Stories from the Barn

A hive of activity in the Hampshire Down lands

Heritage and Tradition

Britain's rural landscape is the heart and soul of our heritage. What we see as we step into the countryside is a landscape sculpted by the people who have lived here for thousands of years. The complexity of the British heritage is revealed in the woodlands, the ripples in the land, the paths and roads, the waterways and buildings that we encounter. It has been a fascinating  experience to learn about the clues to look out for on our forays into the countryside and to begin to understand how rural life is acting to manage and protect our heritage for all our futures. Share your photos and thoughts with us on social media using the tags #honeybeebarn @honeybeebookbox

 

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Snowdrops

The Snowdrop on Candlemas Day

The Snowdrop the symbol of hope. “The Snowdrop, in purest white array, First rears her head on Candlemas day.” The arrival of the Snowdrop is a sign that, although we…

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An Economic History of the English Garden

An Economic History of the English Garden by Roderick Floud. I picked up ‘An Economic History of The English Garden’ as a result of discovering a whole branch of my…

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Goose Markets

The Goose Fair

The Goose Fair Advent Day 18 In times gone past, Goose fairs were an important part of the agricultural calendar. They were frequently held on Michaelmas Day. Michaelmas marks the…

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