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NEW SITE NOW OPEN
| We are now open to the public every day, 10am to 4pm. From Barnstaple follow link road to and beyond Bideford keeping on the A39 towards Clovelly. Turn left at Bucks Cross, follow the cheese dairy signs until you reach a smaller crossroads. Turn left. We are the first field on the right hand side. COME AND SEE THE NATIONAL COLLECTION OF LUPINS WE HOLD - BEST DURING MAY/JUNE. You will be bowled over we promise!
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New field site
| AUGUST 2003 we bought this field, a south facing site, with lots of water lying about on heavy clay. The views however are fantastic and the aspect perfect.
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Planning consent
| DEC 03 Once we had obtained planning consent just before Christmas, work began in earnest on the sticky clay, first opening up the entrance and erecting a shed to house the vehicles, nursery equipment, a borehole pressure tank and all the electrics needed for the new site. Oh and a workshop for the resident/mobile farrier (husband Robert!)
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Clay and water everywhere
| FEB 2004 The soil appears to have more than a fair share of clay, the problems it presents compounded by surface water and springs popping up all over the 4 acre site. So much for lovely red Devon soil! All the topsoil has been scraped off the lower area where the new tunnels will be sited and saved in big piles to be later spread on growing areas and the promised veggie patch for Rob.
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Site for new triple span tunnels
| FEB 2004 The plan is to have two triple span tunnels on the site but up to the end of February it was looking an unlikely spot for anything other than mud loving hippos
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Mobile homes
| 1st MARCH 2004 However, due to about six different contractors working to meet our moving in date of 1st March, they managed to move tonnes of earth, drain the site with 12 inch drains and put enough hardcore in to enable us to at least drive on to the site without getting completely stuck. First night we had frost on the inside of the caravan windows. Bliss ......
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At the coal face
| APRIL 2004 We now await arrival of the triple spans so that work can begin as soon as possible. The date has been put back twice now due apparently to a shortage of steel!? Meanwhile our stock at our old site continues to stretch our limited space to bursting point and we will all be very glad to move the plants to the new site as soon as it is ready and to welcome our customers
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Drains!
| MAY 2004 Despite massive drains up to 12" in diameter having been put around the entire site and through the middle, the ground persists in lying wet, great pools of clay coloured water sitting in the ruts. Devon might be notorious for being hilly but it is also very wet indeed.
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Polytunnels arrive
| 17th March 2004 and we finally take receipt of two, state of the art triplespan tunnels. Having negotiated the small crossroads at Merry Harriers without taking down the signpost, the lorry arrives with one flat tyre causing skidding as the driver reverses to unload. This task takes four men a mere 5 hours to complete!
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Polytunnel ground tubes cemented in
| Despite the filthy weather, the ground tubes are cemented in after only a couple of days. We now wait for the ground to be levelled again and for more stone to be put down before starting on the framework. Storm force winds, driving rain and the use of machinery has turned the site back into a quagmire of sticky clay and mud so it might be some time before this is completed.
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Levelled again
| End March 2004 -The site had to be levelled out again and 17 loads of stone tipped over the entire area to avoid everything disappearing into the clay. We are getting through money like water...
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Tunnel frames going up
| Early April 2004 and the frames of the triple spans start going up very quickly. We have put down a surface of pipe gravel on which the lupins in their pots will be happy to sit..
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Tunnel covers on
| By Easter 2004 the first triple span has a roof!
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Lupins in their new home
| Mid May 2004, and we now have lupins in their new home enjoying the space and light instead of being cramped together in small tunnels. Terracotta is one of the first to show it's appreciation! They are better housed than us.
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Triple spans completed
| JULY 2004 Whilst away at Chelsea, our hard working tunnel contractor, Kelvin, was busy finishing off both the sales tunnel and the second triple span. Work must now slow down as we have run out of money having spent the entire budget from selling our house!
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The Lupin Express
| JUNE 2004 Taking a line from Monty Python, our two vehicles are inscribed with 'The Lupin Express' and are in constant use at this time of year, trundling lupins to shows all over the country for open mouthed admiration!
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Bullocks!
| AUGUST 2004 Having finished the tunnels, Kelvin's hard work was rapdily undone by maurauding bullocks which got into our site and poked a hole through the sales tunnel. A full blown disaster was narrowly avoided but until the cattle grid is ready, Robert's tractors and an old gate must keep out any more livestock!
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Donkey Meadow
| SEPT 2004 Freddie waits patiently in our old site to join us at Donkey Meadow - named in honour of our four beloved donks - including Freddie, we have Sally, Daisy and Dillon. Must get the paddocks ready and sown with seed soon.
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New addtion
| DECEMBER 2005 An addition to the family - Megan the bichon (Meggie Moo) who now rules the roost! Such a tiny thing too..
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Donkeys
| JANUARY 2006 The donkeys enjoy their new home too and very obligingly stood in a straight line, heads all facing the same way for once.
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Sales area
| MARCH 06 The shop is now open and ready for visitors. We are open daily 10am to 4pm but the best time is March to end of September as most of our plants are herbaceous and die back during the winter months.
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New greenhouse for auricula and lewisia
| JULY 2006 We start work on a small greenhouse for the alpines.
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New tunnel for Iris and Clematis
| AUGUST 06 Meant for the overspill of lupins but this last tunnel has been filled up with other things..Unfortunately within a couple of weeks of finishing it, the wind took the new sheet off
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Recovering the new tunnel
| OCTOBER 06 And here it is again. Hope the cover stays on this time
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Another addition to the menagerie
| DECEMBER 06 Charlie Brown (Megan's brother) joins us as companion to Megan and a serious distraction to all!..
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Planning consent granted January 2007
| Jan 07 After an abortive attempt last year we now have planning consent for a house bringing an end to our time in the mobile homes after 4 rather long years!
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