THE BROWNRIDGE ANIMALS

From April till November in the fields at Brownridge you will see sheep and cattle grazing; you will probably meet a further selection of animals on a more personal basis.
For many years there have been donkeys here. Sadly Jenny, pictured here, died in September 2010. I still have Custard, an arthritic Exmoor pony who got on very well with Jenny. Now her companion is Moonlight, due this year (2012) to be 37 people-years old. Moonlight belongs to Amy, who lives in the Cedarwood Bungalow. Harry, the huge white horse in the photograph, is no longer here. He could jump five-barred gates - but that's another story.

You will also meet Juno, a black labrador who is full of enthusiasm for everyone and everything always excepting a recent addition, a black and white stray cat called Hodge. He is a fine cat, a very fine cat indeed, but she is terrified of him.

In the Cedarwood Bungalow lives Misty, a golden retriever, possibly partly Alsatian.

There are 12 Black Rock hens. But twice lately, two foxes have passed this way ...

You will hear pheasants and owls, possibly see a weasel or two and perhaps the resident toad . And if you see swallows swooping low as dusk melts into darkness - they're probably bats.

Sometimes we see red deer and always, in the winter months, wild geese (generally greylags) drop down to graze in the empty fields.

Come and see!