As anticipated I’ve been a little slow in getting the last
blog written up, with leaving Flat Holm, travelling back to Kent and then back
to Torquay to start our new role all coming in a very short space of time. I
have therefore combined the last 2 weeks into one post.
Leaving Flat Holm didn’t quite go the way we expected after
the weather had it’s say on the boat schedule. Having been due to leave on the
Sunday following a very busy weekend of visitors, we found that the boats for
Saturday and Sunday were cancelled due to the bad weather that was forecast.
That meant rather hastily packing our bags and getting on the only available boat
on the Friday instead! Whether it made leaving any easier I’m not sure but there
was less time for sentiment than originally planned.
Waiting for the final boat of our time on Flat Holm
It’s very strange to think that we are not going back to the
island, but it will forever stay with us as a place that we once called home.
I’m sure we will visit again in the future to see how things have changed.
At the same time as starting our new role down in Torquay,
both Vicky and I have enrolled on a Level 2 Diploma in Countryside and the
Environment. Most of the course is taught online, although there will be some
practical work involved as well that we can complete during our time down
south.
Our new role is based at Occombe Farm which is run by the
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, and we will be known as Trainee Farm
Education Rangers. As the title suggests there is more environmental education involved
with this role, although like previously we will have animals to look after and
wildlife to observe.
Occombe farm. On the left is the play barn for the children, and on the right is the farm shop and cafe. All the food in both is organic.
Our accommodation on the farm is a static home (like an
oversized caravan that doesn’t move) and we will be living here for the 5
months that it takes to complete our placements. We have quite a nice view from
the van, and the only thing that lets it down a little is the traffic noise
from a nearby road. I guess when you’ve lived on a little island 5 miles from
civilisation for the past half a year we’re just not used to hearing it!
Our little "caravan" hidden away among the trees
The view from the window of the van aren't half bad though!
The farm has a number of animals for people to come and
visit, as well as 2 nature trails for guests to follow. Our first few days
working at the farm have mainly just been covering the basics of the day to day
business, and we have started to help with some of the animal care and feeding.
We have 2 pigs, 4 ducks (the same breed that we had on Flat Holm), 30 chickens,
2 alpacas, 3 goats and a cow with 2 calves.
A familiar sight from Flat Holm. A Khaki Campbell duck (male in this case)
On our first day off we spent some time exploring the local
area to try and work out where all of our closest essentials are. We visited
the nearby town of Totnes which is great for quirky little gifts and crafts,
but a little too far to shop on a regular basis.
To finish the week we had a visit from our friend Janet who
we travelled across the globe with last year. She stopped in on the way back
from her holiday in Cornwall and very kindly bought us breakfast in the farm
cafe. It was great to see her again and have a catch up on all the things that
are new since we last saw each other nearly a year ago.
This weeks good news story comes from the US, where for this homeless man from Boston honesty certainly turned out to be the best policy.
See you all next time!
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