Working with Nature

The Estate is farmed with wildlife very much in mind, with hedges, mixed deciduous woodland and coniferous forests, lochs, wetlands, rivers and moorland. If you come to stay with us, we would be very surprised if you do not see any deer or grouse as well as the native blackface sheep and the magnificent Highland cattle which live in the glen.  Herds of up to 500 red deer live on the hills.  There is an enormous and diverse resident bird population, boosted in the summer months by migrants including curlews and cuckoos. We have ancient unimproved wildflower meadows with rare yellow mountain violets and orchids. The walls support rare ferns, mosses and lichens which grow only in totally unpolluted places.

Water comes to the houses from the natural springs on the hill. They have been used for at least 800 years, but we suspect that they have been used for much longer, given the evidence of 3000 year old ruins on the estate.  In summer, our heather hills support beehives from which we obtain our heather honey.

Red Squirrels

For 40 years we have worked to conserve the endangered red squirrel. Thanks to a number of measures including planting trees that they favour and trying hard to ensure that the best food sources are available, the population has doubled and you are likely to see some during your stay. You will have a squirrel feeder at your house (the square box with the perspex front). We try to fill it before your arrival to give you the best chance of watching the squirrels. However, if you are lucky, there will be so many around that they will finish the box within a day or two. Should you then wish to top it  up, and help our conservation efforts, please buy peanuts from us, not those sold as bird food in the shops.  Most peanuts for birds contain heavy pesticides to keep the cost down, but which are actually severely toxic to squirrels.  Ours are more expensive but they are aflatoxin free, which makes a huge beneficial difference to the squirrel population. Simon has a supply of these peanuts and can sell some to you: 07949 547882.

Red Squirrels live in mixed woodland and conifer forests. They spend most of their time in trees, making nests known as dreys near the top of conifer trees, using moss, grass and twigs. They are solitary for much of the year. They give birth in the spring and summer with two or three kittens in each litter. The young leave the drey for the first time after approximately one month, becoming independent by about 13 weeks. Red squirrels feed on conifer seeds, fungi, acorns and berries. In autumn when food is at its most plentiful they gather extra for the colder months ahead – you will see them collect nuts from your feeder and bury them in the lawn. In winter they do not hibernate but survive on these supplies gathered earlier in the year.

Would you wish to take part in our red squirrel research project? If so, please record the number of sightings you have at your feeder, and if possible the time of day and the length of time they spend there. If you can, please also take note of the number of different individuals that you see – their tails and ears are usually distinctive with colours ranging from pale blonde to dark brown. Just leave a note of your findings with your comments sheet at the end of your stay. Thank you so much.

Plant Life

In the 1980s there were 33 species of trees on Brewlands Estate.  Since then, we have researched and expanded the list of species that grow well here and which, most importantly, support wildlife: the list of species has grown to 91.  Garden plants were chosen, historically, to flower in August when the family used to be in residence.  We have changed this policy completely and we now have bee, moth and other insect favourites that follow through from the snowdrops in early Spring to the sedums and helianthus of late Autumn.  Parts of the estate have been left to rewild and our harvesting is done carefully to protect ground nesting birds.  Larks have returned – climb Doldy Hill on a summer’s day to hear them in full voice and our raptor, curlew, peewit (northern lapwing) and cuckoo numbers have been climbing steadily.

You will notice that many houses in this area have Rowan (Mountain Ash) trees in their gardens, a medium sized tree recognised by its frothy white blossom and brilliant red berries. In Scotland it was believed that a Rowan tree in one’s garden was essential to ward off witches: to this day Rowan trees are planted when new houses are built. 

Many of us make jelly with Rowan berries, which is delicious with meat and game. We also make gin from the local Sloe bushes and cordial and wine from the flowers and berries of the Elder tree.

World Seed Bank

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew believe that our estate is among a very few areas of the UK that have not been degraded by the farming methods employed during the 20^th century.  To that end, in 2017 they started to collect seeds from the estate for the World Seed Bank.  In 2017 they collected our wild raspberry seeds, examples of which you will see in many of our road verges and woodland fringes.  In 2018, seeds from different species of wild willow were collected. Some of our seeds are kept frozen deep underground in the UK and the rest are in naturally frozen caves on the Norwegian arctic island of Svalbard, 800 miles from the north pole.  They form part of global efforts to protect the environment against natural or manmade disasters.

Local Produce

We believe strongly in supporting our local community and promoting local suppliers:  our cook strives wherever possible to use locally grown vegetables, organic venison and game from the Estate and beef and lamb from local suppliers.  The UK’s largest organic raspberry, strawberry and blueberry growing area is only 20 minutes away.  Our hens live on the estate, our logs are supplied locally and our cleaning team walk to work.