History

 

The Old Manor House dates from before the 17th century when the estate was the original Manor Farm to the hamlet of Lew. The house was extended in subsequent centuries and has been recently renovated to a very high standard whilst still retaining many original, historic features. There are a wealth of exposed oak beams, Cotswold stone internal features and original fireplaces. The date-stone over the original entrance door is inscribed 1675 and RLM which is believed to mean Robert loves Margery for the owners at that time, Robert Jeeves and his wife.  Willow Cottage and Christmas Cottage were originally a threshing barn and lambing parlour.

 

Ecology and Conservation

 

Heating and hot water for The Old Manor House, Willow Cottage and Christmas Cottage is provided by 2, state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly, ground source heat pumps that draw surplus natural heat from the ground. We do not burn any oil or gas and all logs for the fire are provided by our own renewable sources on the estate. Willow Cottage has a full heat-recovery and ventilation system that recovers 95% of all heat and ensures that the cottage always has a constant supply of fresh air. An eco-friendly, Klargester Bio-Disc treatment plant takes in all the estate’s liquid waste and, through natural biological processes, outputs clean water into the streams.

 

The Organic Estate

 

The estate is very proud to be fully organic and does not use any form of chemicals on the land or the animals. We specialise in raising British rare animal breeds and currently keep Gloucester Cattle, Cotswold and Hebridean Sheep, Bagot Goats and Brahma Chickens all of which are on the UK At Risk register. We have a breeding programme for all the animals and you will always see adult and young animals on the estate. Additionally, the estate is delighted to be one of the few entered into the important and exclusive DEFRA Organic Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. We work in conjunction with DEFRA, the Soil Association, the Forestry Commission and the Hawk and Owl Trust to maintain important natural and wildlife habitats around the estate. These include wild flower meadows, ancient hedgerows, woodland, wildlife ponds and medieval ridge and furrow earthworks. Our recent wildlife successes have included breeding Barn Owls and increasing the numbers of endangered Brown Hares and Yellowhammers.

Wildlife

 

Those interested in wildlife will be delighted by the diversity to be seen on the estate. As well as breeding Barn Owls, often seen hunting at dawn and dusk, we have resident Little Owls, Tawny Owls, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and visiting Red Kites. The wildlife ponds are home to Ducks, Mute Swans, Cormorants, Coots, Moorhens, Herons, Green and Pied Woodpeckers, Egrets and we are thrilled to have resident, spectacularly coloured, Kingfishers. In addition, we have our own hand reared flocks of Geese and Guinea Fowl. The quiet solitude of the wild flower meadow and ancient woodland are home to Pheasants, Partridges, Jacksnipes, endangered Brown Hares and to breeding herds of Roe and Muntjac Deer.

Lesley with one of our four 2009 Barn Owl chicks. Photographed during their ringing by the Hawk and Owl Trust below their nest box in the Wild Flower Meadow.

Children enjoying the lambing season

The Bagot Goats - an Endangered Breed

A Brahma Cockerel