Forest of Bowland Wildlife Blogs

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast 10 years ago we planted around a thousand trees, all native species, over 3 acres. It has been really satisfying to see their development over the years.

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

This morning I walked from Foxhill Barn to Martin Top, then did a circular before returning to Foxhill, a distance of about 5 miles. On a couple of occasions I came across wild garlic with its wonderful fragrance, and the bluebells and yellow poppies near Martin Top chapel were beautiful to behold.

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

I saw a couple of swallows today, though I haven’t managed to capture them on camera yet. They have returned to nest in our outbuildings, and it is lovely to hear them chirping away as it is a sign that Spring really is upon us at last.

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

I went down to let the chickens out early yesterday morning and was greeted by the sight of a baby deer running across the neighbouring field. The great spotted woodpecker is a regular visitor these days. Two woodpeckers r…

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastWe are now getting regular visits from a baby Great Spotted Woodpecker. It tends to feed for quite some time before flying back to the safety of the trees at the other side of the croft. you can tell it’s a juvenile because …

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastThese beautiful birds were captured on our doorstep recently. In addition to the swallow, one of many swallow nesting in the outbuildings, this bull finch was seen on Coal Pit Lane, which is just at the bottom of Howgill Lan…

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastGoldfinches have been increasingly regular visitors to our bird table this last week. We have just sited 4 new bird boxes in the hope of attracting more birds this year.

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastThis Great Spotted Woodpecker has been a regular visitor to our bird table throughout February. Jan also spotted a White Stork a couple of weeks ago – no photo unfortunately.

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastWhile helping to prepare breakfast for our guests yesterday morning I looked out at our bird table and was delighted to see a Great Spotted Woodpecker. I called out to Jan, but in doing so merely managed to scare it off – or…

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastAfter previously buying in all our preserves for the breakfast table, Jan decided a couple of years back to start making her own jams and marmalades. We’ve tried out quite a selection on our guests, including a beautifully t…

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastWe had a couple staying with us recently who drove through the Trough to get to us. Towards the top of Waddington Fell they saw no fewer than 5 hen harriers! Needless to say it made their day.

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastRecent bird sightings mentioned by our guests include a whimbrel, a couple of mergansers, oystercatchers and sand martins. Just the other night I and 2 of our visitors enjoyed watching a pair of bats racing past just above o…

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastThis email was sent to us by a member of the Manx Arms Ramblers, 8 of whom stayed at Foxhill Barn recently while walking the Ribble Way. They were obviously delighted with their wildlife sightings.Hello Peter & Janet,As prom…

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastTwo of our guests who stayed last night went for a walk up “Weets”, which is the closest of Lancashire’s 3 peaks to Foxhill Barn and joins the Pendle Way up to its summit. They told us how impressive the views are, and were …

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastLots of beautiful primroses are now in full bloom near Foxhill Barn. You can find them by following one of the OS footpaths leading to Bracewell.

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastJan & I were coming back from Clitheroe last Sunday evening when we saw a badger cross the road right in front of us. It was between Downham and Rimington, just after we’d climbed out of the dip at Twizzles Bridge. The only …

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast Within an hour of us putting up our new bird “table” we were getting a variety of birds feeding, with blue tits being the most common. Here is one of yesterday’s visitors.

Foxhill Barn Bed & BreakfastI went for a walk this morning to take in the full splendour of the stunning panorama you can see when you look North from Foxhill; Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent still wearing their snowy caps, Whernside only revealing itself…

Jan & Pete would like to wish you all a happy New Year. And what a start to 2010 weatherwise! These are just a couple of the many wonderful scenes we woke up to this morning.Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

Here at Foxhill the autumn colours are now in their full glory. During a recent walk down the lane we saw a large flock of longtailed tits working their way along the hedgerow. The flock was about 20 strong. At this time of year it is common for specie…