The Garden
Old Rectory Barn has a private lawned garden with flower beds, a herb garden and a seating area and BBQ. It overlooks farmland where you will see newly born lambs in the Spring.
There are also separate patio areas with views across the valley, with their own seating.
We have 5 acres of fields, a number of newly planted varieties of fruit trees and a vegetable garden from which we are happy to provide produce in season. There is a wealth of wildlife to enjoy and we encourage a variety of birds with nest boxes and have a bat roost. Our night skies are perfect for star gazing. We encourage you to record what you see in our nature diary and then we know how well we are doing to encourage biodiversity.
'Thanks again for a lovely holiday. We hope to see you again next year and hope the weather is as good again so we can relax in the garden'.
'We have had a really enjoyable 6 days in this very comfortable and well furnished holiday home. We have been very lucky with the weather, sunning ourselves in the garden and enjoying the lovely view. I am sure we will be back.'
'We could stay all summer it is so relaxing here. Thank you for the warm welcome we received.'
'A very warm welcome and scrumptious basket of food and drink. Lovely touches such as the herb garden'
'Had a fantastic holiday, Hilary and Graham were so friendly, the scenery was lovely and the runner beans great! Hope to be back.'
A selection from the Nature Diaries:
Feb - small bird of prey flying low over the field - possibly female Sparrowhawk. Also Blue Tits seem to have a nest in, or near to the barn - lots of dashing about this morning.
March - we saw some Red Kites on a walk and a Heron by the canal.
March - can confirm the sighting of a Sparrowhawk and it was sitting on the gate today.
April - walking around Usk Reservoir saw Red Kites and heard a Cuckoo.
April - a Great Tit was tapping its beak on the window. Long Tailed Tits and Blackbirds singing heartily. A Buzzard was in the field for a long time - 2 days running.
May - Swallows arrived - same day as our grandaughter Tes!
May - Goldfinches and Swallows by the barn, but also saw Kites, Buzzards, Wheatears, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dippers and Grey and Pied Wagtails nearby.
May - there was a Heron in the middle of the field for ages this morning and heard a Cuckoo - the first one for years!
June - the hedgerows are a picture, full of cow parsley, oxe-eye daisies, foxgloves and buttercups.
July - walking along Llangattock Escarpment saw Willow Tits at very close quarters - very pretty birds, a real delight.
August - walking along the canal had my first ever sight of a Kingfisher. It flew in front of us several times and also landed twice giving us a brilliant view.
Sept - the Swallows had a second brood and very reluctant to leave - last sighting. Hope they make it back to Africa OK?
Oct - Still lots of young green Woodpeckers around this year and very noisy Tawny Owls!
There are also separate patio areas with views across the valley, with their own seating.
We have 5 acres of fields, a number of newly planted varieties of fruit trees and a vegetable garden from which we are happy to provide produce in season. There is a wealth of wildlife to enjoy and we encourage a variety of birds with nest boxes and have a bat roost. Our night skies are perfect for star gazing. We encourage you to record what you see in our nature diary and then we know how well we are doing to encourage biodiversity.
'Thanks again for a lovely holiday. We hope to see you again next year and hope the weather is as good again so we can relax in the garden'.
'We have had a really enjoyable 6 days in this very comfortable and well furnished holiday home. We have been very lucky with the weather, sunning ourselves in the garden and enjoying the lovely view. I am sure we will be back.'
'We could stay all summer it is so relaxing here. Thank you for the warm welcome we received.'
'A very warm welcome and scrumptious basket of food and drink. Lovely touches such as the herb garden'
'Had a fantastic holiday, Hilary and Graham were so friendly, the scenery was lovely and the runner beans great! Hope to be back.'
A selection from the Nature Diaries:
Feb - small bird of prey flying low over the field - possibly female Sparrowhawk. Also Blue Tits seem to have a nest in, or near to the barn - lots of dashing about this morning.
March - we saw some Red Kites on a walk and a Heron by the canal.
March - can confirm the sighting of a Sparrowhawk and it was sitting on the gate today.
April - walking around Usk Reservoir saw Red Kites and heard a Cuckoo.
April - a Great Tit was tapping its beak on the window. Long Tailed Tits and Blackbirds singing heartily. A Buzzard was in the field for a long time - 2 days running.
May - Swallows arrived - same day as our grandaughter Tes!
May - Goldfinches and Swallows by the barn, but also saw Kites, Buzzards, Wheatears, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dippers and Grey and Pied Wagtails nearby.
May - there was a Heron in the middle of the field for ages this morning and heard a Cuckoo - the first one for years!
June - the hedgerows are a picture, full of cow parsley, oxe-eye daisies, foxgloves and buttercups.
July - walking along Llangattock Escarpment saw Willow Tits at very close quarters - very pretty birds, a real delight.
August - walking along the canal had my first ever sight of a Kingfisher. It flew in front of us several times and also landed twice giving us a brilliant view.
Sept - the Swallows had a second brood and very reluctant to leave - last sighting. Hope they make it back to Africa OK?
Oct - Still lots of young green Woodpeckers around this year and very noisy Tawny Owls!
