Rowlestone Court - Latest news

Latest news

Four of the six ice creams we presented to the Great Taste Awards 2010 achieved gold stars. We are really pleased as its our first attempt to gain this accolade. The products were sampled by several specially convened panels of gastro experts - it's apparently a very rigorous process and the judging has taken place over a two month period.

We are delighted to have won the Countryside Aliance award for the 'Best Rural Enterprise' in the West Midlands region.

Receiving prize

Receiving our Rural Enterprise award in March entailed a trip to the House of Lords (we are on the left), and meeting Bill Wiggin, MP for Leominster (middle) with the Slade Joneses, Butchers of Kington.

rare breed pigs and cow

New additions to the rare breed family: two Kune Kunes that go by the names of Babe (yes it's true, sorry about that) and Dave. On the right is Debbie (posing next to Mark) - our new Belted Galloway.

March 2009 saw the first part of the Woodland Management Plan being instigated; our stalwart helpers, Ben and Peter, widened our woodland path into an 8 metre 'ride' with the aim of encouraging butterflies and other invertebrates down into the woods from the wildflower meadow.

Lime kiln

This felling also revealed the extensive lime quarrying that took place a couple of centuries ago to feed the twin chambered kiln at the bottom of the ride.

winter scene

Weather
Life was hard over winter - not quite Siberia but a wolly jacket was standard kit. Despite this, hedgelaying has started in earnest using hazel stake from our woods and Ben and Peter are lined up for more felling and coppicing.

Information boards
We are working with a design consultancy and Natural England to develop 'interpretation boards' specific to the location with paticular reference to the castle mound and the lime kilns. These should be in place by Spring 2010.

Building
Also we’re developing a building to act both as a freezer store and a Visitors Information Room.

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