Many members are keen to conserve our beautiful scenery by farming using sustainable methods, managing resources efficiently and creating as little waste as possible.
It’s that time of the year again - our Snowdrops are out covered with a delicate dusting of snow- a sign that despite their frosting Spring is on its way. One of our members, Beechenhill Farm, has been shortlisted for the Sentinel Environmental Business Awards!
These prestigious awards are seeking “Companies that have introduced environmental improvements which are enhancing the quality of life within North Staffordshire.” Beechenhill Farm has done extremely well to be shortlisted and is up against a large business and a multinational company! We all wish them luck in the finals.
A number of our Peak District Farm Holiday members are also committed to sustainable business practices and conserving the beautiful Peak District environment in which we live and work, and have been awarded either the Peak District or the Staffordshire Environmental Quality Mark. Look out for the award logos on the farm website entries - you can be sure of a quality eco holiday with us.
Meanwhile on the farm, the snow hit a few days ago, melted a little and has now frozen solid. We are expecting more this evening!
The chickens have been pottering about in the snow but seem to have been a little discombobulated by it and keep gathering in snow free patches – we assume to chat about the weather!
The snow will shortly disappear giving way to warmer weather - why not book a holiday with us and enjoy the Peak District countryside in all it's summer glory. Our free range hens will be back in full egg production by then so you can enjoy a tasty breakfast.
But the Christmas and New Year periods were booked almost immediately and soon the calendar was filling. Since then, visitors have arrived from near and from California to Hong Kong, from Germany to Scandinavia - many returning each year.
Two of their first visitors got engaged there and Elspeth and Paul were invited to their wedding and later welcomed them back with their baby!
Because of their interests in art education and wildlife conservation, courses are regularly run in painting, crafts and countryside activities, many through partnerships with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the Peak District Ranger Service and various charities. These have expanded to include annual free family events including biodiversity and Apple Days with an ever- increasing number of families participating.
With the opening of the Studio two years ago as the base for courses and events, their daughter Sarah is now increasingly involved in the business.
To help celebrate this anniversary, throughout the year new and returning visitors will receive a special welcome pack of homemade and local produce.
Here in the Peak District we have some wonderful opportunities to be able to work with nature; with bumper crops of apples this year The Dove Valley Centre, in partnership with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, celebrated “Apple Day” in style with lots of exciting and tasty activities, including: An excellent day of family fun!
If you would like to get closer to nature, and meet the farmyard animals then why not book one of our fabulous farmhouse B&B's or cosy self catering cottages for a short winter break? There are some wonderful winter walks from the doorstep.
We look forward to welcoming you!
This video shows the hay being collected and made into small bales on one of our farms.
Traditional hay making is not as common as it used to be as round bale silage has become much more popular. This is a much quicker process as the grass only needs to dry for a day before it can be baled and wrapped in plastic. Round bales are also much larger than hay bales so they are moved with a tractor and much more can be made in a day. Cattle also prefer round bale silage as it is moist and has a higher nutritional value than hay.
Small hay bales are still very useful as they can be fed at any time of year and are also ideal to feed to young calves. Many horse owners also prefer to feed hay as it is easy to handle and doesn’t go off.
Even in the heaviest of snow falls, the animals must be fed, and that means getting to some farms that might not be on the easiest of roads. This essential corn delivery to Bassetwood Farm, home of the Carringtons, one of our B&B farms, needed considerable help to get into the farmyard.
It's not just getting the corn in, there is then the problem of getting the fresh milk out every day! Add to that problems with frozen water pipes and tractors that won't start, and everything becomes hard work - the snow may look very pretty, but it can be a farmers worst nightmare.
Fortunately the snow now seems to be disappearing as fast as it came.
It does however give our stunning Peak District scenery a different dimension. The Peak District is very much still open for bussiness - so load up you sledge and catch a last minute pre Christmas break.
Beechenhill B&B stunning in the sparkling sunshine
Hoe Grange Holidays (below) - this self catering log cabin could be in the snowy alps!
The weather has been strange this year with a very dry Spring followed by a moderate August with little very hot sunshine, but still not much rain. Our cattle are enjoying the warmth, but the traditional stone lined dew ponds on many of the upland farms are nearly dry, and as low as we have seen them for many years. 
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