Work in our Woodland: Cricket Bat Harvest

Yesterday saw the end of a few day's of work in our 50 acre woodland: harvesting 30% of a crop of willows, grown here for cricket bats.  Later in the year their replaments will be planted. 

These trees are grown on a 15 year rotation, so these in turn will be harvested some time around 2030. 

Ultimately, this wood will become Gray and Nichols bats.

Each time significant work is done in this area of Soulton Wood, we open up better access to what is a sublime habitat of ancient woodland, leading down to Soulton Brook and the River Roden.  These rivers are home to water voles, otters, brown trout and mayfly. 

Below is a picture of this wonderful peacful location:

And below is a picture of one of the replacment stands from work done two years ago:

Getting into the spirit of the Jubilee!

Bunting has gone up in the gardens here to celebrate the Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Here are some pictures:

Soulton "sets the standard for sustainable tourism" -- SPP Magazine

New article about greening at Soulton in SPP Magazine: 

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/case_studies/soulton_hall_sets_the_standard_for_sustainable_tourism2356

Outstanding Bluebells in Soulton Wood: Stop motion tour

Once again, we are enjoying a fantastic flush of spring colour around the farm and in the gardens.  

Below is a quick stop motion of the bluebells in Soulton Wood for 2012.   

Footpaths & Permissive Access to our Farm

Our farm has two public rights of way over its ground, the total distance these represent is close on 2 miles.  In addition, our farm has a Permissive Bridleway, which is 1.81 miles long.  So in total we have over 3 miles of public access to this farm. 

Our guests enjoy somewhat more extensive access to our farm while with us. 

Many people in our community use these paths, and we have found that the Permissive Path in particular (for which we provide off road parking in our yard) has grown very popular, especially with dog walkers, as it takes advantage of a stone track and is comfortable walking, even in wet conditions. 

We are pleased to share the farm in this way, and our especially proud of the negligibly way these arrangements work. We aim to be thoughtful and welcoming farmers, and find that the community that use our footpaths are respectful of our work and are actively helpful in bringing things to our attention. 

Soulton returns to BBC1. A second "Escape to the country".

Soulton Hall returned to BBC1 for some location filming in BBC1's "Escape to the Country", this time hosted by Jules Hudson.

Here are some screen caps from the program:

Within the UK, for one week from today, you can see the program via the iPlayer here.

Online Booking and Availability, coming soon

Last year we invested in a computerized booking system (having relied on a paper diary for 38 years), on the basis that it would enable us to implement online booking for the greater convenience of out guests.  

Transferring booking systems was a daunting prospect, and we were anxious to avoid having too many new things all happening at once.  We thought it best to walk before we tried to run. We are now very comfortable wit this system. 

Work is now well under way to deliver this enhanced service, which will be available soon.  

Renewables and Greening Update

We have now published all Energy Performance Certificates for our Cottages.  You can find these at the following locations:

Keeper's Cottage

Ploughamn's Cottage 

Herdsmans Cottage 

Shooter's Lodge

There is no legal mandate to have these reports for self catering rentals, but we think it is a good way of focusing our thinking in this area.  

This, along with the renewables review for Soulton Hall itself completed by 7Y energy last spring, means that all of the areas of Soulton Hall (sadly not publishable online: propitiatory to 7Y) have been reported on.

Our solar PV array has already generated 9,000kWh.  This equivalent to 8 tonnes of carbon, and already the output in a few short months has been enough for 3 average households for a year.  

Active consideration is going into ground source heating for Soulton Hall. 

KING CNUT: Soulton's Historic Connection to the Famous Viking

We've found a (grizzly) connection to the famous King Cnut (995 –1035AD), looking again at the histry of the manor. 

Beorhtric, the saxon held Solton Manor before 1066.  This is in the Domesday Book, 1086AD. 

He was, it turns out, the brother of Edric Streon. Edric Streton was the Earl of Mercia, and a reviled Anglo Saxon traitor, and he was key in bringing King Cnut to the throne. However, he had such a reputation for backsliding, Cnut had him slain on Christmas Day 1017. 

Unfortunately for Beorthric, owner of Soulton, he was with is brother at the time...


Below is Soulton's entry in the Domesday Book:

Oxford University: Soulton is set to collaborate on green energy research

Oxford University and Soulton are set to co-operate in research into 'efficient, low carbon energy systems'. 

We are working to share our solar green energy production data with Oxfords's Energy and Power Group:  epg.eng.ox.ac.uk/

Soulton: cover Feature in 'Running in Heels' magazine.

A review of Soulton Hall by Victoria Todd is Cover Feature in 'Running in Heels', a Europe-wide women's culture, fashion, the arts magazine. 

Full article here: http://runninginheels.co.uk/articles/soulton-hall-shropshire/

BBC ONE: Alistair Appleton 'escapes to the country' at Soulton.

We're in an 'Escape to the Country' episode screened earlier today on BBC One, and afterwards on the iPlayer here. 

The iPlayer link will work for one week, and is not available outside the UK.

Sunday Times 50 Great Weekends: Soulton Hall is one.

In case you missed this Sunday's SUNDAY TIMES...

(pp. 8 in 'Sunday Times Travel' or http://alturl.com/8q96s if you have an online subscription)

GETTING GREENER -- solar power

Soulton now has solar power, and is able to generate at least as much electricity in a year as it uses. 

This is a big step in improving our sustainability and reducing the impact of our operations the environment. 

More on sustainability here: http://www.soultonhall.co.uk/soulton/sustainability_soulton.pdf

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UPDATE  

We have been selected as a case study by SOLAR POWER PORTAL; you can find the article at this here.

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Rescue dog here one year

Max, our rescue dog, has now been here a year. He has setteled in well and is a great character.

Pets are welcome here; more details about this here.

Another new painting of Soulton Hall

Sue Horder has also painted a watercolour of Soulton Hall, see image below.

The painting is from a window in Soulton Court, looking across the White Garden to Soulton Hall. 

New Painting of Soulton Hall

New painting of Soulton: we were thrilled to recieve a new painting this morning from Sue Horder.

Inspired by the 'dot painting' associated with the Australian Aboriginal people, and in particular the Papunya Tula collective, the canvas imagines a birds eye view of Soutlon Hall, and the farm.

Sue has also painted a watercolour of Soulton Hall from the White Garden.

VIDEO: Soulton Autumn & Winter: Winter Breaks Starting Soon

Soulton Autumn & Winter Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0BW0wmjGW_Q

Winter breaks start from the end of this month, details here:
http://www.soultonhall.co.uk/contact/special_occasions_and_offers.html

Farm and Garden: Provenance: Video

A new, short video look at the farm and gardens and the food they produce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brj4oIzyyYU

More info here http://www.soultonhall.co.uk/dining/provenance.html

BBC Show featuring Jules Hudson and John Craven: Filming at Soulton

Filming for an upcomming show with Jules Hudson and John Craven took place on the farm earlier today.

It should be going out on the BBC early in 2012, the show's name is not confirmed for sure yet, but the working tilte is "Country Crafts at Risk".