Author Topic: Hello from Dumfries and Galloway (Read 2200 times)

Elspeth · « **on:** August 05, 2016, 10:39:29 am »

Hi everyone Elspeth here from Sandyhills in Dumfries and Galloway,
I have a 58 acre site on the stunningly beautiful Solway Coast. The site consists of woodland and wildflower meadow and is managed mainly for wildlife.We have planning permission for an Eco-campsite, are developing a forest garden and have been experimenting with fruit and veg over the last 3 years. We have 2 ponies one of which works helping me move things around like logs and helps with bracken bashing the other is a riding pony.
We hope to establish the site as a place for wildlife and people and are about to advertise some opportunities for other people to get involved with the site including organic smallholding opportunities, small scale forestry and wood craft opportunities and we are also open to talking to people interested in volunteer opportunities.
Great to find a site that seems to be inhabited by enthusiastic like minded people and looking forward to being an accidental smallholder.

devonlady · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2016, 09:48:21 am »

Hello and welcome, Elspeth, from Devon.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2016, 11:00:50 am »

Sounds fascinating!

from just over the border near Carlisle. If I wasn't about to move to Cornwall, I'd be coming up to learn more, and see if I could bring one of my ponies for a working holiday to learn about horse-powered bracken bashing!

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2016, 12:11:05 am »

and welcome from

Shropshire.

Rosemary · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2016, 07:28:23 am »

Hello and welcome from Carnoustie

Fleecewife · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2016, 09:12:42 am »

Your project sounds absolutely fascinating Elspeth

We are a bit east of you in S.Lanarkshire. We are slowly making our small place as wildlife friendly as possible - when we arrived here 21 years ago it was open pastureland, with no trees, just stob and wire fences. It's very different now - must update the website.
I shall be following your progress with huge interest

and hoping for fresh ideas.

Elspeth · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2016, 10:24:07 am »

Thanks for all you replies, its great to know there are like minded people out there.
Happy to show anyone our bracken bashing techniques Sallyinthenorth and very interested in learning hedge laying Fleecewife.

wytchwolf · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2016, 11:34:50 am »

Hi elspeth, im an english man in the highlands and im very interested in what your plans for the future were

watty watt · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2016, 07:10:29 pm »

Hi Elsie! You've found your way to the best smallholder site. Every time I search TAS comes up at or near the top of the list.
Need to get down to visit - would be at Monique bluegrass festival and the ideal opportunity to pay you a visit, except that it's the same weekend as the Scottish smallholder event at Lanark. Maybe catch up with you in one or the other place.
Took Jasp for a wee break to an eco type campsite near Berwick. Very well set up. Might be worth taking a research trip if you can ever get time off. They're doing most of the things that we want to here - compost toilets, glamps, etc.
Catch up with you soon, I hope. X
PS molly dog died last week, and we might Inherit one of Kate's cats!