new calf - a Little White Bull

 

Welcome to our newest arrival, a happy healthy little white bull calf born ten days ago.

Mum and calf doing well in this long fabulous Devon summer sunshine at Watermill Cottages rural coastal retreat.



Now, what shall we call him?  Any ideas?  

Eel-friendly eelectricity!

We are delighted to say that the EA has approved the screen already in place at Watermill Cottages for the water turbine and declared we are eel friendly. So the electricity we generate for our house and for Barleycorn Cottage really is eel-ectricity!

 

Here in the Gara Valley we're lucky enough to have a thriving eel population, as this year's EA fish survey showed, as well as an equally thriving otter population for whom eels are a fast food.  The Slapton Ley Field Centre have told us that most female glass eels drift into the Severn Estuary whilst most male glass eels drift around the south coast. 

Our eels enter Slapton Ley through the overflow at Torcross before making their way as elvers upstream to mature, which takes several years. They then transform from yellow eels to silver eels to make their way back to the Sargasso Sea to mate.  if they fail to reach the sea then they transform back into yellow eels and wait for the next year.
There was much excitement in summer and early autumn as many eels were visible from the bridge and lawns at Watermill Cottages.

To help raise awareness of eels here's some information from The Environment Agency website - they are quite extraordinary creatures, long-lived and  at ease in salt and fresh water.

Eel facts from The Environment Agency
Eel numbers have dropped since the 1980s to very low levels across Europe. As a result European regulations are now in place requiring action by all European member states to reverse this decline. Legislation comes into force on January 1 2015 to protect eels and their diminishing habitats.  This includes having all weirs, turbines and abstraction areas checked by The Environment Agency (EA) for eel-friendliness, and installing expensive screens if required.

Why the eel decline?  The EA says it's not caused by one problem alone, but it's a complicated picture. Over-fishing in some parts of Europe, parasites, climate change, pollutants such as pesticides and heavy metals probably all have parts to play. One of the most likely causes is the huge decrease in available habitat for eels in our freshwater rivers, canals, lakes and tidal estuaries. Since the Second World War, we have drained lowland rivers, straightened channels and created modern flood defence barriers. This sort of water management reduces suitable habitat and makes it difficult for eel to move freely through our rivers.
The eel is a famous international marine traveller completing only part of its life cycle in freshwaters or coastal areas, where it is fished for by both rod and net. Spawning has not been observed, but it is believed to take place in the spring, deep in the Sargasso Sea, between Bermuda and the Bahamas.

Larvae and glass eel 
Maturing females, although their eggs have not been collected, are reported to contain up to 10 million eggs. The eggs develop into a 'leaf-like' larva called a ‘leptocephalus’ It was originally thought that these larvae took three years to migrate from the Sargasso Sea to the European coast but, recent studies suggest that the journey may take as little as 12 months.

When the larvae reach the continental shelf they change into what is called the 'glass eel' stage before continuing with their migration. In the British Isles, from around May, once temperatures have reached about ten degrees Celsius, the glass eel make their migration from the estuaries into freshwater.
 
Once the glass eel develop pigmentation they are referred to as 'elver' and are very similar in shape to the adult eel. To facilitate their passage through the estuary and into rivers they use the tidal currents, migrating upstream on the flood tide. During the ebb tide they move out of the current towards the bank side to prevent being washed out to sea.

In fresh water the eel lives on or near the bottom, often digging into the gravel, and migrates slowly upstream. During this period they are generally referred to as yellow eel. Moving further upstream eel become fewer and more dispersed. Eel in the upper reaches of river systems are generally fewer and  they tend to be much larger than in the lower reaches. In the lower reaches the populations have a higher proportion of males, which contrasts with the upper reaches where females predominate.

Silver eel  Male eel stay in freshwater for between 7 and 12 years, maturing at an average length of about 36cm. Females stay between 9 to 20 years and mature at a larger average size of about 50cm, though eel can grow larger reaching up to 1 metre in length and live as long as 40 years.

When the fish mature they change to a blue/silvery colour and migrate seaward during the autumn, usually during dark stormy nights.
 
Species - Eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.)
Weight - rarely 2.3kg (5lb), very few over 3.2kg (7lb)
Length - rarely exceed 100cm
Age - maximum recorded 40 years
Location - estuaries and freshwater
Behaviour - catadromous
Preferred habitat - slow-flowing, deep water, sand, silt and weed
Feeding - May-October, most active at night, forage in debris
Natural food - crustacea, worms, small fish.
Maturity - 8-15 years
Spawning - Sargasso Sea at depth
Migratory habits -  August-December, adults migrate to sea; February-May, glass eel arrive at coastal waters; May-September elvers migrate upstream 

Predators - pike, eel, fish-eating birds, otters

First twin lambs at Watermill Cottages!

first lamb of spring at Watermill Cottages - we called him Lambo ...
 
 
... he arrived in the Gara Valley on Sunday morning and had a bit of a struggle to start drinking as he couldn't suck very strongly.  Jade had to milk the ewe and hand feed him so he digested the vital first mouthfuls.  One he started though there was no stopping him. 

 This afternoon, the second birth - twins this time!  The ewes are Lleyn sheep and the ram is Jade's Jacob ram Jessie, hence they're little black lambs.  One has a patch of white curly hair.  They were up and suckling immediately.  Eighteen ewes to go...

    

Watermill Cottages - now on Facebook and Twitter

Our five peaceful, dog-friendly self-catering cottages  Watermill Cottages are now on Facebook and Twitter.

Yes, we've finally joined so we can share more about what's happening with the cottages and land, post pictures of this unique & beautiful coastal valley,  keep you up to date with our smallholding and how we're trying to live more sustainably.

Local news, stories, offers and events around Slapton, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and the South Hams.

You can find out about last-minute offers, follow what's happening, show your family and friends where you went on holiday. We promise lots of photo galleries and not too many words!

Like Watermill Cottages on Facebook and follow Watermill Cottages on Twitter

Thank you!

Rose Cottage & Crownwheel Cottage on Owners Direct

We've chosen to advertise Rose Cottage and Crownwheel Cottage on Owners Direct website so that more people can find their way to the restful peace and quiet in our lovely Gara Valley.

Come and wind down in the land that time forgot at dog-friendly Watermill Cottages!

It's spring time!

Snowdrops, aconites, primroses  are out everywhere in the Gara valley.  Violets are peeping out of Rose Cottage's lawn and tiny cyclamen too, crocuses and hellebores in Quack's garden, and the daffodils by the stream are just about to open. Camelias next...

Wild heliotrope is everywhere and in the wetlands and along the leat the tell-tale smell of wild garlic rises from the first leaves.  Wild garlic pesto here we come!

When I looked at the weekend, the orchard pond was bubbling with frogspawn and in the kithen garden the rhubarb is already showing short pink stems.

With so much sap rising, Jade and Ollie rushed to prune the apple trees!

We're expecting lambs to be born here in four to six weeks' time - they'll be pretty ones, Jacobs crossed with Lleyn so hopefully polka dot lambs!

Powdery Duck, an experienced Muscovy Duck mum, is already on a nest so we hope to have a few ducklings at Easter, and Mallard PuddleDuck, our adopted stray has a handsome drake in tow.  He's even flying in for breakfast.

Specs, our dear old dark green Muscovy drake is still going strong but we kept a white drake that we bred last year, just in case...

At feeding time, the ducks are regularly joined by a chaffinch pair, robins, and a squirrel.

The days lengthen - still light at 5:30!  It is springy!

Come and enjoy the early mild spring in coastal south Devon - email christine@watermillcottages.co.uk for availability or call on 01803 770219.  we look forward to welcoming you...

Otter filmed at Watermill Cottages

Well, it rained.  And it rained.  And then it rained some more.  And on December 22 2012, The South Hams was so wet that there was nowhere for the water to go but up and over. Everywhere was affected by the flooding and high ground water.  And the Gara was too, rising over the bridge and on both sides of it.  We've never known it this high.

It was a tough day for everyone however the silver lining came in the late afternoon, watching a male otter on the lawn at Watermill Cottages - he was eating a fish that he'd caught in the turbulence you can see behind - and I filmed him. 

We'd had otter sightings all year and this confirmed that the family of otters living on the Gara Valley and Slapton Ley are very comfy around Watermill Cottages.  This one knew we were all there and kept watching us.  Clearly the exceptional weather and river conditions mean that the otter had to eat what it could find when it found it. 

It is rare to see otters in the daytime.

 

You'll see in the film clip that the river is high, brown and fast - today, January 14 2013 - it doesn't even reach the top of my wellies, and is clear, shallow and gentle again.

A dogtastic review by Charlie, the Springer Spaniel

Ha... pant, ... pant ... it was like this ha ... It was my first holiday with the folks!! Wow .... Wow what can I say .... GRRRRREAT!!!

Smells galore ... lots of sticks to chase and other dogs' chews to find.  I was a bit unsure about the stream at first, but my mate Monty showed me what to do and I love it ...

... in fact I love everything about Watermill Cottages ...

Oh and I've got to tell you ... ALL THE OTHER DOGS!! It was fab! We chased one another round and round and up and down. The cottages were at the end of the lane so our owners were really chilled and relaxed about it ... Makes a change!!!  But hey ..... when you have other dogs to play with, it gives your own tail a bit of a break!!!

 

One of my favourite walks was straight from Barleycorn Cottage, where we were staying, up the Gara River to Gara Mill. Wow it was pretty! There was bright orange cuckoo pint in the hedgerows, butterflies that needed chasing, rocks and trees covered with thick, soft lichen to bounce on. I couldn't get enough of the smells, sights and sounds of the woodland in early summer ... You don't need me to tell you, I ran here, there and everywhere ... well, you have to don't you ... don't want to miss anything ...

But the great thing was the stream was always there when you got thirsty!! 

It was heaven, Nirvanah for dogs!!! ... I hope the big people come back again next year! 

Charlie, also from Tysoe Warwickshire  

    

Photos by Ben Cherry   www.bencherryphotos.com

Words by Shirley Cherry

Watermill Cottages - A Dogtastic Holiday by Monty, the black lab

Holiday time again!  Fortunately, our owners decided to spend time with us and stay in the UK rather than go on some boring foreign beach holiday. At least that way we all got to have fun together and Charlie and I had free run of the place without having to 'do-time' in kennels.

It took us a few hours to drive down to Hansel, near Slapton, in South Devon from our home in the Midlands, but boy was it worth it when we got there!

As soon as the car door was open and we could smell the fresh greens and hear the babbling brook, we knew we were on to a winner.  I'm a lab, so it goes without saying - me and water, we go together like ham n' eggs! Whereas Charlie here, the young up-start - well he's not a year old yet, so he still has a lot to learn, like when he launched himself off a rock into the stream and ended up submerged in a pool! That'll learn him to try and copy me all the time.  Woof, I laughed but then I went back to picking up rocks!

We were away the last week in July - picked a good 'un!  It was sunny almost every day but it often took a couple of hours for the sun to penetrate the Gara Valley.  We didn't mind, we just loved every moment being able to wander about the place like it was ours. We felt like kings, not canines. We went to the beach at Slapton Sands and Torcross, to Start Point where the lighthouse is, and Lannacombe beach. Lannacombe was my favourite, with lots to explore and rocks to climb, although I had to turn back when I tried to follow my mistress in the canoe heading out to sea.

Monty, from Tysoe Warwickshire     




Photos by Ben Cherry www.bencherryphotos.com

Easter at Watermill Cottages - Far From the Madding Crowd

Sorrel in the Gara stream

stream walking in the Gara Valley

cricket bat willows  

stroll between milll leat and stream behind Crownwheel Cottage

December in The South Hams

Start Bay from the lane down to Slapton

Soft winter light in the Gara Valley

The light in winter is enchanting, it captures the soft shapes of the land, like muscles beneath the skin, and the coast shimmers with slanting, gilded light.

Snow on the beach at Blackpool Sands

Ice reflections on Slapton Ley

Even we had snow for a few days, though it's now gone from the coast and from Watermill Cottages. Walks on the beach have been glorious in the sunshine, and the Venus Beach Cafe at Blackpool Sands is open every day except Christmas Day, so we've enjoyed hot drinks (yummy hot chocolate) and lunch with friends, tired, happy dogs at our feet by the wood burner. Enjoying the sea and sunsets.  The beach and cafe are dog-friendly from the end of October to before Easter.

Our Gara Valley from the sheep shed

Our gardens from Quack Cottage

I hope you enjoy the photos, taken in the past weeks, and we wish you all a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year,

warm regards,

Christine and John , and all the other animals...

Sunset on the Gara Valley from the top