BY ALLISON LEE It wasn’t all that long ago when keeping chickens as pets was seen as being rather eccentric, despite the fact that the bird was first domesticated around 8000 years ago and is now one of the most common and widespread domesticated animals in the world. Chickens do make good pets. They are social, friendly and are adept at forming bonds with humans. … Continue reading Chickens as Pets
BY ALLISON LEE Jake Ratcliffe has always loved animals, so it is perhaps no surprise to those who know him that he now runs his own animal rescue sanctuary. Millington’s Magical Barn is an award-winning sanctuary situated in West Yorkshire, where Jake, his wife, and their small team of helpers rescue animals in need. Jake told me how his dream became a reality. He opened … Continue reading Millington’s Magical Barn
BY ALLISON LEE The British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) was founded in 1874 with the intention of encouraging, improving, and advancing bee culture in the United Kingdom—particularly as a means of bettering the condition of cottagers and the agricultural labouring classes, as well as advocating for humanity toward the industrious labourer: the honey bee. Originally established as a London-based beekeepers’ club, the BBKA evolved within a … Continue reading Not Just a Celebrity Hobby
BY ALLISON LEE I had the pleasure of a two night stay at Swinton Park Hotel recently and it was a truly amazing experience. The hotel is a Grade II castle set in stunning gardens and parkland at the heart of the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate. It is the ancestral seat of the Earl of Swinton and the informal stately home experience makes this dog … Continue reading The Swinton Estate – Part II
BY ALLISON LEE Model, Claire Turner and her husband and daughter moved from London to the New Forest in 2019 primarily for a change of life and a good choice of schools. Just two years later, in 2021, she founded Alpaca Apparel which was inspired by a deep connection to nature and a desire to offer a more sustainable alternative to mass-produced fashion. Claire’s journey … Continue reading Alpaca Apparel
BY JAMIE FOSTER For anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping the rat race, of feeling soil between their fingers and living in tune with the seasons, Allison Lee’s “Free-Range and Flourishing: The Smallholder’s Year” is the compassionate and practical guide you’ve been waiting for. This book is far more than a manual; it is an invitation to a way of life that is both … Continue reading Free-Range and Flourishing
BY ALLISON LEE Hannah Russell is an author and countryside enthusiast who lives in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Born and bred in this incredible part of the country, she is surrounded by rolling hills and wildlife and now resides on the Swinton Estate with more than twenty of her own animals, including ponies, sheep, donkeys, dogs, alpacas, and even tortoises. As a child, Hannah spent … Continue reading Hannah Russell
BY ALLISON LEE Sarah Woodland has harboured a lifelong love of horses. Having grown up around them, she has always had equine company in her life. Her parents both rode, and she cannot remember a time in her childhood without horses. It was therefore almost certain that her adult life would involve these beautiful animals. Sarah lives in Oxfordshire. She is the wife of a … Continue reading Therapy With A Difference – Dinky Ponies
BY ALLISON LEE While the UK has its own rich calendar of traditions, American holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving have carved out a unique and growing presence. These festivals are often adapted to a British context, blending transatlantic influences with local history and sensibilities. Historic estates and gardens, with their evocative settings, provide a perfect stage for these seasonal events. A prime example of this … Continue reading American Traditions with a British Twist
BY ALLISON LEE Spook-tacular mystery and detective fun for families at Eden Camp Eden Camp, near Malton in North Yorkshire, is the only remaining prisoner of war camp in Britain. It was built in 1942 and the original huts have been preserved and turned into immersive and engaging displays. The huts have been re-equipped to tell the story of The People’s War, the social history of … Continue reading Eden Camp
BY ALLISON LEE When our three little pigs were big enough that they wouldn’t be considered prime prey for foxes or birds, we moved them outside into a paddock of their own. It must have been a little piggy heaven for them. I decided initially to put them in a small pen, and when they had become accustomed to being outside permanently, I would move … Continue reading Three Little Pigs
BY ALLISON LEE Those that live near the River Tees may have heard of Sockburn. For me, Sockburn is a stone’s throw away from the house I moved into at the end of 2024. However it was not until very recently that I learned of Sockburn’s legend. For a thousand years The Sockburn Worm was the most famous and feared dragon legend in the North of … Continue reading The Sockburn Worm
BY ALLISON LEE Nestled in the North York Moors National Park, Ryedale Folk Museum is Yorkshire’s leading open-air museum. Telling the story of the people of the North York Moors, more than 40,000 objects are beautifully displayed across 20 heritage buildings, some rescued from around the area. Buildings include a typical Iron Age Roundhouse, Medieval Crofter’s Cottage and an Elizabethan Manor House, as well as … Continue reading Making a Meal of it at Ryedale Folk Museum
BY ALLISON LEE The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the world’s greatest heritage railway experiences. Spanning 18 miles of beautiful scenery across Yorkshire, the railway is a not-for profit charitable organisation which is run as part of the local community and hosts numerous events throughout the year. Following the railway’s announcement of its Annual Steam Gala from 25th to 28th September 2025, it has … Continue reading North Yorkshire Moors Railway
BY NICK PEARCE Allison Lee’s My Husband’s Child is a masterfully crafted novel that delves deep into the complexities of marriage, loss, and the haunting power of the past. Told through the eyes of Kate, a woman who has lived for years in the shadow of her absent husband, Miles, the story unfolds with a slow-burning intensity that keeps the reader utterly captivated from the very first … Continue reading My Husband’s Child
BY ALLISON LEE Kiplin Hall is an absolute gem standing serenely close to the River Swale in the Vale of Mowbray in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside. Situated between the historic market towns of Richmond and Northallerton, Kiplin Hall has been owned by four families, related by blood and marriage, and this year celebrates its 400th year of history. George Calvert built Kiplin Hall in … Continue reading Kiplin
BY ALLISON LEE How incredibly fortuitous that our first year in North Yorkshire has turned out to be one of the UK’s warmest and sunniest on record, with the first half of summer bringing no fewer than three heatwaves. Given that one of the reasons for our move from West to North Yorkshire was the brutal weather conditions, things are turning out well. Our previous … Continue reading My First Summer in North Yorkshire
BY ALLISON LEE After enjoying a rare evening out with friends, I was woken the next morning at 6.30 am by a call from a neighbouring farmer. He told me that my ponies, Chieftain and Jo-Jo, had escaped and were making their way past the community hall towards the next village! I can honestly say I have never got dressed so quickly in my life. … Continue reading Ponies’ Night on the Town
BY ALLISON LEE It never ceases to amaze me how many people have never seen a hedgehog, and, unfortunately, in today’s climate, this is only going to get more common as these much-loved little creatures are verging on extinction. In British folklore, these beautiful creatures were often deemed wise and benevolent and associated with the countryside and good fortune. There are tales of hedgehogs predicting … Continue reading Hedgehogs: The Shy, Spiky Guardians of British Folklore
BY ALLISON LEE We have an abundance of birdlife on the smallholding, and I enjoy watching a variety of finches, wrens, blue tits, sparrows, warblers, and woodpeckers feeding regularly at the feeding station. However, it wasn’t until our recent move to North Yorkshire that I was lucky enough to spot woodpeckers on a regular basis—and they are a joy to watch, so entertaining! The great … Continue reading Nature’s Drummers
