BY ALLISON LEE Autumn is a busy time on the smallholding. It’s time to plan ahead for the winter months and complete all essential jobs before the weather turns. Autumn is one of my favourite times of year. Because the weather is unpredictable, it can feel like the end of summer rather than the beginning of winter. With animals and a smallholding to keep, I … Continue reading Autumn on the Smallholding
BY ALLISON LEE A walled garden has existed at Duncombe Park in Helmsley since 1758. It was built to supply fruit and vegetables for the Feversham family; however, after World War One, the garden’s role as a source of food for the family ended. After the last leaseholder left the property, it fell into dereliction until a local practice nurse, Alison Ticehurst, recognised its potential … Continue reading The Walled Garden
BY ALLISON LEE Tommy Banks is a multi-award-winning chef who champions hyper-local, sustainable, and seasonal produce. As Chef Patron and Co-Owner, he oversees The Black Swan, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Oldstead, North Yorkshire. Born and raised in the small village of Oldstead, Tommy comes from a farming background and has watched his family farm the local land throughout his life. In 2006, the family bought … Continue reading The Black Swan
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 Driving up to the Swinton Park Hotel, even on a dark night in November, is truly enchanting. The warm lights, the sweeping driveway and the genuine welcome makes this hotel one of the most charming in North Yorkshire. The Swinton Park Hotel is an opulent, Grade II castle set in 200 acres of manicured gardens and parkland at the very heart of the … Continue reading The Swinton Estate – Part I
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 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 Hares are mammals belonging to the genus Lepus. They are herbivores and live either in pairs or alone. They nest in slight depressions, which are known as ‘forms’, and their young, known as leverets, are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. Hares are very different from rabbits. For one, they are generally much bigger than rabbits, and they have longer … Continue reading Brown Hares
