Sheep on the Field

The sheep arrived a couple of weeks ago, they will give the first cut of the season. It helps the grass and helps the sheep.
Tom's Field does not look very pretty just now as there is a great deal of work going on. The intention is to make a toilet and shower room that can be used for the Stone Room customers. In order for that to happen the builders had to make way for the waste pipes through very dense rock. We remembered Tom telling us years ago that you could never get through this Blue Rag stone which is very dense. It was indeed extremely difficult .
 Now trenches are being dug with a view to laying cables for more electric hook ups in the Family Field.
The first bee hive is on it's way. We will be keeping the bees at home and not on the site and we are looking forward to the first residents in the spring.

Save the Bees

 We are looking to get our hives in the next few weeks [ not on the campsite ] and so are very aware of the threats to our bee colonies, I have had this link to a petition which is a step to take some action about the plight of the bees so have taken the opportunity to spread the word here, this is an extract from an email:
'Silently, billions of bees are dying off and our entire food chain is in danger. Bees don't just make honey, they are a giant, humble workforce, pollinating 90% of the plants we grow.

Scientists increasingly blame one group of toxic pesticides for their rapid demise, and bee populations are recovering in four European countries that have banned some of these products. But powerful chemical companies are lobbying hard to keep selling these poisons. Our best chance to save bees now is to push the US and EU to join the ban -- their action is critical and will have a ripple effect on the rest of the world.

We have no time to lose -- the debate is raging about what to do. This is not just about saving bumble bees, this is about our survival. Let’s build a giant global buzz calling for the EU and US to outlaw these killer chemicals and save our bees and our food.  Sign the emergency petition now and send it on to everyone and we’ll deliver it to key decision makers:'or visit the website avaaz.org

Happy New Year

We had a great Christmas with family and friends , just before Christmas John and I fitted a walk in around the area of Spyway Barn Farm  and here is a picture of a piece of sculpture done by Mike Bisley which is almost hidden behind a stone wall.  I gave John a voucher for a stone carving lesson at The Burngate Stone Centre in Langton Matravers. Jo gave us a beautiful stone bowl made by Val Quinn so stone seems to be the theme! We have commissioned a new piece of sculpture by Midge Bullock a Great Crested Newt, this will have a place outside the shop at Tom's Field Why a Great Crested Newt, well these are around in Langton area.

Tom's Field ramblings

I have been searching high and low for the leaflet I made about Nissen huts, cannot find it anywhere either on real paper or digitally so am going to have to start the history of our Walker's Barn at Tom's Field all over again, that is not too much of a problem so shall make a start soon. Meanwhile here is a link to an interesting site about Nissen huts.

Coming Event 2011

One of our customers is to undertake a 4000 mile cycle ride around the coast next year for Sutrans and Mind. We wish him all the best and will keep up to date with his progress through a link to his blog.

Frost in Purbeck

What an amazing scene today that I saw when walking to The Artist and Stallholders event in Worth Matravers Village Hall. There was such a thick hoary frost that coated every leaf and blade of grass and was stunningly beautiful even though bitterly cold.
There were a fair number of visitors come in for a coffee and hot mince pie.

The re-decoration of the Walker's Barn is going well at Tom's Field and should be finished soon. We don't have this open over Christmas or the New Year so it is a good time to get the work done.

Will write something about the history of the Walker's Barn and Nissen Huts .It was from the dilapadated Nissen Hut, that has been on the site since the year dot, that the Walker's Barn grew.

Related articles

• Weather latest: Heaviest snowfall in 17 years brings chaos across Dorset (dorsetecho.co.uk)

Snow hits Tom's Field

Along with the rest of the country snow came to Tom's Field and Swanage last week. This is a rare event in this sheltered part of the world.It was thick, meringue soft and inviting. We were at the campsite as the Walker's Barn is being decorated and we also had to check for any frozen pipes even though in fact everything is drained down. So here are some pictures taken on the way to Worth Matravers for the setting up of the Purbeck Atists and Stallholders Christmas event and on the campsite where it was fascinating to look at all the tracks that had been made by various animals and birds.