“A society grows when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.”
Greek Proverb
A pair of binoculars are a staple requirement when visiting Hatterrall. We are so lucky to live in such an unspoilt part of the world, home to an abundance of wildlife, including some rarely seen species.
From the banks of the farm, you can look down on the River Monnow, where brown trout swim, chased by otters.
“Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.”
Aldo Leopold
The cuckoo returns to the farm each year in the spring, and settles high in the trees along the Offa’s Dyke Path following their extraordinary migration from Central Africa. You may not be able to visibly spot a cuckoo following its successful long-distance nocturnal migration across Europe to the UK but you certainly won’t miss its unique calls, crying out to find mates in April. As brood parasites, cuckoos spook woodland birds away from their nests and cunningly lay their own eggs in them, to be brought up by the host. In late June, the cuckoo, shortly followed by its young make their way south back to Africa to overwinter. The combination of habitat loss and deforestation and hunting on migrating routes have led to a decline in cuckoo numbers in recent years and whilst the silence of the cuckoo call provides a stark reminder of our diminishing natural world in many areas, Hatterrall is very lucky to remain home to the cuckoo.
“Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time.”
Katrina Mayer
Buzzards cry catching thermals between the farm and Hatterrall Ridge. Red kites soar the fields in the early morning, searching for their breakfast. Great-spotted woodpeckers nest and the tawny owls feed their young in the yew tree above the wildlife pond whilst a local heron frequents the wildlife ponds in search of his next meal, enjoying the abundance of newts and frogs.
To us, the above quote couldn’t be more apt, it is now, more so than ever, Hatterrall’s aim to restore the farm into a nature haven, conserving the habitats of its animal visitors for years to come, as without nature, we are nothing.
“You can’t force people to care about our natural environment, but if you encourage them to connect with it, they just might.”
Jennifer Nini
