Photos

The Quail House

Grade II Listed and constructed mainly of Herefordshire Pennant stone and oak timbers. It sits opposite the old cider barn - possible old original dwelling house - and between the old Threshing Barn and former Milking Parlour and Cow Byre. The Cider Barn is still in use - every Autumn, as soon as the apples and pears have been harvested off the ground.

 

 

 

A view of the Quail House in winter and summer

August 2024

Recently discovered on the farm - magical, a Romano-British water shrine / villa

The Summer Meadow behind the Quail House - rich in grasses and wild flowers

Haymaking July 2024

Coldwell Farm

The farm goes back many hundreds of years - with evidence of habitation even to pre-Roman times.

 

 

  

Natural History at Coldwell Farm

Through the seasons we get a succession of wild flowers in the meadows and along the stream banks which support hundreds of species of insects including beetles, bees, butterflies, moths and grasshoppers. The bird life varies with the seasons too - notably swallows who nest here in the summer, field fares & redwing who visit in the winter. There are a number of resident owl species, visiting hawks, ducks and corvids who come and go all year. As for mammals, we have a number of bat species, visiting foxes, badgers, hedgehogs, weasels and deer. The Stretford Brook is a magnet for water-loving mammals so we sometimes see otters and water voles. 

 

With no near human neighbours and careful management we have an exceptionally species-rich environment and so we ask guests to respect this environment - I'm afraid we don't allow fishing but if you'd like to borrow binoculars, a microscope, bat detector (sound) or even a moth trap, please ask - we have recorded and photographed many hundreds of species over the 34 years we have lived here.

Unsurprisingly, the owners of Coldwell Farm, Sarah & Peter are keen naturalists: Sarah was an Entomologist at the British Museum (Natural History) in London and Peter was a Marine Biologist working at the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences.

 

 

  

 

 

   

Winter Pictures

In the depths of winter, Coldwell Farm provides a great opportunity for photography and away from city conurbations, the clear dark nights can be spectacular for star and planet gazing. You will see the Milky Way and the constellations as clearly as anywhere in the UK. We have a small Newtonian Telescope to use if you would like to look closer at the moon!

 

  

Coldwell Produce

In October / November each year we make a few barrels of Cider and Perry - which we sell locally, including via the wonderful Swan Brewery (Leominster). In 2013, we won the top First Prize for our Dry Cider at the Hereford International Cider Competition, beating both local, national and international producers. If you like your cider - you are in the right part of the country. We're now also bringing out our Damson Port - which visitors are also welcome to try! We have an online shop at www.coldwellfarm.com