West Lake sponsor Art Auction in Caithness

West Lake hope the scots love Devon apple juice as this is the drink to accompany the auction on the 2nd July.  Locals in Caithness will gather and bid for artwork inspired by seascapes or their experiences by the sea.
Caithness artists, Joanne B Kaar & Liz O'Donnell, invite you to join in their arty fundraiser for Brough Bay Association & Castletown Heritage Society. Be inspired by the SEA to draw, paint or collage postcard size artwork 18cm x 12cm for their fundraiser. Exhibition & sale by secret silent auction at Castlehill Heritage Centre, Castletown, Caithness, Scotland UK. Click below for info on how to participate. Please make sure your artwork arrives by the 20th June!  Or choose and bid for an art postcard.    http://postcardsea.blogspot.co.uk/ 

The drinks are free if you are in that area.

West Lake Willow and George the Dragon

 

One of our swampy meadows was good for nothing but growing willow. And good things have transpired from that boggy land. Local willow worker Mary Jannaway from Black Torrington has turned West Lake willow into a Dragon which now sits on top of a garden shelter in RHS Rosemoor gardens. Rosemoor have called the Dragon George – is there a connection ? Mary has also made some large masks which hang high on the trees. So don your sword and chain mail and check out that Dragon with fire from its nostrils. The 'Middle Earth, Tolkien themed event is on till end August.

Castle Drogo receives a special gift from West Lake.

 

 

Anyone for tea?  or an old tea sign brought by us from Lancashire and which lay gathering dust in our barn for the last 15 years.  We cleaned it off and took it over to Castle Drogo the home of the Drewe family who started the Home and Colonial stores which were common in Lancashire and Yorkshire. They were delighted with the gift and will mount it somewhere in the castle after the major restoration of the roof is complete.
And our gift from the National Trust was a special pass for guests at Orchard Keepers Cottage to visit Castle Drogo, climb the scaffolding and see the restoration work below...then climb down and learn croquet on the lawn.  And of course, have tea.

Cider with Roadies

Campers at Hole Station just 2 miles away descended on West Lake this weekend to sample ciders and learn the craft of the 'champenoise method'.  We tell visitors how the methods used to make champagne were first developed here in the southwest as only the English made toughened glass that could withstand the pressures.

However they were a jolly group who were cycling around the area getting the most of the very wonderful, unspoilt region known around here as Ruby country. After the talk and tasting they went off up the lane laughing,  planning to drink their ciders at the camp barbque

Pollens and Pests under the microscope.

That's me at the very back right of the laboratory ( red hair) picture taken at Harper Adams College during a Microscopy teaching day ...keeping bees now means checking for pests and diseases and for some of this work you need a microscope and a knowledge of dissection and how to prepare slides and samples.  Really interesting. Looking at pollen under the microscope is amazing. Each plant pollen has its own unique size, shape and pattern.

Champagne Cider emerges from the dark.

Our Champagne Cider has emerged from the dark cellars - 2 years in the making, now corked and caged and dressed to impress,  enjoy slightly chilled and share if you feel generous. The first batch took First Place in the cider event at the Devon County Show 2013 - lets see how this batch gets on in the judging 22nd May 2014.  If going to the show check out the results yourself in the food tent. I will be helping in the Honey tent and George is serving in the Devon Ales tent where West Lake Cider is on sale by the glass. Come and say Hello.

Great to see our honey bees out.

 

We are relieved to see our Bees have come through this mild winter and out foraging the crocus.

We have seven hives and all are alive and well bringing in loads of pollen this week. The perfect sign that the Queen is laying.

However there is still little nectar about so we will continue to feed the bees a sugar solution (nectar substitute) so bees get a balanced diet of pollen and nectar. 

 Don't forget to plant out some bee friendly plants this year which are high in nectar.  Check out the RHS website which has a list of such plants

Those visiting the cottage can join in the beekeeping - we have some new spare suits.