Signs of Spring are everywhere at the Mill.  We have daffodils open, snowdrops and aconites in full flower and most magically for me, the air around the willows has started to vibrate with an aura of colour.  Earlier and earlier each year which is a reminder that change is happening.

The big news of the last 2 months has been the presence of the black-bellied Dipper which has been sending the Twitchers wild and they have been descending on the Mill in droves.  Paul enjoys it.  I am ready for it to head back to Europe.  I counted over 30 people on the bridge on Christmas Eve and they seem to think that the bird grants them access to the land.  The EDP article ensured we had more cars parking all over the verges and has opened our awareness to the competitive nature of bird watchers and photographers who will do anything to outwit their fellow enthusiasts.

Rare black-bellied dipper bird at Bintry Mill near Dereham | Eastern Daily Press

Prior to the Dipper, Paul had frequent sightings of an adult otter with 2 juvenile cubs.  I have still not seen them but they leave their trails everywhere and I am planning to set up a camera to see them.  Though I won’t be posting any photos.  It is so wonderful to have otter at the Mill where Tarka the Otter was filmed many years ago, especially given my dislike of the otter head that has been on the wall of the house since I was born.  To have otter making their home here is very important to us and makes me wonder what happens when an otter meets a beaver…

A few months ago Paul had another pond dug in what was the rhododendron gardens.  The whole area has been cleared of bushes and the pond is already filling and looks beautiful.  I remember these being manicured gardens from when I was a child so to see this change is very exciting. As usual, Paul’s eye for a landscape project is spot on and it brings to life a vision he has held for many years of bringing back to its original purpose.  He says it is an alder carr which is not an expression I have heard before.

Depending on what is announced in June, we hope that this is our last year of crops on the farm.  We only have 4 fields of arable and they are currently drilled with Winter Barley.  Going forward, we will have no chemical spraying on the farm which has been something we have wanted for some time now.  We have both just read – and shared with others in the group – Rooted by Sarah Langford and would highly recommend it to all.

Rooted a book by Sarah Langford – Bookshop.org UK

Shani and Paul – Bintry Mill