Apple eaten by jay

Apples

Planting

Below Castle Cottage is the orchard and paddock, an area dominated by grassland. This has been left undisturbed for many years and hence is an excellent example of ungrazed natural grassland.

The upper steeper area - immediately below Castle Cottage - is rich botanically particularly with agrimony and other finer herbs. The grassland can be very flowery with Hogweed, Spear Thistle, Knabweed, Cuckoo Flower, Cowslip, Buttercup, Meadow Foxtail and Meadowsweet and orchids recorded. This abundance of pollen and nectar, combined with the sheltered situation, makes this a honeypot for insect life. Many butterflies can be found including Large Skipper, Small White, Holly Blue, Small Copper, Orange Tip, Green-veined White and the Brown Argus.

Old varities of apple trees have been planted. Besides of human interest, they are a source of food for the roe deer, badgers and for several bird species, particulary the jays. The paddock is beloved by pidgeon and the tall pine in one corner is used as a rest for the pair of buzzards. Their call can be heard constantly.

Additional tree planting has taken place around the margins of the paddock: beech, ash and hazel have all been planted. In one corner, deer fencing has been erected to create and area where natural regeneration of a woodland margin can take place. Also piles of cut branches and brush wood have been left out to improve the breeding habitat for field birds. (This is a habitat loved by snakes as well).

Within the paddock, two springs bubble to the surface. One, for many years, providing the only source of water for the cottage. The remains of a handpump and water cauldron can still be seen.

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