The Grounds
When we moved to The Old Rectory we were determined to make it a nicer place to live not only for ourselves, but also for the local wildlife. Sometimes we find this frustrating when they eat our flowers or vegetables, but also it brings our guest and us a great deal of interest and pleasure. So this is what we have done.
The Traditional Orchard
We planted our one-acre field some 20 years ago. Our orchard consists of over 150 trees consisting of apple, pear and plum trees – all of the apple varieties originate from Victorian times or earlier and many are local varieties such as St Edmund’s Russet. Lord Stradbroke, Norfolk Beefing and Adams Pearmain. We are growing the trees without the use of chemicals.
The Orchard now provides food and a home for wildlife as well as a source of fruit for our guests and us. During July, there is usually a good show of Bee Orchids & Pyramidal Orchids.
Our Wildlife Pond
We have a large wildlife pond-some 80 feet from side to side and has deep, shallow and boggy areas which we have planted so that it provides habitats, cover, food and perches for a wide range of creatures such as newts, dragonflies and house martins.
Hedges, Trees & Wildflowers
Our 5-acre field contains a large number of Native trees – Oak, Silver Birch, Hazel, Ash, Beech and Hornbeam and Hedging such as Wild Cherry, Wild Pear, Blackthorn, Quickthorn, a Service Tree (one of the rarest native trees). Much of the hedging has edible berries or fruit to provide the birds with food.
In our field & orchard we try to follow a mowing programme that is sympathetic to plants & wildlife and this has resulted in a large variety of wildflowers establishing themselves.
What animals & birds might you see during your stay at The Old Rectory?
Wildlife
What animals & birds might you see during your stay at The Old Rectory?
The deer often enjoy a drink and a paddle in our pond.
All of the following are seen quite often at The Old Rectory – Barn Owls, Muntjac Deer, Foxes, Squirrels, Red & Roe Deer, and many birds including Thrushes, Blackbirds, Swallows, 2 types of Woodpecker, Swifts, House Martins, Robins, Treecreepers, Chaffinch, Rooks, Dunnocks, Tits, Finches, Pheasants & Buzzards.
Photo Gallery
