Birds Around Southlands

Many birds call the Northumberland countryside home, for some it’s permanent for others it’s a holiday home, and many others stop off here on their way to and from warmer climes.

Whilst our guests nestle up warmly in the cottages, the birds can do the same in one of the many nesting boxes around the farm. We fed the birds as the trees and hedges became established but now don’t need to as there is sufficient feed for all and even an owl box for our wisest of avian friends. We welcome other flying friends to the farm as well,  if you look closely you’ll see bat boxes, bee boxes and butterfly boxes dotted around the garden.

Birds you might see whilst walking around Southlands…

House Sparrow, chaffinch, thrush , greenfinch, golfinch, starling, blue tit, coal tit, woodpecker, pied wagtail, swallow, swift, house martin, siskin, yellowhammer, barn owl, pigeons, doves, robin, wren, herron, song thrush, linnet and redwing, curlew, skylark, fieldfare, pheasant, partridge, sparrowhawk, red kite, kestrel, peregrine, buzzard, sand martin, woodcock, jay, magpie, crows, rooks, gulls, teal, mallard, gooseander, kingfisher, wagtails, warbles and buntings. Please do let us know if you see anything exciting and better still if you manage to get some pictures while you stay.

Flora Around Southlands

Our aim is to preserve and enhance Southlands 37 acres of permanent pasture and the countryside around it for future generations, so they can enjoy spending time here as much as we have. We take an active role in this across a number of areas. Recently we completed an eight year stewardship scheme at the farm, an initiative to encourage and improve the flora and fauna, and to try to get back to the pre-intensive farming days that followed the war. As part of this project, we have introduced a much less intensive grazing regime, planted 100’s of meters of mixed hedges, planted small coppices of trees across the farm, created a wetland scrape to attract waterfowl and restored the dry stone walls to their former glory.

More recently we have embarked on another stewardship scheme to maintain our environmental work, laying hedges and managing the grassland and scrape in a way the maximises wildlife.

One of the striking features of Southlands Farm is the diversity of native grasses and flowering plants found within the meadows. The ridge and furrow meadow is particularly species- rich and contains a host of less common plants found in unimproved grassland in Northumberland. Our hay meadows contain wild herbs which we feel gives our Dexter meat its delicious flavour and quality.

Flowering wild plants you may find in our hay meadows on your visit: 

Common sorrel, germander speedwell, lady’s smock, ribwort plantain, clove garlic, lesser snap weed, meadow vetchling, cowslip, red clover, meadow buttercup, common vetch, eyebright, pignut,

Grasses & rushes at Southlands Farm: 

Crested dog’s tail, Yorkshire fog, meadow fescue, rough meadow grass, sweet vernal grass, field wood-rush, cock’s foot, meadow foxtail and chewings fescue.

If you are interested to find out more whilst staying with us, do please ask as we would be happy to take you on a guided tour of the farm.

“Thank you for your warm hospitality and going out your way to show us the history of Gunnerton and trace our family history. The cottage is gorgeous!“

–  Mark and Georgina. Tahara Bridge. Australia

“What a lovely job you have done on the conversion- wonderful attention to details that make Southlands a truly exceptional holiday –let experience. The Kune Kunes rocked!”

–  Tim, Chiqui, Henry and Clara. Barcelona