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.
‘Surfacing’ by Kathleen Jamie. Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie Published by Sort of Books ISBN 97811908745828 When my son said ‘mum, you’ve got to read this book, it’s amazing’, I bought…
Let Nature Be Your Teacher. The poem by Wordsworth ‘The Tables Turned’, urges us to leave our books and look to nature to teach us. While so many of us,…
The great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn only occurs once every 20 years. Advent Day 25 Christmas Day 2020 However in this cycle it is even rarer for them to…
Angel memorials are possibly one of the most common sculptures captured in stone, ceramics or glass. Advent Day 24 Angel memorials probably stand out as the most prominent memorials as…
Doe a deer, a female deer, a Christmas deer. Advent Day 23 Why do we associate reindeer, the Christmas deer, with festivals at this time of year? Long before Christianity…
The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Advent Day 22 The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh that the magi presented to baby Jesus have been part of the Christmas…
The Winter Solstice and the return of the sun. Advent Day 21 The Winter Solstice was such a significant moment for our ancestors and no wonder. Imagine living in a…
The Sweet Chestnut Tree. Advent Day 19 The Sweet Chestnut tree is one of the most beautiful trees in our woodlands. It was introduced to Britain by the Romans and…
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…
Hedgerow berries are the ultimate banquet for our native birds and mammals. Advent Day 17 Our native hedgerow berries create an early Autumn hedge-scape full of colour. By the Winter…