Blackdown Hills

25
Aug, 2022

The Top 5 Myths About Eating Fresh And Natural Farm

There are many myths out there about eating fresh and natural farm-produced foods. Some people think that it’s more expensive, that the food is less nutritious, or that it takes longer to prepare. In this article, we will debunk the top 5 myths about eating fresh and natural farm-produced foods.

Myth 1: eating fresh and natural foods is more expensive

Many people think that eating fresh and natural foods is more expensive than eating processed foods. However, this is not always the case. When you buy fresh and natural foods, you are paying for the quality of the food. Processed foods often contain fillers and artificial ingredients that can make them cheaper to produce.

Myth 2: the food is less nutritious

Processed foods often contain additives and preservatives that can make them less nutritious than fresh and natural foods. Fresh and natural foods are minimally processed and do not contain any added chemicals. This means that they are more likely to retain their nutrient content.

Myth 3: it takes longer to prepare

While it may take a little bit longer to wash and chop fresh fruits and vegetables, it doesn’t have to take hours to prepare a healthy meal. There are many quick and easy recipes that can be made with fresh and natural ingredients.

Myth 4: you have to give up your favorite foods

When you switch to eating fresh and natural foods, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods. You can still enjoy your favorite meals, but you may need to make some adjustments. For example, if you love pizza, you can make a healthy version at home with whole wheat crust and fresh toppings.

Myth 5: you won’t get enough variety

Eating fresh and natural foods does not mean that you have to eat the same thing every day. There are a variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains that you can choose from. You can also experiment with different recipes to find new favorites.

Eating fresh and natural foods is a great way to improve your health. These foods are more nutritious and can help you reach your fitness goals. If you’re looking to switch to a healthier diet, start by incorporating some fresh and natural foods into your meals. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy them!

24
Apr, 2022

The Benefits Of Fresh And Natural Food

There are countless benefits to eating fresh and natural foods. For one, these foods are generally more nutritious than processed foods. They also tend to be more flavorful, making them more enjoyable to eat. Additionally, fresh and natural foods are often better for the environment.

They often require less packaging and transportation, and they often have a smaller carbon footprint. Finally, fresh and natural foods can help to support local farmers and businesses. By buying these foods, you can help to boost the local economy and keep your community healthy and vibrant. So next time you’re at the grocery store, be sure to reach for the fresh and natural options. Your body and your community will thank you for it.

4
Aug, 2021

5 Ways to Relax on a Farm

5 ways to relax on a farm

Farm life has a reputation for being hard. It’s not always easy to relax in the midst of all that work. But, have you ever considered these five great ways to relax on a farm? They’re perfect for those days when you need some downtime and just can’t escape your surroundings.

Take a walk around the property to enjoy the scenery.

It’s important to take some time out of every day for yourself. Sometimes the best way is by going on a walk around your property and appreciating all that you have worked hard for. Take in everything from trees, flowers, animals – even sounds! This can help calm anxiety or stress levels as well as boost mental clarity during these hectic times we live in today. A walk around the property can help you relax and take your mind off of things. The scenery is a great way to decompress, as it will make you feel at ease while exploring all that nature has to offer.

Listen to the birds chirping and other animals scurrying about.

Smell the flowers and freshly cut grass. Watch as a tractor plows through the fields, or take in some nature from your porch swing. Drink coffee while doing this will help you relax even more. You can find online a site that puts together a list of the most affordable coffee makers on the market where you can choose from to create your good coffee.

It’s not just about the coffee though, but rather what surrounds it. A farm is a place where you can find peace and stillness–even if only for five minutes at a time. It may sound clichéd, but there are few places that offer this type of tranquility as easily as farms do with their serene sounds, the song of the birds soothes my mind and their chirping sound makes me feel at peace. I can also hear other animals scurrying about, but they are not bothering anyone or anything as far as I know.

Enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and nature

Take a deep breath and savor the fresh air; marvel at all of your senses with an open mind to what you notice, feel, taste, or hear on your farm visit; allow yourself time to relax in nature by sitting under a tree, lying on the grass near livestock grazing nearby. The sun rises and sets at different times during seasons; there are animals who need feeding (or some of those pesky flies) throughout every moment on this earth, and sometimes we get an unexpected snowfall for which you’ll have to make sure your storage sheds are adequately stocked before winter comes around again. It can all feel overwhelming when you’re starting out as a newbie but once you’ve got everything down these days to become more enjoyable than ever.

Read a book in an outdoor setting or go for a hike.

There is something to be said about the calming feeling that arises when you read a book, especially during an outdoor setting. One way I experience this sensation is through going for hikes in nature and exploring different farms around my area. There are so many scenic views of mountains on these trails!

There’s nothing more relaxing than reading a good book while enjoying some fresh air out at your favorite park or trailside hike spot near where you live – it really helps me break away from all the stressors of life with every turn of the page.

Go for a drive down country roads without any traffic to get away from it all

Go for a drive down country roads without any traffic to get away from it al. Splash in the creek or stream that runs through your property. Wander around and explore the different corners of your farm. You can also have a massager on your car chair because it is very convenient to use while driving in the car or on the go.

Get a car and go for an adventure in the middle of nowhere. Drive past endless fields, take pictures with your friends at scenic spots along the way, explore historic landmarks without hordes of tourists around you… there’s nothing like getting away from it all to find yourself again!

conclusion

Relaxing on a farm is an experience that you’ll never forget. We’ve provided 5 ways to relax while visiting, but if none of these are your cup of tea there are plenty more ways for you to enjoy country life. If we can help in any way at all with this post or anything else feels free to reach out and let us know!

Our Happy Clients

logo-1.png
logo-2.png
logo-3.png
logo-4.png
logo-5.png
logo-6.png
logo-7.png
7
Jun, 2020

Green Revolution: 5 Ways to Beautify Our Communities

Anyone will naturally appreciate a beautiful setting. People even consider such spots as tourist places. When you find yourself in a beautiful community, the first thing that comes to mind is to preserve that beautiful memory in a picture.

Is your community is that spot where people want to come and take their pictures, relax and appreciate nature? It’ll have a way of fostering better wellbeing, increase economic activities, and living conditions.

It’s practical to create that community everyone desires to visit. Some conscious activities you can lead will ultimately give you the neighborhood you want, a lovely town. Here we’ve prepared some tips that’ll help you.

1.  Community Parks

Parks serve as the spot that brings your community and visitors together to chill and enjoy the beauty of nature while engaging in their activities, or just relaxing. A good park has room for all ages and classes, and suitable for everyone.

If your community has no park, building, and beautifying one is a right step. Plant trees in a well-arranged manner, design beautiful sitting arrangements, cut the lawn, and generally keep the park organized.

Having a well-arranged and properly maintained park will have visitors staying longer than they intend. Set out areas for specific events, playground for kids, for instance, concert areas, and where individuals can have their pets.

2.  Plant Trees and Flowers

Nothing adds beauty to a place better than flowers do. Natural trees and flowers can provide multiple combinations of beautiful colors that can keep people gazing and admiring. Combining the colors in the right manner makes the entire difference.

On your walkways, in the park, and at other strategic points in your community, plant trees and flowers. Tress along the sidewalks will not only add to your community’s beauty but will equally provide shade for people using the walkways.

If you use trees along the walkways to shade visitors from the sun, you’ll have them spending a long time outside, and admiring natural beauty. Having these trees and flowers is one thing, but a more critical aspect is ensuring you maintain them.

3.  Use Appropriate Lighting

Darkness doesn’t allow you to appreciate beauty. Use as many lighting as you can, and install lighting units in as many points as it’s necessary. Each kind of light serves a particular purpose, and you must use appropriate lighting for the purpose you want.

Lighting on its own creates a beautiful pattern at night that photographers spend time capturing. If you have street lights lining up along the street at night, it adds so much beauty to that street at night.

It’s essential to consider environmentally friendly lighting units. They not only improve beauty impression on your visitors but equally provide better lighting. Adequate lighting will have your community staying out longer, even at night.

4.  Create More walkable and Bikeable Paths

If visitors or community members are always driving around, they may not appreciate all that nature has to offer. The breeze, sweet smell of life, the beautiful flowers, butterflies, and the green lawn.

Create more, and shorter walkable and bikeable paths, connecting possibly everywhere in your community and give everyone good reasons to rather walk. Ensure each walking path is faster than the driving distance and easily accessible.

It’ll significantly increase the exercise rate, and improve the health of your community. Also, you’ll be reducing the number of cars on the road, reducing traffic and the emission rate of dangerous gases. You can use paints on your walkways to improve beauty.

5.  Encourage Recycling and Volunteers

Your beautiful community deserves sustainability, and sustainability requires a commitment to maintaining it. Indiscriminate disposal of wastes substantially degrades the environment and will destroy the beautiful city you worked hard to create.

Educate and encourage members of your community on the importance of recycling certain products. As visitors, how we test and evaluate the beauty of your community will largely depend on how your city handle the wastes they generate

You can go the extra mile of raising and joining a group of individuals that’ll volunteer to keep the community clean. Your group will be responsible for ensuring the streets aren’t littered. They’d equally make sure that drainage systems are not blocked, and the community parks are always well kept.

Conclusion

Painting adds beauty and color where used. You can encourage owners of attraction points in your community to consider using specific colors of paint at such places, to help improve the sense of ecstasy in your city.

People appreciate works of art and beautiful crafts for the different messages they send to different individuals. Incorporate various works of art at strategic spots in your community. It’ll add to your city’s beauty, and it’ll help boost how your visitors appreciate your community.

Achieving and maintaining a beautiful and environmental community is attainable. But it requires efforts to build, and consistent character to support and sustain. The beauty of your city would put it at the forefront of tourists’ desired destination.

29
May, 2020

Top 5 Interesting Green Games for Fun Nightlife in Blackdown Hills

Are you looking to spend a night out in Blackdown Hills?

If yes, you’re in the right place.

When the sun sets, Blackdown Hills is a buzz of entertainment. Ranging from concerts to games, there’s something to keep everyone entertained.

Whether you prefer a quiet conversation over a glass of wine, local craft beer or your favorite cocktail, or a comedy or play, the area has a busy nightlife.

You’ll soak in endless fun all night long; you only have to decide how you want to spend your night. Even if you prefer to move your feet to the tune of fine beats, live music has all your needs covered.

Games convert outdoor seating areas in entertainment spots to socializing zones with a bit of friendly competition. The popularity of such games are attributed to the following:

  • Easy events – ranging from beer pong playoffs to corn-hole tournaments, bar games give people a reason to leave their homes when the weather is great.
  • Living billboard – based on study findings, outdoor seating at restaurants and bars can increase sales by up to 30% because it acts as a living billboard. People are passing by the view of all the fun they’re missing. The lively social scene attracts those nearby.
  • The golden hour or magic hour – this is the time prior to and during sunset when photographers capture flattering photos. When the selfies are taken are shared on social media, the bar or event venue gets an instant spotlight on Facebook or Instagram.

5 Fun Green Bar Games for Total Indulgence in Blackdown Hills

Whether you’re looking for fun games to play with your family or friends at home, or you’re a bar owner or frequent bar-goer, you won’t go wrong with any of these eco-friendly games:

  1. They Might Be Giants

Although Jenga is fun, Giant Jenga is irresistible. Simply think outside the box to have a great time playing your favorite games. 

You can even create DIY XL Jenga blocks.

Alternatively, paint a gigantic checkerboard on your patio floor and use black and red plastic plates as gaming pieces. If you prefer a permanent Twister game on your flooring, paint green, blue, yellow, and red circles for endless gaming.

  1. Shuffleboard

Although this game is popular among Florida seniors, anyone can play it.

First played in English pubs in the 15th century, table shuffleboard spread across the world, reaching American soil in the 20th century. It was at its peak popularity in the 1940s.

Today, it has made a comeback in brew pubs, dive bars and game rooms across the U.S. The senior-approved game is fast gaining popularity among the millennial generation.

The best ping pong games allow you and your friends to have fun within your budget. What’s more, you exercise your body to burn excess calories and keep fit.

  1. Cornhole aka Bean Bag Toss

Also known as bean bag toss, corn-hole has become popular in entertainment venues. As a result, most joints hold tournaments for the bar patio games to keep guests entertained.

Build a DIY corn-hole board if you’re looking to reduce costs and still let your guests have lots of fun. Print a large decal and paint your logo onto the boards you’ve custom built.

With a game that’s trending on social media, your brand is bound to gain some exposure.

  1. Lawn bowling

Also known as skittles, this bar game has its origins in Europe. Even without a lawn, you can play the game on the floor. Simply setup the 10 wooden pins on the floor to begin playing your favorite classic bar patio game.

  1. Tableside arcade or live trivia

If you prefer a modern game based on the latest tech, opt for tableside arcade. Get your hands on a touchscreen bar tablet to tap into real arcade games whenever you want.

You can also join trivias scheduled nationally to run throughout the week for about 15 hours daily. Most bar patio games of this kind already have millions of active players across the nation.

Alternatively, opt for live trivia events on the same tablets. Most bars host live trivia without hiring a host.

Kids and millennials prefer card games. If you’re visiting a venue that’s family-friendly, your kids and other younger members of the family will love card games.

Whichever bar game you opt for, make sure it suits your personal preference and style. Choose a game your friends or family will also enjoy to play.

9
Oct, 2019

Blackdown Hills Pool Cue Manufacturing

One of the games that people love to go through the nightlife is a pool game. It is a simple game that enhances one’s brain and at the same time allows the body and mind to relax. It is one sport that is addictive. If you have had a long day and you just want a less strenuous physical activity that will help you unwind then this is the best option. Have you ever wondered at one point what the game equipment entails especially the cues? If not then check pool cue products here: https://www.pingpongperfect.com/best-pool-cue-review/.

Without the cue stick then there is no pool game. It is just like the table tennis paddle. It is the equipment that is responsible for hitting the ball to the desired location. It is the one that is responsible for striking the main cue ball which in turn, pushes the rest of the balls to the hole. The main material that makes the cue is wood. Although others are made of graphite or carbon or fiberglass, all in all, they must have the same measurement and weight. 

The standard length of a cue is 58 inches long and it has to weight at least 18 ounces and at most 22 ounces, with a diameter of between 0.5 inches to 0.52 inches. The main parts of the cue are the tip, ferrule, shat, a joint collar which includes the handle. The shaft length and the handle length is 29 inches and the tip diameter is also 0.5 inches. The joint collar is designed such that a player can fold it and store it in a portable bag.

The wooden cue stick is simple to make as long as you have some woodworking skills. The best type of wood is the exotic wood. Softwood is light in weight while hardwood is heavy. The heavier the cue stick the difficult it is when it comes to cueing as much as you use less strength compared to a lightweight which is simple and efficient to maneuver although you have to apply more weight.

First, you need to mount the wood on a lathe machine to give it the round shape as you turn the shaft from the tailstock giving an allowance of an inch. At this point return the tailstock to its position to get a square shape of the wood chunk. You should have an angle difference of a maximum of 3 degrees between the tailstock and the headstock. In this case, you now need to get a good position of the shaft and the tailstock to avoid any vibrations. Using a drill, get rid of the live center by positioning it on the tailstock. The drill should make a one and quarter-inch of a hole through the shaft. You now need to the hole and mount a tap using the drill to position the brass insert. Using the bold, you can now thread the pin using a glue them carefully bolt it back.

You now need to work from the tailstock to the headstock to get the recommended diameter to get the seven eighth diameters. You must have the plastic rings on the headstock and separate them using a silver ring. The last activity s to finish the shaft by giving the 4-inch allowance and use a leather polish; you now need to measure the headstock and tailstock diameter to get the standard measurement and lathe it to get the desired results.

24
Sep, 2019

Environment-Friendly Shower Head

When we talk of the environment we look at either the human environment and the physical environment. Everyone needs comfort on their home especially when it comes to washrooms and the shower accessories. Showers are common in the most modern home in either the developed countries and the developing nations. Despite all these, it is important to safeguard both environments. These are gadgets that use electricity; when a shower diverter is not working then there is no need to replace a substandard one which will interfere with the human environment and in most cases, it can cause death. A plumber ensures that all the shower diverter problems are rectified as fast as possible for they know that the impact of it may be fatal.

How then can you identify an environment-friendly shower head?

The type of metal that is used in the showerhead has an impact on the environment. The best one is the stainless steel since it has no corrosion or rust. The heavy metals are not advisable even by the health experts. The government should have a policy such that there are standards that they need to have to have a specific metal that is ideal for the showerhead. An advantage of the whole thing is the power of social media. The more you produce substandard products then it will be out there and people will tend to avoid you before you notice you are out of business. Who wants to go all that loss?

Water is a basic commodity in most households. With the recent crises of climate change, the water tables have gone down such that there is minimal room for wastage. There is also the issue of power and water bills. An environmentally free shower head is one that has small nozzles meaning that it passes less water but still you enjoy your bath.

An adjustable knob that regulates the water that gets out of the nozzle is also among some of the features in the showerhead that enhances then to become environmentally friendly.

There is the rotating brush that is a unique feature in the showerheads. There is nothing as disgusting as when you get germs from your treated water. Remember these are gadgets that we use daily and the water passes through the metals. It is important to have a secure tool for it. The rotating brush is the part of the showerhead that traps all the dust particles including the chemical reaction that may form a suspension.

At times there is the time that there could be solid wastes that may be trapped on the waters, you just need to make sure that the showerhead has a rotating and processing screw that traps all the solid wastes. This is a complex system that takes care of the people. This is a tool the manufacturers cannot afford the tough legal battles and the financial complications that come with it. They just have to make sure that the design and the manufacturer the correct products that ate environment-friendly.

2
Jun, 2018

Countryside Design Summary


A guide explaining how buildings and settlements contribute to the character of the Blackdown Hills landscape

This Countryside Design Summary(CDS) is designed to be of use and interest to anyone involved in the planning, design and construction or alteration of buildings in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It provides guidance on how buildings can be designed to conserve the distinctive character of the Blackdown Hills.

The traditional buildings and settlements of the Blackdown Hills are an essential and distinctive part of its landscape. To preserve local distinctiveness, the design of any built development needs to draw upon the construction traditions of the area. This does not mean slavishly and appearance of traditional buildings an, but application of construction traditions to the design of new buildings. These traditions can be understood by studying the area’s distinctive buildings and settlements and how they relate to their setting in the landscape.

Development schemes which preserve the character of the Blackdown Hills will fulfill the design standards which are expected in the AONB. It is hoped that this CDS will avoid bland, uninspiring and inappropriate construction which detracts from the character of the Blackdown Hills.

This website illustrates in broad terms:

the characteristics and features of the Blackdown Hills landscape, and the setting of buildings and villages within it;
the shape of settlements, their built forms and their relationship with the wider countryside; and
the nature of the buildings themselves, their massing, materials, colour, texture and detailing.
Guidance is given as to how an appreciation of construction traditions in the Blackdown Hills can be applied as design principles for new buildings, conversions, extensions, alterations and landscape design. Details are given of further guidance available from the local authorities which cover the Blackdown Hills AONB.

2
Jun, 2018

Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

KEY FACTS & FIGURES

¨ The Blackdown Hills were designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1991, joining the family of what is now 40 AONBs in England and Wales.

¨ The AONB covers 360 sq kilometres and sits between 150 and 310 metres above sea level.

¨ It has three major river valleys, the Otter, Culm and Yarty.

¨ The population of the area is approx. 13,500 residents.

¨ The largest settlement is Hemyock.

WHAT MAKES THE BLACKDOWN HILLS SPECIAL?

Four key characteristics led to the Blackdown Hills being designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

¨ It is an isolated and unspoilt rural area relatively undisturbed by modern development, leaving ancient landscape features, special habitats, historical and archaeological remains intact.

¨ It has diversity of landscape patterns and pictures, with a truly wonderful visual quality derived from a complex patterning and mosaic of landscapes.

¨ There is a unique geology shared with the neighbouring East Devon AONB which defines the topography giving rise to the flat plateaux, sharp ridges and spring lined valleys.

¨ The area has a landscape with architectural appeal punctuated by small villages and hamlets and isolated farmsteads of architectural value and local distinctiveness.

THE LANDSCAPE – WHAT WILL YOU SEE?

The Northern Escarpment – Dramatically steep and well wooded. Linear east-west topography emphasised by the straight road running along the top. Small hedged fields. View Point – Quarts Moor, National Trust Car Park

Wooded Ridge – Softer and rolling eastern extent of the escarpment. Extensive woodland including conifer plantations. Avenues of mature beech trees banked along side roads. View Point – Staple Hill Car Park (Neroche Forest)

Upland Plateau – Gently undulating land crossed by long straight roads bounded mostly by Beech hedges and isolated mature trees. Larger fields of predominately improved pasture. View Point – Dunkeswell Airfield

Rolling Ridgeland – Similar landscape to the plateau, but rolling topography with smaller fields, avenues of trees along road sides and views across valleys. View Point Half Moon Inn Car park – Clayhidon

River Valleys – heavily wooded upper slopes spilling down into pasture, hedge and hedgerow trees. Numerous small winding roads and isolated farmsteads. View Point – Culmstock Beacon

A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT – HOME TO WILDLIFE

These are just some of the special species that can be found in the variety of Blackdown Hills habitats………..

Grasslands, Heathland and Mire – Barn Owls, Heath Spotted Orchid, Marbled White Butterfly and Corky Fruited Water Dropwort.

Hay Meadows and other species rich calcareous Grasslands – Green winged Orchid, Gatekeeper butterfly and Birds Foot Trefoil.

Lowland Heathland and wet Heath – Ling Heather, Lousewort, Green Hairstreak Butterfly and Nightjar.

Hedgerows – Ash, Hazel, Dormice and Common Lizards.

Wet Woodlands – Grey Willow, King Cup and Siskin.

Ancient Broad-leaved Woodlands – Pendunculate Oak, Stinking Iris and Purple Hairsteak Butterfly.

Rivers and Streams – Kingfisher, Otter and Daubenton’s Bat.

COMMUNITIES OF THE BLACKDOWN HILLS

The Blackdown Hills embraces over 40 parishes, four local authority districts (East and Mid Devon, South Somerset and Taunton Deane) and two counties (Devon and Somerset).

Recent consultation for the Blackdown Hills Management Plan clearly showed that local communities have a strong sense of identity with the area regardless of which administrative district they live in.

There are a huge number of groups and organisations in the Blackdown Hills that care for community resources, offer recreational opportunities and provide for social gatherings.

A LIVING LANDSCAPE

Agriculture over the centuries has helped to form the landscape and still provides the life blood for its continued conservation. There are many micro businesses providing all types of goods and services and the IT revolution has led to a growth in home working. Recent years has seen a resurgence of locally distinctive products predominately within food & drink and arts.

The Blackdown Hills AONB is managed by the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership

A new general awareness raising leaflet about the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has just been launched. A copy can be downloaded here and hard copies can be obtained from Corinne Matthews.