Philiphaugh News June 2017

 

The Cauld And Salmon Viewing Centre

We have had a long spell of dry weather through May and now into June. This has given nesting birds a great start and ducklings and other birds can be seen along the river side-walks. Birdsong in early morning and evening is deafening. Trees are almost all full out, except for the ash, which is just coming into leaf.

 

The river has been incredibly low and only one turbine has been operating to produce electricity.

 

On the farm, lambing and calving has finished and the lambs and calves can be seen skipping happily in the fields. Rain is needed to boost grass growth and to give us a reasonable crop of silage for the winter feed.

 

You may notice that thinning of the magnificent Douglas Fir trees has been undertaken beside the Corby Linn walk. The trees were planted in 1923 and the current thinning will give the remainder of the stand the chance to grow on to even  greater height and girth.

 

 

Philiphaugh Gardens

 

Work is flat out in the gardens. Bedding plants are selling fast, along with hanging baskets and strawberries from our polytunnels. Definitely worth a visit.

 

The gardens are open Monday to Friday 8-4 and weekends by appointment.

Walks

You may see oyster catchers, dippers, mallard, goosanders and any number of woodland birds. A kingfisher has been seen along the mill lade on several occasions.

 

The estate has a number of beautiful walks at any time. Please collect a leaflet or consult the map in the salmon viewing centre for route information.

 

Mobile Phone App

To listen to our fascinating audio tour of the estate and battlefield go to www.philiphaughaudio.org

 

Battlefield Self Guided Walk

Leaflets and a booklet about the battlefield project are available from the Waterwheel Cafe.

  

Salmon DVD

A fully narrated film entitled "The Philiphaugh Salmon" showing twenty minutes worth of the best, recorded images from the salmon viewing center, will be available to purchase from the Waterwheel Restaurant.

The species included are salmon, trout, grayling, eel, perch, a brief view of an otter knocking the camera and a goosander swimming underwater below the cauld.

All proceeds will be used towards the upkeep of the centre, for the purchase of equipment, cameras and towards maintaining the facilities. The DVD is priced at £5.