We are nowhere as near along with our orchard as we would like at River View Pateley. The paddock at the back of the holiday cottage is as full of ancient bailer as it was at the end of autumn, and still has a couple of stubborn twice burned logs that survived a summer's camping as well as bonfire night. Frost was our enemy over winter, and although we managed to get a couple of rogue elders felled to give the trees more light to grow, the ground was frozen for much of the se

Winter is harder on the chickens at River View. The water jug freezes and so do the pellets. Worms hide deep in the soil and on the worst days, our hens don't bother leaving the hut at all. Luckily a couple of our young guests who visited at Easter gave them some comfort. Two young people gave them extra corn at least once a day and picked them up for a few cuddles. Thanks boys! BACK TO BLOG #Winter #Birds #AtRiverView

We have six brown hens outside the bedroom window at River View Pateley. Children will give you six individual names for them, although it i

Steve has just put a small herd of Dartmoor on the field in front of River View Pateley. They have a with a job to do: eat off the grass lef

Eat your heart out Rio; Nidderdale has its own premier sporting event. The Nidderdale Sprint Trainthlon takes place every second weekend in

A lovely couple of guests who visited us last week left us a flower to remember them by.: "lychnis flos-cuculi" or, more simply, "Jenny". Je

We accidentally feed grouse and pheasants every time we put grass seed out on the lawn. (By my calculations, there is an attrition rate of a

With warmer weather, it is time for dogs and children to take to the river in front of the cottage. On the right day, the air rings with the

The field in front of the cottage is prettying up with wildflowers this month. Meadow buttercup, cuckoo flower and sweet vernal grass inters

Half of Pateley have been watching this brood of ducks since the little ones hatched in March. Great conversations for dog walkers and rambl