Day 2 camping - an educational day!

Despite the wet weather we managed to have a lovely day! I couldn't decide which photo to use so I have made a collage!

My son and I woke up early to the sound of bird song (and no rain) and he immediately wanted to go outside! We are always the early birds in our family and my husband and daughter are night owls! So we went out early and saw lots of wildlife, including butterflies, all sorts of spiders and birds and evidence of rabbits because of their droppings! It was lovely just the two of us walking around in the early morning sun! An hour or so passed and we headed back to the hut and the other two were up! We had breakfast outside and then were collected by the local farmer who offered us a tour of the farm.

I hadn't realised it was an agricultural farm but it was truly fascinating! He at first he showed us the difference grains they harvest and we had to try and workout what they were! From top to bottom they are wheat, barley, oats, spelt with husks and spelt without!! Then he showed us the factory where the spelt was in the process of having the husks removed! It was very noisy but fascinating!

Then the children got to sit in the combine harvester and started the engine! The farmer showed them how it worked! They loved it!

Then he took us on a drive to a couple of the fields that are due to be harvested shortly. The first was a barley field and the second wheat. It is all organic and therefore no pesticides are used. The fields have a 3 year cycle to ensure the ground is in perfect condition to grow the crops. For 2 years they grow clover and the sheep graze on it and then the ground is ready to sew the seeds and grow the grains. That is for one year and then the cycle starts again!

The afternoon saw lots of rain so we relaxed playing games and reading and then come the evening when the rain passed we went for a walk and saw lots of swifts above the field and a group of ducklings in the river. We had a BBQ and made a camp fire! It was so lovely! We saw bats flying around and just enjoyed sitting and watching the fire (with a couple of glasses of wine).

We certainly made the best of a wet day!