Sustainable Farming and Gardens in North Northumberland
Though protected by current regulation, Limestone Pavement is a fascinating stone which reflects the influences of water, weather and the environment. We are lucky at Mindrum, to have a wonderful Limestone Pavement rock Garden which was installed in the Mid 1930’s. A picture of the Mindrum Garden from 1879, shows that the gardens were … Continue reading The Rock Garden
A rare foray into politics – Driving to work yesterday I was musing on how how our collective political class have managed, so effectively, to trivialise such an important debate (the UK election). The debate seems to focus largely now on tactical bribes or bullying that is calculated to appeal to particular voter groups. Then there is … Continue reading The Puerility of Politics
We had astonishing turnout yesterday (Sunday 22nd June) when the Mindrum Gardens were open for the National Garden Scheme (Yellow Book) and Hospice Care North Northumberland. The day was perfect, dry but not too hot, and people were amazing, coming from Far and Wide. We had changed a few things around so were unsure as to how … Continue reading June Garden Opening
The first Sand Martins have started returning to the old sand quarry. Most of this colony used to nest by the river in the sand cliffs, but when it changed course in the floods a couple of years ago, they moved and last year set up a colony in the farm sand pit by the … Continue reading Sand Martins back in the sand quarry
In one of my other lives, I run a cyber security consultancy. Security Risk Management is a niche consultancy which specialises in helping a range of clients across Public, Private and Third sectors keep their information and computer systems as safe as possible. One thing that has become clear, however, is how poor many who … Continue reading Cyber Hygiene in Agriculture – as important as bio security?
The first batch of chicks have come off the incubator…. they are supposed to be cream leg bars (Brown and Fawn depending on their Sex) though I see that there are a suspicious number of black chicks… (clearly a travelling cockerel has raided the chicken run!)
The rain, it pours like cats and dogs; the ground begins to flood, As rivers swell, detritus marks the tidemark on the mud. The hallowed swathes of England’s turf with urban rubbish covered, And fields of winter wheat or spuds with dirty water smothered. At home the search for scapegoats start with pundits casting … Continue reading The Ballad of Soggy Ground
We live in a country where it rains a lot. Many people round the world would consider us lucky – but whenever there are floods (terrible though they may be) we seem to throw our arms in the air and look for someone to blame. We should all take a good hard look at what … Continue reading Fighting the Flooding? Rain; we all need to learn to live with it.
We are revamping the Mindrum Websites to include information about many of the other aspects which have been missed. Watch this space!
