The ducklings are living on an island in the middle of the lake which provides some protection from predators. But at this time of the year they will need to watch out for a very cunning fox who got the better of ‘Lucy’, a rather large goose, in November. Then there are also three local buzzards, who are taking great interest.

The ducklings do, however, have mild weather on their site. This time last year temperatures were struggling to get above freezing at night. So far this year we have not seen a frost, with the mercury averaging around 6c at night and double figures during the day. The forecast into next week is for the mild weather to continue.

The Indian Runner ducklings' mother

The duckings will become independent at around six weeks, when their chances of survival increase significantly. We’ll keep you posted on their progress.

Mistletoe is a parasite that grows on the branches of its host tree, sending out roots into its tree to take up nutrients. There are males and females, the females baring a sticky white berry. Their favourite host is the apple tree, which explains their abundance in Hereford and Worcester, counties famous for their orchards.

It is of course kissing at Christmas for which mistletoe is famous. Kissing under the mistletoe dates back to druid times where it was thought that the plant held special fertility powers. Mistletoe of the oak was especially sacred to the druids who would cut it with a gold sickle at winter solstice. They believed that mistletoe was the soul of the tree. During the middle ages it was hung around the house with holly and ivy to ward off witches and evil spirits. In the eighteenth century a young lady who stood beneath mistletoe could not refuse to be kissed, such a kiss would deliver love, romance and lasting friendship and goodwill.

We have plenty of the stuff hanging in the cottage this Christmas.

Regular visitors to the site will know that here at Woodhill Cottage we are big fans of weather folklore, so I have turned to the legendary folklore forecaster Robin Page of BBC One Man and His Dog fame to see what he says on November weather. Apparently a cold November signifies a mild winter – ‘Ice in November to bear a duck, the rest of the winter will be slush and muck.’ He doesn’t say whether the reverse is true, but if the high pressure currently located over central Europe pushes north west it could help change the winds from the south to the east and bring us some cold weather later in the month. This time last year we were experiencing record low temperatures which culminated in 30 centemeters of snow falling on the Surrey Hills on the 30th November, snow which didn’t thaw until after Christmas.

Heavy Snowfall in November last year.

So how do we know this is a grass snake and not an adder?  Both look similar in size and markings. The grass snake is more olive in colour, the adder brown with a darker zig zag and a ‘v’ on the back of its head. The way to know for sure is to look it in the eyes, the grass snake has a circular pupil, the adder has a vertical ‘slit’.

The grass snake next door is a small one, they can grow to over a meter long, it is probably young as they tend to hatch in early September. It is likely that it had been looking for a good place to hibernate last week as they tend to bed down in October.

UPDATE: I believe that it has now moved on, probably due to the hot weather over the weekend.

Red-backed shrikes are slightly larger but slimmer then a house sparrow and are unmistakable with a bluish-grey head, black mask over its eyes, a bright chestnut back and thick hooked black bill. It is often referred to as the ‘butcher bird’ as it impales its prey of beetles, lizards, bees and other insects on thorns or brambles.

The shrike was first seen in the field in front of Woodhill Farm house on June 26th. We haven’t been able to get a photo but I have found some video which shows it clearly. Also click on this link to see a report from the  Spring Watch team who’s cameraman spotted and filmed one last year.

The Albury Produce Show was founded in 1946 and is one of the oldest shows of its kind in the country.

There was a whole variety of prize vegetables, fruit, flowers, cookery, photography and much more entered into the 219 different competition classes in the produce tent.

Outside there was live music from the Heslemere Town brass band, Morris dancing from the East Surrey Morris Men,  classic military vehicles, a host of stalls, teas, cakes and a hog roast.

Proceeds from the event go to a selection of local charities. Last year the organisers raised over £4,000 with the principal beneficiary being Cherry Trees in East Clandon, which provides respite care for children and young people with learning and physical disabilities.

Following Saturday’s Produce Show, Sunday saw the third Albury Free Festival a live music event featuring a great line up of local bands playing Rock, Blues and Jazz.

The result for farmer’s crops and pasture has been desperate. Towards the end of May the Surrey Hills’ brown landscape looked more like Spain in August. The problem now is that although the recent rainfall has seen lush green grass start to grow, it is now too wet to make hay.

Andrew Cameron of Upper Woodhill Farm welcomes the rainfall but has decided to let his herd of Sussex cattle graze on the surrounding pasture rather than to put it aside to make hay for the winter. “Through the early Spring it was looking like we were going to have another poor year for pasture. Buying in feed when there is no pasture makes cattle farming very expensive.” Cameron explains, “I have decided to let the cows graze on the new growth and hope that the rain continues. I’ll buy in hay over the next month or so for the winter months.”

Visitors to the site will know that Andrew’s Woodhill herd saw ten calves born in April and May, seven bull calves and three heifers. There are, however, more on the way. Gorgeous George the bull, who ran with the Woodhill cows and heifers last year, seems to have got off to a good start with six of the girls but then took a month off before having another go. As a result Andrew is expecting five or six further calves in July. “Its not ideal to do calving in two stints,” says Andrew, “I aim to have them all in April, but its quite common for a first time bull to have a little rest, so we’ll let him off this year.” Bless him.

We will bring you Woodhill calving part 2 in July so keep checking the site for updates.

The fete will open at 1pm on the village green and will also feature the annual dog show, which has nine categories ranging from Cutest Puppy to Best Sausage Catcher.

There will be plenty on offer for everyone including a hog roast, beer tent, pony rides, bouncy castle, an art and photography competition, garden stalls and plenty of side shows.

You will find Shamley Green on the B2128 heading from Guildford towards Cranleigh. Parking is available in the fields between The Red Lion and Bricklayers Arms, both of which will be open for lunch. Don’t forget to bring your scarecrow…but be warned the standard is high!

UPDATE: The competition was fierce, but we won third prize.

Saturday 11th – Sunday 26th June

Daily 11am -5pm, Thursdays 11am – 8pm

Evey June our corner of the Surrey Hills plays host to the annual Fircroft Art Exhibition.

Fircroft is home to international exhibited artist Frank Taylor and his wife Christine. Set in a beautiful and interesting early Victorian country house and its mature wooded gardens, the Fircroft Art Exhibition brings together the work of more than fifty established and emerging artists from around the UK and all over the world.

This summer’s Fircroft event will see exhibits from several regulars, including eminent ceramic sculptor John Maltby, potters Pru Green, Daphne Garritt and Christine Bull, jewellers Jane Angel and Roger Elliott. Yorkshire sculptor Steve Blaylock, who was commissioned to make the Blue Peter sculpture for the Blue Peter garden, will be showing a 6ftx6ft ‘Blue Peter’ at the exhibition (pictured below at the Chelsea Flower Show).

There are also several exceptional new exhibitors; Paul Jones is showing his extraordinary paintings based upon the landscape and coastline of Dorset, and  Rutland-based painter and printmaker Angela Harding has a selection of her beautiful bird and wildlife images.  Birds are also a feature in the ceramic forms of Anthony Theakston, the decoration of pottery by Kevin Warren and the wildlife theme continues with Nichola Theakston’s exquisite ceramic sculptures.

[View Slide Show]

[View with PicLens]

Somerset’s George Hider makes intricate farmyard animals in reclaimed steel and these are on show in the gardens alongside sculptures in stone, bronze, glass and ceramic by Olivia Ferrier, Jo Jones, Darrell Evanes, Eric Duggan, Lisa Pettibone and several leading Zimbabwean artists.

Entry to the exhibition is free and Christine and Frank provide a very warm welcome to all.  This the sixteenth summer exhibition and they believe it to be the best so far.

You will find Fircroft off New Road, Albury Heath, Albury, Surrey GU5 9DD.

The exhibition is signposted off the A25 between Guildford and Dorking.

If you would like to get in touch please e-mail fircroft@alburyheath.com

Early Nester - Angela Harding

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Apart from a couple of spots of rain, the weather was kind to this afternoon’s event. Opened by TV’s Fay Ripley of Cold Feet, the fete had plenty on offer, including some excellent plant stalls run by local nurseries, some terrific live music and a very competitive Tug of War which was won by The Weatsheaf team, which was just as well seeing as they were the sponsors of the event.

But it was Cyril the Squirrel in his 4×4 and some very enthusiastic terriers who drew the largest audience and quite frankly the most laughs. Terriers can really shift, even with stuffed jockeys on their backs.

The annual fete raises money for local charities including the Bramley Infant School, the Scouts and Brownies. First reports were that this year’s event would raise around £7-8,000. If you know the final tally please let us know by leaving a comment on the site.