtaining the builders services was caused due to the wet weather. The walls have now been sand blasted and a new floor laid, hopefully work on the roof should commence next week. At present I am busy hunting down pool, football and table tennis tables for everyone's enjoyment. I am also looking at a large projector screen for films, music and sport.

August is proving to be a busy month at the barns almost fully booked for the whole month, for a new project very encouraging - the hot tub is proving to be a great hit and the grass area very good for outside games and a very large connect 4 and other garden size games great for the hot weather.

Hopefully next time I can report on the opening of the games room.................very soon.

Hot Tub

Exterior Mallard

Exterior Woodcock and Snipe