Welcome to my monthly news highlights from March 19 at Coombe Mill holidays together with a guide for what’s on in Cornwall for April 19. A handy guide to plan your time here if you are visiting this month. We have so much going on here that I want to share it’s no wonder spring is my favourite season filled with hope and possibilities.

Last minute April 19 Easter Holiday Offer

It’s no April fool’s Joke!  We are now taking short breaks to fill any remaining gaps for the forthcoming Easter holidays. These start at £569 for 3 nights. With so much to see and get involved in on the farm right now it will make the best Easter present for all the family.

Take a virtual tour of our properties

I have been replacing the carousel of 3 photos at the top of each property page with a video tour. They are only an amateur guide taken on my phone but it now gives you the chance to see our properties on film, by photo and through floor plans all on one page. We have so many different styles of properties; it is now even easier to find the one that most suits your family.

Work Complete in Honeysuckle and Willow

Over the past few months I have been updating you with upgrades to our Honeysuckle and Willow semi detached cottages, from kitchen makeover to new carpets and full wi fi.  The final upgrade last month was a full rewiring which included removing the bedroom electric heaters with more substantial and effective night storage heating to keep you nice and toasty all year round. Furthermore we have taken away the meter box so all your electric usage from the washing machine to the heating is now included in the price. Speaking of price we have made all these changes without increasing any prices on 2018.  

2020 prices at 2019 rates

It isn’t just Honeysuckle and Willow that are holding their prices. The weekly rates for all our properties are now up for 2020 and are currently available to book at the reduced 2019 rates. There is no guarantee this will be the case all year, so I recommend being the early bird catches the worm and booking ahead for summer 2020!

On the Farm 

Lambing

Lambing is one of the great joys of spring on the farm. We are now well underway so if you are staying from now until mid May you’ll have a good chance of seeing an adorable newborn taking its first steps in life.  

Piglets for Sally

This year Sally took an early trip to visit Pasty her boyfriend. The result of which has been 7 healthy March piglets.  Anyone who visited last year will know we were somewhat shocked to discover that all her piglets turned out to be boys. Unbelievably the same thing has happened again. This doesn’t matter apart from they will have to leave us earlier than we would like and be separated from Sally by 3 months. Right now they are adorable if growing fast and definitely a highlight on the morning feed run.  

Christmas has Company

Christmas, our female Turkey has suffered a bit of an identity crises being in with the ducks and geese. Last year she even incubated a gosling egg thinking it was hers! We have taken the matter in hand and introduced 2 more female turkeys and a male. Christmas is now in good company and both the turkeys and geese are laying eggs so hopefully there will be more new life to share later in the season.

With the goats looking pregnant and the bluebells beginning to appear, it is a wonderful time to visit. I hope we will see you soon. To tempt you further here are a few of the family events on in Cornwall over April that you might enjoy:

What’s On in Cornwall April 2019

Nb: I have not been paid or sponsored to mention these places, they are just the events in April 19 that I feel would be of interest to Coombe Mill Guests.

Wishing you and your family a lovely time in April 19 and hoping the spring weather touches us all.  

Fiona x

Science is such a fascinating topic and what more so than learning how our own body works? Since science is a topic children today will need to study until the age of 16 it is even more important that they should enjoy and be excited by the content right from the start. With this in mind we have found the perfect book for age 3+ to begin to understand what makes our bodies tick. Scratch and Learn Human Body from Quarto Kids is packed with discovery and interactive activities making this book a must. To discover more, and for your chance to win your own copy, do read on.

About Scratch and Learn Human Body

There is a new theme to discover on every double page spread. Learn about skeletons, muscles and our organs and how our brain works. Each page has fun to do suggested activities to reinforce the learning. Perhaps the best part is using the clip away scratch pen to uncover different body parts and functions. This is such a simple idea, yet effective at making some difficult concepts more appealing and fun to learn.   

What we love

• Interactive scratch and reveal
  
  
• Clear and simplified illustrations
  
  
• Fun to do activities to demonstrate learning
  
  
• Supports the themes in KS1 curriculum
  
  
• Ideal from Age 3 but suitable all through to KS2

Need to Know

Win your copy of Scratch and Learn Human Body with Quarto and Coombe Mill

For your chance to win this super nonfiction first science book simply follow the instructions below. Good luck to all taking part.

Scratch and Learn Human Body Book

Disclosure

We were sent our copy of Scratch and Learn for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Coombe Mill copy can be borrowed by holiday makers from the games room library.

There are a few signs for me that spring is really with us. First are the snowdrops and daffodils, then the lengthening days and warmth in the midday sun. Finally the big one here is the birth of our first spring lamb. This year it is Ebony, who I saved from the pot last year, and now leads the way.

A lucky escape for Ebony

Ebony was herself hand raised having been abandoned by her mother. She has proved to be a gentle and friendly sheep with our guests, but a dubious mother herself. Last year she had twins and rejected one who we raised. Lambo became the star of the farm in spring 2018 but no thanks to Ebony. Farmer Nick was all for calling time on Ebony after twice abandoning her lambs, however I saved her for one more year and now I know I made the right decision.  Ebony has taken to her new son perfectly.

Born in the wild

Farmer Nick was feeding the sheep with our guests as the last stop on the morning feed run when he noticed we were one sheep missing. As there was no bleating to indicate being stuck up in the brambles we knew there was a good chance the missing sheep was in labour or just given birth. A scour of the field confirmed our suspicions as Ebony sat nursing her new born up in the trees.  We followed Farmer Nick up the field as he collected the lamb to bring him down and perform the necessary checks with Ebony following close behind.

Correctly handling a lamb

It may look mean to be suspending the lamb by its legs, but this is actually the safest way, cuddling them to your body may feel instinctive to us but actually risks damaging the new born organs.

Down at the trailer the guests could admire mother and baby while Farmer Nick searched for his new born kit. 

Why tail docking is recommended

In no time the tail is docked with a band below the nerve. This will just fall off in the coming weeks and is pain free. It isn’t essential, but helps prevent muck and poo that inevitably builds up when the full tail is left risking infection.  Iodine on the umbilical cord is also to prevent infection and help the cord dry safely. 

A move to the nursery.

We have a special field for our new born spring lambs which is more fox proof. Ebony and her lamb rode in the trailer with me to get there. The rest of the flock looked on with interest as we left them at the cattle grid.

Spray marking explained

Before we let mother and baby into their new field Farmer Nick gave them a quick spray. It is hard to see on Ebony as she is so dark, but the 11 means she is the first lamb to give birth to one lamb.

Waiting for more spring lambs 

While Ebony and her new spring lamb enjoy the nursery to themselves, hopefully it won’t be long before another comes to join them. Watching the lambs make friends and skip around together is a real joy.

No wonder spring is such a happy and positive time to be on the farm. We’d love you to come and see them too. Do check out our latest availability this spring.

Mindfulness is becoming a popular topic to uncover with people in all walks of life. As adults it can take some getting our heads around, so how much harder must it be for children? We have been enjoying a thought provoking tale tackling mindfulness for children in relatable language and concepts.  “Your Mind is like the Sky” takes children on a journey to explain everyday feelings about the challenges we all face and how to deal with them. This book is a must for any youngster prone to worrying about difficult thoughts and feelings. Read on to discover more and for your chance to win a copy.

A first book of mindfulness.

Your mind is like the sky takes a look at the fears that can pop into a child’s mind and likens them to the sky. Sometimes our mind can be clear and blue, but other times raincloud thoughts come along. The book gives some helpful ways to deal with the rainclouds encouraging children to discover their inner power through this easy light read. There is even some helpful advice for parents at the back of the book.

What we liked

• Clear and helpful association
  
  
• Relevant language for young children
  
  
• Supportive imagery
  
  
• A clear message
  
  
• Helpful tips for parents

Need to know

Win your copy of Your Mind is Like the Sky from Quarto with Coombe Mill

For your chance to grab yourself a copy of this gem of a book simply follow the instructions below. Good luck to all taking part.

Your Mind is like the Sky Book

Disclosure

We were sent our copy of ‘Your Mind is like the Sky’ a first book of mindfulness for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. A copy of our book can be found in the book case in the Coombe Mill Games room for children to enjoy here on holiday.  

Welcome to my monthly news highlights from February 19 at Coombe Mill holidays together with a guide for what’s on in Cornwall for March 19. A handy guide to plan your time here if you are visiting this month.

Spring on the back of the snow

What a crazy month February turned out to be. We started the month on the national news when so much snow fell in the space of 2 hours during the school run. Everyone was caught out. Thankfully it was a happy ending and a great snow day off that followed.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and our half term guests were treated to spring with temperatures of 15 degrees. The farm literally blossomed and you could have been mistaken for thinking it was Easter.

Willow and honeysuckle cottages.

Last month I shared the kitchen and living room updates on Willow and Honeysuckle cottages. I’m now thrilled to say the new carpets are all in up the stairs, landing and bedrooms together with a few curtain and lampshade changes to lift these two spacious cottages for the 2019 season. 

Inspired for business growth

I attended the annual Small Business Conference in Birmingham run by Theo Paphitis (ex Dragon’s Den star) as an #sbs winner. It is something I attend every year to network with other business owners, catch up with friends made over the years and be inspired for good business practice from Theo and his inspiring guest speakers.  As always I came away buzzing with an action plan which will hopefully benefit all our holiday guests. Watch this space.

On the Farm

The end of February is a happy time for the animals, spring is in the air and the harsher days of winter are hopefully behind them.

Chickens

Survival is easy for the chickens as they have been enjoying life indoors in their luxury winter home. On the back of this we have had record egg collections with up to 10 a day. I’m sure this rivals our best summer days!

R.I.P. Floppsy and Bruce

Sadly not everyone fared so well. We lost both Bruce the Wallaby and Floppsy the rabbit during February. They were both such great characters we will miss them both. Farmer Nick has his fingers in many pies trying to see if we can find anything to replace them. 

Born into the snow

In happier news the guinea pigs are thriving. So much so we had two sets of babies on the same night born just as the snow arrived. We rigged up a heat lamp during the cold spell to keep them warm and they are now all thriving.

What’s On in Cornwall March 2019

If you are coming to see us this month I have a few recommendations of places and special activities you may like to visit with the family.

Nb: I have not been paid or sponsored to mention these places, they are just the events in March that I feel would be of interest to Coombe Mill Guests.

Wishing  you and your families a happy month ahead. I hope spring arrives for you and that your holiday plans are in place. If not make sure you check out our latest availability.

Fiona x