HILL COTTAGE, Somerset

The Gardens

Some years ago we, along with our neighbours, bought part of the field behind our house.  This means that we have a very large garden to explore and play in.  Nearest the house is flat and given over to trees, shrubs and flowers with a greenhouse usually given over to tomatoes, herbs and chillis. Behind that we keep a few chickens and grow some vegetables and fruit.

                                                    Further back the land rises to the top
                                                    of the hill where we have planted a small
                                                    copse of native trees and a natural
                                                    hedgerow in keeping with others in the
                                                    area.  The amount of wildlife which
                                                    shares or visits our garden shows we're
                                                    doing our bit for nature.  From the
                                                    summit is a glorious view looking across
                                                    the Somerset Levels to the Quantock 
                                                    Hills.  On 6 July 1685 this would have
                                                    provided a grandstand view of the Battle 
                                                    of Sedgemoor, the last pitched battle 
                                                    fought on English soil (actually it took
                                                    place at night so I guess infra red
                                                    goggles would have helped!).

The Levels are not well known but are a very interesting area to explore, especially on foot or by bicycle.  The ground naturally floods in winter and is only prevented from doing so by extensive drainage channels called rhynes.  These are soon colonised by wetland plants and animals. As I write this, in winter, the fields are home to nearly a hundred over-wintering mute swans and thousands of lapwings.