Criannan - four star self catering accommodation

DIARY & LINKS

Well Autumn is with us again in all its breezy glory and swirls of beautufully coloured leaves descend with every gust of fresh Northumbrian wind! The garden jobs now are to keep up with clearing the millions of leaves and begin the long task of cutting cut back all the plants and shrubs which have lent such colour and shape to the garden during this rather wet and disappointing summer. I have just returned from a lovely Half Term week at Criannan and planted the tubs and pots with heathers and bright pansies to lend a little cheer to the darker months ahead. Many of the flowers were still flickering bravely on despite the intense cold we had and the hedges are still handsome and shapely, due no doubt to all the moisture we have had this year!

News of the fruit trees is mixed - after the bumper crop of Victorias last year we had precisely 14 plums! The devastating weather just at the time blossom was setting killed all the growth, except in one small patch low down. The new Lord Lambourne apple tree did quite well, producing a few mature apples, and we are pruning it hard to encourage further growth. But the big news is the very old apple tree in the corner of the orchard lawn has suddenly sprung into life after many years of sulking and producing very little - I collected 3 large baskets of windfalls and there are as many again still on the tree! So it has been reprieved and we'll leave the Lord Lambourne where it is for now.

The big recent news is that I have had the greenhouse completely refurbished! An excellent local carpenter remade all the timber frame and rebuilt it from the brickwork upwards. With its new woodwork smartly painted and re-glazed it looks amazing! He is currently working on the garage door and frame, and with the recently constructed bin store also smartly painted the property is looking very good.

Criannan Goes Green!

We have been issued with a recycling bin this year and along with the two composters we already had we are making every effort to reduce our waste and compost garden and household matter. We have installed a re-cycling box in the utility room with clear instructions as to what can be recycled. Hopefully this makes sorting and storing re-cyclables neater and easier to save many trips to the bin. There is also a container near the sink for compostable waste with similar instructions. We hope guests will make every effort to support our aim to be greener!

USEFUL LINKS

The Alnwick Garden | www.alnwickgarden.co.uk

The Fenton Centre | www.fentoncentre.com

Berwick Walls | www.berwick.org.uk

Lindisfarne | www.lindisfarne.org.uk

Holy Island Crossing Times | www.northumberlandlife.org/

The Oxford Farm | www.oxfordfarmshop.co.uk

Roseden Farm Shop | www.roseden.com

Tankerville Arms | www.tankervillehotel.co.uk

Barter Books | www.barterbooks.co.uk

Wooler Community Website | www.wooler.org.uk

Wooler Golf Club | www.woolergolf.co.uk