Stories from the Barn

A hive of activity in the Hampshire downlands

Stories from the Barn is all about the heart and soul of our British Natural History, Art, Landscape, Literature and Country ways.

Sharing with you, discovering and reconnecting together with our British natural history, landscape heritage, art and literature that we have been privileged to explore and learn about over this past year and on through the continuing challenges of 2020.  From our rural hive, tucked into the folds of Hampshire Down land, we have used this time to walk out into our beautiful countryside to slow down and take time to observe, discover and learn more about the natural world and landscape around us. It has been a very positive and healing experience and one we hope you too will enjoy.

Elm Trees

The Elm Tree

The elm tree once largely unnoticed, left gaps in our tree lines and hedgerows as they succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease. Towards the end of the 1970’s it became apparent…

Plant a Tree for the Jubilee

Plant a Tree for the Jubilee. ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ is an initiative to mark Queen Elizabeth II platinum jubilee, when we will be celebrating her 70 years…

Beltane

Beltane or May Day is the Celtic festival that heralds in this time of love aplenty. May Day or Beltane is celebrated on the 1st of May which, in the…

Olive Green

The Colour Olive Green

Olive Green, one of the most elusive of all the greens. The colour olive green always seems to be the colour of the trees in the distance but close up,…

British Woodlands

British Woodland

A walk through a British woodland is one of the most relaxing things to do. Our British woodland is a key part of the landscape that we all love and…

Shakespeare’s Flowers

When William Shakespeare wrote of love and despair he often turned to the language of flowers to help him. Shakespeare’s flowers lay scattered throughout some of his most notable works…

Daffodils

A Host of Golden Daffodils

 A Host of Golden Daffodils. If there is one poem that that we share as a nation then William Wordsworth ‘Daffodils’ must be high on the list. It is such…

Lambing Season is on its way

Lambing season is on its way for many parts of the UK. It’s a busy time for farmers as lambing season gets underway. It is one of the joys of…

February Mud Month

February, the shortest month of the year and the muddiest. There is a weariness to February. Inside of us a wish that just won’t go away, that Winter was over…

Ash tree buds

Tree bud Identification

Take a woodland walk and use tree bud identification to add spice to Winter woodland walks. Become an expert in tree bud identification. Signs of the changing season appear on…