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A question we’re often asked once we’re well into August is why there seems to be fewer birds in the garden. Well there are two main reasons, though the first is the more significant… The birds
New Website In the next few weeks we will be launching a new and improved website. Don’t worry in reality not much will change but things will look a bit different. The new website will be responsi
Living where I do in Sutherland, the north of Scotland, it’s easy to focus on the more exciting species of birds. For example, my modest 7 acres of croft land includes about a quarter of a mile or r
It’s peak time for your garden birds It won’t need us to tell you that right now there’s a lot going on with garden birds. Some adults are still on the nest, others are feeding fledglings hidden
Ospreys and Crossbills at Loch Fleet I’m lucky enough to live just 5 miles from the Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. The reserve is in East Sutherland and just south of the coastal village of Gol
If you’re a regular reader of our blog page, then this won’t be the first time you’ve read about live mealworms. In fact, we could be reasonably accused of banging-on about the subject but we ma
Where I live in the Scottish Highlands It occurred to me in the last week or so just how miserable and angry being a nature lover can make you – though fair to say that I’m fairly close to the far
It might only be a brief and unusually warm spell in the middle of March, but after the rain and winds of recent months doesn’t it make us all feel better! And the warmer and sunnier days have also
When do the first signs of spring occur in Scotland? For me, the very first sign of spring occurs on the 6th February every year – provided it isn’t cloudy. In fact, I can be even more precise tha
Crested Tit on suet block In some ways, feeding wild birds is an odd thing to do. They are, after all, ‘wild’ and therefore should be able to fend for themselves. But of course, none of us in th
When is the best time to put up a bird box? It might be January and a good few months before your garden birds get down to the serious business of raising a family, but right now is a great time to pu
However many people we have sat around our dining tables this Christmas day, there’s always going to be leftovers. And if the leftovers aren’t on individual plates, there’ll certainly be plenty
Tame Chaffinches, the delightful Dipper, and a beautiful Red Kite We’ve had our first snow of the season – a good covering which lasted a day or two – and plenty of hard frosts to help take the
The Great British Wind Meal takes place at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage and Deli in Plymouth on Friday 29th November, and Vine House Farm are supplying organic cauliflowers, organic b
Edward the duck Over the last month I haven’t once set out for a walk in my local area. Or anywhere for that matter. This is unheard of me but with a stable block and store room to complete before t
One of the questions we’re often asked at Vine House Farm is: "What is the best combination of different foods and feeders in order to attract the most number of bird species to a garden?" In some