Bee & Blossom Farm
About Us and oUr farm
'Failt ort' - Welcome
We purchased the Farm in August 2018. Both having a keen interest in wildlife we have developed the land in harmony with our surroundings. Bee and Blossom Farm is located in the rolling Manx hills on the south side of the Island overlooking the southern coastline encompassing Gansey and Carrick Bay. We are fortunate enough to have taken on additional land with two small reservoirs. Our aim to provide a self catering getaway where you can just sit back and relax in a tranquil rural setting. We have planted over 350 trees to date and plan to expand this in an effort to encourage more wildlife into the area. Upper Scard (Nordic - 'Mountain pass') is a haven for Birds of Prey; we have daily visits from Buzzards, Hen Harriers, Peregrine's and Kestrels. Occasionally, fortunate enough to encounter migrant Merlins.
Our secluded position provides uninterrupted celestial views of the Milky Way. The only interruptions to be heard being the call of an owl or flitting wing of a bat. The cottages offer homely luxury with furnishings from Laura Ashley, Emma Bridgewater and Laxey Woolen Mills. Each cottage has large screen smart tv's with Netflix, Prime or Apple TV and Sky. There are also Nespresso machines for the days when you want to relax with a coffee and a book by the river or pamper yourself with some bubbly in the therapy hot tub. There's also a games room where you can watch a movie, play snooker or enjoy a game of chess.
John was drawn to the property by his passion for Birds of Prey. We have aviaries on site housing our own birds and regularly rehabilitate injured hawks/falcons or owls for release. We don't have children but our furry and feathered family keep us busy. Our quest to expand the flora and fauna has been very rewarding with glimpses of anything from rare butterflies to bathing lizards. John's passion and enthusiasm is contagious. When not at home on the farm we are either tracking on the hills or paddling on the ocean in Port Erin; another place where you will be surprised by the diversity you can encounter here on the Island. Port Erin bay is not only a home for Paddle Boarders, the bay is also a popular hang out for Moonlight and Starlight our resident Bottlenose Dolphins and the occasional shark! No need to worry though, they are friendly giants that only visit for the plankton blooms in our summer months.
How we got started
John was bitten by a love of birds at a very early age. His Grandfather bred canaries and he has cared for birds since childhood. We feel blessed to have progressed into Falconry being guided by our long term friend Alan. We currently care for two Peregrine falcons, a Goshawk and the beautiful red tailed hawk pictured above. Tina and I also love to travel, the highlands of Scotland being a favorite haunt. The wealth of wildlife and scenery there is breathtaking.
Top Destinations
Our favorite place to visit is Port Erin, the beach is within a sheltered bay on the Southern tip, just 10 minutes from our home. It has a beautiful sandy beach, there are some nice places to eat and drink together with quaint little shops. Ideally situated for a trip on the steam train into Castletown or Douglas.