Here they are by the Christmas tree in the lounge.
A Duck's Diary at The Jinney Ring Hanbury, Worcestershire
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Two little Santa's
We don't normally see Santa much out here on the pond, but this year we have seen FOUR so far and it is not even Christmas Eve yet! The first was the Green Santa who is promoting Worcestershire food and living , the second was the Jinney Ring Santa here this weekend for the dray rides. Today we were really privileged and had two "Little Santas" who ran around alot but they did remember to feed us. (I think they are our favourites so far!).
Here they are by the Christmas tree in the lounge.
Here they are by the Christmas tree in the lounge.
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Whoa...
Lots of excitement today -- some huge horses are out in the front car-park, beautifully dressed in brasses pulling a cart filled with children.....and Santa is here too. The horses are getting more attention than us ducks today, I do hope that we still get some food!
The Dray rides are planned from 12-3pm on Sat 10th and Sat 17th as well as today. (No bookings needed).
Santa is also visiting again on 9th, 10th, 15th and 16th December having a hot chocolate and cookie with Children by the fireside. (You do need to book for this one 01527 821272).
Mike from Arkle plants is pretty busy at the moment and has lots of Christmas Trees and wreaths coming in -Our visitors are buying early this year, they can probably remember the snow last year (my webbed feet feel cold just thinking about it!).
The Dray rides are planned from 12-3pm on Sat 10th and Sat 17th as well as today. (No bookings needed).
Santa is also visiting again on 9th, 10th, 15th and 16th December having a hot chocolate and cookie with Children by the fireside. (You do need to book for this one 01527 821272).
Mike from Arkle plants is pretty busy at the moment and has lots of Christmas Trees and wreaths coming in -Our visitors are buying early this year, they can probably remember the snow last year (my webbed feet feel cold just thinking about it!).
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Green Santa and Lights
The Craft Centre was really bright last night as visitors watched the start of the Jinney Ring Christmas!
Worcestershire’s Green Santa, whose mission is to encourage people to think local and make Christmas a more sustainable celebration, teamed up to with Rachel Johnston one of our regular customers to switch on the centre’s Christmas lights. Rachel rang the bell to start a wave of lights which ran round the front of the centre, it now looks really pretty. All of the craft units have decorated their own trees outside their units -- many have decorations relating to their crafts.
After the lights were put on Santa went shopping and had a good look around the craft units meeting Soap Maker (Jorg) and having a good look at the blown glass in Topglass.
We managed to get a peak at the activities from the garden but most of the visitors were soon shopping and visiting the restaurant whilst listen to Christmas tunes from accordion player Helen O'Donnell from Droitwich.
There was a lovely smell too -- the mulled wine was chef's first batch of the year and it certainly smelt nice alongside the roasted chestnuts cooking in the BBQ.
The lights are now on every evening from dusk until close.
Worcestershire’s Green Santa, whose mission is to encourage people to think local and make Christmas a more sustainable celebration, teamed up to with Rachel Johnston one of our regular customers to switch on the centre’s Christmas lights. Rachel rang the bell to start a wave of lights which ran round the front of the centre, it now looks really pretty. All of the craft units have decorated their own trees outside their units -- many have decorations relating to their crafts.
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| Rachel decorated her chair for the occasion and enjoyed the evening |
We managed to get a peak at the activities from the garden but most of the visitors were soon shopping and visiting the restaurant whilst listen to Christmas tunes from accordion player Helen O'Donnell from Droitwich.
There was a lovely smell too -- the mulled wine was chef's first batch of the year and it certainly smelt nice alongside the roasted chestnuts cooking in the BBQ.
The lights are now on every evening from dusk until close.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Xmas is coming
Another beautiful day in the garden today - difficult to think it will be December soon!
One sign that Winter is coming is that the three horses left the field this week as it is getting too wet underfoot and cold at night. Warm stables were sounding very attractive! We will miss them.
The 'rescued' ducklings have come on leaps and bounds since my last diary note, they have been let out to play in the gardens this week. They are quite adventurous and have explored the entire garden swimming on both ponds - normally duckings are a bit slower at getting off the top pond! This lot are a bit cheeky, probably being a large crowd makes them brave!
I did have to follow them out on to the car-park yesterday, just to see what they were looking at. We all got herded back into the garden quite quickly, but not before I had caught glimpse of Christmas preparations. Lights are going up and being tested and I can see that the shop has lots of Christmas stuff out.
There is a late night shopping evening tonight 17th Nov (gift shop only) and all the lights are going to be switched on next week with a Christmas "light up" evening when all the craft units will be open and there will be lots of Christmas food and other things. Worcestershire's own "Green Santa" is coming along to help one of our regular visitors Rachel Johnston to switch on the lights. Rachel is a wonderful lady who is often comes here from Worcester with her carers to watch us on the pond, she is in a wheel chair, so can sometime not come on the grass, she seems to enjoy our antics though! There will be music, chestnuts and other christmassy type things I am told!
One sign that Winter is coming is that the three horses left the field this week as it is getting too wet underfoot and cold at night. Warm stables were sounding very attractive! We will miss them.
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| 13 duckings - growing up, now rampaging around the gardens! |
The 'rescued' ducklings have come on leaps and bounds since my last diary note, they have been let out to play in the gardens this week. They are quite adventurous and have explored the entire garden swimming on both ponds - normally duckings are a bit slower at getting off the top pond! This lot are a bit cheeky, probably being a large crowd makes them brave!
I did have to follow them out on to the car-park yesterday, just to see what they were looking at. We all got herded back into the garden quite quickly, but not before I had caught glimpse of Christmas preparations. Lights are going up and being tested and I can see that the shop has lots of Christmas stuff out.
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| Outside the gift shop |
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Late arrivals
I could not believe my eyes today as I spied little 'dots' on the bottom pond -- 15 new ducklings fresh off the island with a very diligent mum (but let's face it how can you control 15 babies on your own?).
The garden was pretty busy today therefore it was not long before they created quite a stir and were being fed by the children. They did get cold quite quickly though, so Mum rounded them up onto the side and sat on them to warm them up. Fairly soon humans arrived and tried to catch them all -- they managed to catch all but 3, and of course Mum who was far too quick!
The ducklings are very late arrivals in the season and, without some help developing, will not get their feathers in time for the frosts - even I know enough to accept that the humans are being 'cruel to be kind' by putting the youngsters into a heated pen and feeding them up. This way they should all have a very good chance of survival. It is still possible that they will catch the Mum and the other 3 and put them in too -- if she is not too quick. The pen is in the garden next to the pond so the ducklings can be watched over by all of us.
Loads of people here yesterday and today - some are here for children's pottery classes, some are just starting shopping for Christmas (stock now out) and many just enjoying the mild weather in the garden. We love it - we are getting plenty of duck food!
Floss the Chestnut horse has been popping her head over the fence a bit today too. She is feeling much better now after having a big tooth out last week - what a whopper it was, took a long time to sort out! She is getting ready to go to her winter stable soon - when the weather changes.
The garden was pretty busy today therefore it was not long before they created quite a stir and were being fed by the children. They did get cold quite quickly though, so Mum rounded them up onto the side and sat on them to warm them up. Fairly soon humans arrived and tried to catch them all -- they managed to catch all but 3, and of course Mum who was far too quick!
The ducklings are very late arrivals in the season and, without some help developing, will not get their feathers in time for the frosts - even I know enough to accept that the humans are being 'cruel to be kind' by putting the youngsters into a heated pen and feeding them up. This way they should all have a very good chance of survival. It is still possible that they will catch the Mum and the other 3 and put them in too -- if she is not too quick. The pen is in the garden next to the pond so the ducklings can be watched over by all of us.
Loads of people here yesterday and today - some are here for children's pottery classes, some are just starting shopping for Christmas (stock now out) and many just enjoying the mild weather in the garden. We love it - we are getting plenty of duck food!
Floss the Chestnut horse has been popping her head over the fence a bit today too. She is feeling much better now after having a big tooth out last week - what a whopper it was, took a long time to sort out! She is getting ready to go to her winter stable soon - when the weather changes.
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Heat Wave, Apples and More....
My 'scribe' has been on holiday so I am unavoidably behind in the my news, many apologies. (It is probably no surprise to you, but the computer companies have yet to make a keyboard that is 'webfoot' friendly... but who knows what quackers ideas will come next!). As a result I have lots to catch up on over the last few weeks.
The late September heat wave appears to have been very welcome in the gardens here - one group of visitors arrived by coach and had their tea served in glorious sunshine in the gardens, a couple even gave me a taste of their shortbread. They were the Birmingham Air Raid Remembrance Association (BARRA), an very interesting group.
Being birds we are always interested in our fellow species and over the last month we have been visited several times by the RSPB who has set up a stall in the front courtyard. They have been quite successful at recruiting new members we hear so I guess this will protect a few more of us - although have to admit to having a pretty good life here myself!
Also in the front courtyard/carpark we had a lot of excitement on the 16th October with what has now become an annual event of "Apple Pressing". Pressing went on all day and a lot of juice was made for drinking neat and turning into cider - this happens once a year and is in October. Mick and neighbour Matt (who kindly helped out) both had very sore arms next day!
I have not been able to see them yet but keep hearing about the exhibition of "Tea Cosies" that has arrived from the Avoncroft Museum and is inside the restaurant, there are apparently some lovely cosies on hanging around the beams on display and for sale. The Tea cosies have been made by volunteers to raise funds for the conservation of the Avoncroft Museum's historic buildings. Sadly, whilst there is a cosy with chickens on, there are none with ducks on --- maybe next time!
Even with a heat wave, the gift shop staff have been thinking about Christmas and have now launched their Christmas stock and displays with a preview night (on the same night as the autumn/winter "pudding night"). Don't worry if you missed it though as there is a Christmas late night shopping night (including supper) on 10th November and then a "switch on" of Christmas lights with the full centre open on the 23rd November with music and food, we are looking forward to that as the ponds will be lit up and it looks really pretty in the gardens at night.
This weekend we have had a lovely wedding party here. The couple, Maureen and John, had their first date at the Jinney Ring and then a big engagement party here last year so it wonderful to see them back for their wedding breakfast. They had an intimate party in our meeting room and then a stroll around the gardens as the weather was lovely for yesterday. We hope to see them back for their next celebration soon as they are committed "Jinney Ringers"!
This is not everything that went on but need to "quack on" now .....
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| Coach trip - BARRA enjoy tea in the garden on 29th September! |
The late September heat wave appears to have been very welcome in the gardens here - one group of visitors arrived by coach and had their tea served in glorious sunshine in the gardens, a couple even gave me a taste of their shortbread. They were the Birmingham Air Raid Remembrance Association (BARRA), an very interesting group.
Being birds we are always interested in our fellow species and over the last month we have been visited several times by the RSPB who has set up a stall in the front courtyard. They have been quite successful at recruiting new members we hear so I guess this will protect a few more of us - although have to admit to having a pretty good life here myself!
Also in the front courtyard/carpark we had a lot of excitement on the 16th October with what has now become an annual event of "Apple Pressing". Pressing went on all day and a lot of juice was made for drinking neat and turning into cider - this happens once a year and is in October. Mick and neighbour Matt (who kindly helped out) both had very sore arms next day!
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| Mick above was crushing apples all day! |
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| Part of the Gift Shop Christmas Display |
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| Maureen and John - happy events at the Jinney Ring! |
This weekend we have had a lovely wedding party here. The couple, Maureen and John, had their first date at the Jinney Ring and then a big engagement party here last year so it wonderful to see them back for their wedding breakfast. They had an intimate party in our meeting room and then a stroll around the gardens as the weather was lovely for yesterday. We hope to see them back for their next celebration soon as they are committed "Jinney Ringers"!
This is not everything that went on but need to "quack on" now .....
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Wine and Sunshine!
What a glorious week on the ponds, the weather heat wave has certainly brought people out and sent us ducks in -- the water that is!
This week we a new craft workshop opened up. Free Bird Framing is a picture framer and sells memorabilia pictures. Peter and Jo Turvey who are running the business have started this weekend having first noticed the unit for sale when they came to the Blues Festival this summer - funny how a Blues Festival can change your life!
Last night we were all kept awake by laughter and light from the restaurant where a wine tasting was going on. Paul Green from Heritage Wines was leading the tasting of the new range of Australian and New Zealand Wines that had literally just landed! They must have been good as everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
The Hattery Ladies were here for two days this week rather than just one (we were glad as they are very nice ladies and always pop out to see us!). They had a Hat Sale on with some dashing pieces on display - not quite as jaunty as the Crested Duck's head gear - but close!
On the ponds there is a little sad news as one of the four "reared" ducklings disappeared one evening when they had all declared UDI and refused to go into their pen, not sure but we suspect the fox again! Rosie and Jim (the Hanbury school ducks) are still coming in a t night, too but they are now so huge we think they need to have a bit more exercise in the day - very chunky ducks!
Despite the glorious weather I keep hearing talk of Christmas around the place -- The gift shop are planning to put all their new stock out for a Preview night on the 13th of October - to coincide with "Pudding Night" - what could ladies want more than an evening of exclusive shopping followed by as many puddings as you can eat!
This week we a new craft workshop opened up. Free Bird Framing is a picture framer and sells memorabilia pictures. Peter and Jo Turvey who are running the business have started this weekend having first noticed the unit for sale when they came to the Blues Festival this summer - funny how a Blues Festival can change your life!
Last night we were all kept awake by laughter and light from the restaurant where a wine tasting was going on. Paul Green from Heritage Wines was leading the tasting of the new range of Australian and New Zealand Wines that had literally just landed! They must have been good as everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
The Hattery Ladies were here for two days this week rather than just one (we were glad as they are very nice ladies and always pop out to see us!). They had a Hat Sale on with some dashing pieces on display - not quite as jaunty as the Crested Duck's head gear - but close!
On the ponds there is a little sad news as one of the four "reared" ducklings disappeared one evening when they had all declared UDI and refused to go into their pen, not sure but we suspect the fox again! Rosie and Jim (the Hanbury school ducks) are still coming in a t night, too but they are now so huge we think they need to have a bit more exercise in the day - very chunky ducks!
Despite the glorious weather I keep hearing talk of Christmas around the place -- The gift shop are planning to put all their new stock out for a Preview night on the 13th of October - to coincide with "Pudding Night" - what could ladies want more than an evening of exclusive shopping followed by as many puddings as you can eat!
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