Broome Park Farm, Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast Accommodation Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire

Yesterday evening I joined a walk around Cramer Gutter, organised by Shropshire Wildlife Trust. This is a nature reserve of national importance, being the only place in the Midlands where marsh gentians and sundews still survive. August and September are the best times to see the marsh gentians in flower but we were a little late in the evening and the flowers had closed up - they are a vivid blue in colour. The sundews are a native carniverous plant, catching small insects to survive in the extremely boggy conditions.

Cramer Gutter is a 12 acre site rich in biodiversity and well worth a visit. I am now hoping to attend a bat walk on Saturday evening on Catherton Common, also arranged by the Wildlife Trust, who have recently purchased this expanse of heathland.

Yesterday was the day we decided to extract our honey from the hive! We had already fitted a clearer board between the 2 supers on the hive to clear the top one (with the honey in) of bees, so were able to remove the frames quickly and efficiently. We then placed 2 packs of fondant in the empty super to feed the bees - we had noticed that they had already been uncapping sealed cells of honey as the weather has been so unsettled. Phase 1 completed successfully we were on a high!

Sandra had collected a honey extractor from LDBKA so we thought we were ready to go. Using a heated bread knife we carefully uncapped the first 4 frames and placed them, as instructed, in the extractor. Following instructions we slowly turned one way, then turned the frames around and turned again, this time a little quicker. What a disappointment - only about a teacup full of honey in the bottom of the extractor! Closer inspection of the frames showed lots of crystallised honey that was never going to be spun out. After some discussion we resorted to plan B - cutting out the honey from the frames and extraction by melting - the wax floats on top of the honey and can be skimmed off! We managed to pot 9 large and 5 small jars by this method so are relatively pleased! However we now need to rebuild 9 frames and return them to the hive, which I think is going to be more complex than we originally imagined - watch this space!

I am always looking for new ideas to enhance my guests stay with us and recently whilst staying at Millstream Cottage in Dunster we were given cookies in a jar in our room. So now cookies are on offer on the Broome Park Farm tea tray! Although I am going to have to refine my cookie making technique as most of the cookies I’ve made today are too big to fit in the jar!!

An update on the bees - we have had to requeen the hive so fingers crossed the new queen will have settled in by the time we hope to extract some honey at the weekend.

Combining is now in full swing - although repairs were necessary over the weekend - John is busy as long as the weather is fine! We also have 6 baby chicks - photos soon as I am too scared of the mother hen to get too near at the moment! John says she’s a sweetheart but not to me!