Snow!

 Six inches of snow fell overnight Friday to Saturday 25th-26th January...

...and this is what we woke up to!

Yorkshire Air Ambulance

Yorkshire Air Ambulance

On October 15^th 2012, the first day for weeks when it wasn't actually raining John decided that it would be a good day to try to at least complete the undercoat on the garage.

Ladders out, paintbrushes & paint, get on with the job. Give the paint a chance to dry before that evening's predicted showers.

Then John & the ladder parted company.

999 was called & within a few minutes paramedics were on the job. Diagnosing a broken thigh (we didn't know this, but a major artery runs behind the thigh bone & thus potentially a life-threatening injury), urgent transfer to hospital was required. The Air Ambulance was called. John was flown to Preston, the major trauma centre for the north-west.

Crooklands is not particularly remote but still air transfer was preferred over a normal ambulance. In the hills, air ambulance is a vital service and needs support.

Air Ambulances are entirely funded by charitable giving. They receive no government funding nor Lottery money. We have a collection box here. If anyone would like to donate, we  will forward any donations on.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is featured on “Helicopter Heroes” on BBC 1. There was a cameraman on board and its likely that we will feature in the next series starting in March 2013. Judging by the post-incident visits, much of our bit will centre on Jack who raised the alarm by barking continuously until Di came to investigate. Apparently he played up to the camera like a star!

Hen Harrier or Peregrine?

Back in April John went on a 'Forest of Bowland Festival' walk, looking for Hen Harriers & other birds, in the Leaburn valley. He didn't see any harriers then, but we think we did yesterday! (but they might have been Peregrine Falcons!)

Hen Harrier

Peregrine

The birds were quite distant & of course appeared just as John was trying to keep his feet dry, crossing the beck - and not succeding in either case - but the show they put on was worth getting his feet wet! Twisting & swooping, flying up together & turning as if passing something from one to the other, an amazing sight that went on for 10-15 minutes. Suddenly they swooped low over the valley, rose high then flew off in opposite directions & the show was over!

Images from RSPB. These birds were too distant to photograph.

And then - there was the heather, covering the hillsides, coating them in a furry, lilac, purple colour!

Bleak Bank Farm Eggs

Bleak Bank Farm Eggs

We get our eggs from bleak Bank Farm, the farm whose fields surround us. John & Judith Dawson have handed over the keeping of hens & the egg business to their son William, or as John jokingly says, "I pay for the feed & William takes the money!". He is a keen young farmer & has full responsibility for the hens as well as a small flock of rare breed sheep.

This is what William has to say about his hens:

"We've kept hens at Bleak Bank for generations and little has changed in the way they are kept. All our 30 hens are able to roam about the farm every day. We don't keep battery (laying) hens; we stick to more traditional birds such as the Light Sussex and French Maran. I also keep a few Vorwerk as part of my passion for rare breeds. I hope you enjoy eating our eggs as much as our hens have enjoyed laying them".

Large Sussex

French Maran

Vorwerk

Jubilee & the "Guerrilla" Beacon

Busy with guests, here for the Gaping Gill winch, or just getting away from it all (one couple escaping the TTs in the Isle of Man). Disappointing weather but it cleared on the Monday night for the lighting of Jubilee Beacons.

There was to be an "official" beacon for the area on top of Ingleborough, a gas-fuelled beacon, but several locals had decided that we should have one on Bowland Knotts - easier to get to too, road all the way! So with German guests we went up to that, enjoyed a warming & jolly couple of hours, spotting other beacons to north (Hawes area), south (Pendle) & west. Hot sweet coffee, whisky & damson gin added to the evening!

The Tawny Owls are back!

Last night when working in the garden at dusk (10pm!) I heard a familiar half-squeak, half-hoot coming from the big ash in the corner. Looking up I could see an owl fledgling, wings tucked, staring back at me.
I had seen the adult bird around once or twice recently & wondered whether any chicks would be seen soon.

As last year, two chicks. Fluffy, & fluttering from branch to branch, quietly "hooting". (Photos are from last year)

Caving - I don't fancy that!

To coincide with Ingleton's OvergroundUnderground festival (www.ogug.co.uk) we were invited to a free caving "taster", by Pam & Dave at Yorkshire Dales Guides. I've said "yes" to it, I tell Di; "You go" she says. Well it looks as if she enjoyed it!

We met with 6 others at their base near Stainforth, changed into caving gear, then drove to Selside & after a 15min waddle in wellies, past Alum Pot, we descended into Long Churn.

Dave soon put us at our ease, laughing & joking, but explaining what we were seeing & explaining the signs to watch out for too.

Time passed rapidly. After 2½hours we emerged into the evening light, having had a thoroughly enjoyable time. Back to the car & change into something dry (you do have to enjoy being a bit wet!) & off to the pub.

Dave & Pam are offering introductory & intermediate caving trips on Monday evenings until the end of August, see  www.yorkshiredalesguides.co.uk