Harrop Fold Farm

Harrop Fold is trying to become Greener…and have succeeded in becoming Bronze!
We believe we are the first Cheshire b&b to be awarded a Green Tourism Business Scheme Award. Prior to Easter we were asked to join the scheme and were visited by their inspector. We know we are strong in certain areas…local food, local shopping (and an excellent local shopping service is provided to our self-catering guests), the walking is excellent as is the wonderful wildlife around the farm; we collect visitors from the railway station whenever we can – and when we can’t, guests can take a taxi from the station. After all, that is good for our local taxi drivers! Cheshire County Council have placed recycle boxes for paper, card, glass and cans actually at the farm for our guests and ourselves to fill. We are trying to become ‘greener’ in our cleaning processes and our lovely Helen is very keen on us using vinegar and baking powder in our daily cleaning chores, she has now suggested that we consider making some of our cleaning products ourselves! And she kindly squirrels away plastic containers to recycle in her village recycle point.

However, certain areas are not as strong…public transport - buses, sadly I believe there are only 2 a working day, one on a Saturday and none on a Sunday and this makes it difficult for visitors to travel by bus! I have thought very hard and very long about the guest products and since I know guests love Molton Brown we have decided to keep this ‘extravagance’! We do invite our guests to share ideas with us regarding environmental issues and we are always eager to learn the ideas of others.

Talking of green…we woke this morning to a sprinkling of the white stuff – the hills were dusted with snowflakes, it looked as though Leah had been out with her icing sugar and sifter! We cannot believe that the day before yesterday we were out in shirtsleeves looking at the garden and this morning – brr! On the way back home from the school run I noticed that Rachel’s ewes had begun lambing in the top field – Dry Earth. A wise ewe had made her bed under the trees along the side of the drive and had just delivered one lovely little lamb, a couple of minutes ago I walked past and there was another suckling with its sibling along with a very proud looking mum!

I love this time of year, the flowers are budding and blossoming and there seems so much to look forward to. David was walking around the fields on Monday and for the first time this year heard and indeed saw the curlews back at Harrop Fold Farm. I know the guests especially love hearing the sound of the sheep and watching the gambolling lambs, hopefully David’s flock will be lambing shortly and the sun will shine on them, welcoming each little creature to the world!

Today’s treat on the Aga is some lovely Cheshire Jerusalem Artichoke soup for David’s and my lunch so I will go and check the seasoning and no doubt we will enjoy this over today’s crossword!

Speak again soon.
Love, Sue