with Tiffany Fleming

Autumn arrived as if by a flick of a switch; the much longed-for rain finally arrived and made as if it might never stop.  Night skies sparkling with lightning gave way to muggy mornings, and valleys filled with mist, and silk-spun spiders’ webs sparkled in the sun.
The smell of bonfires floated on the cooling air, as grateful gardeners were once again able to clear their garden cuttings, and, at High Mead, the excitement of all that autumn offers became the prevailing mood.

I started wearing socks, a fact not lost on my mother who took it as a sign of a summer done.
The schools returned, launching their new academic year full of nervous anticipation, and the farm started to return to its usual level of business.
Work began on the ‘all-abilities access’ to the shop and our comfortable farm routine was once again restored. We waited anxiously to discover the identity of the country’s new leader, then watched on as our Queen, happy at home in Balmoral, invited Ms Truss to form a government.
Who could possibly have guessed how the rest of the week would pan out? News of our monarch’s poor health, then subsequent passing, happened so quickly and unexpectedly that even the non-royalists among us felt the Earth shift a little off its axis.
So much change in just a few short weeks has left many of us feeling quite out of sorts and a little lost. Thank goodness then, for the little comforts available to us at High Mead, be they fur, feather or flora.

Many claim comfort in quiet contemplative time spent in their gardens or walking their dogs. These pastimes are good not only for our physical health but also for our soul, as is spending time with friends and those we know and trust.
It is because of these benefits, the assurance of peace and safety, that we made the difficult decision at the start of the year, to close the farm to the general public, allowing access to only the farm shop. Access to the wider farm is still available, but only as a pre-arranged trip or during one of the free Open Day events hosted on specific Sundays throughout the year.
It was a heart-wrenching decision for Mark, the farm’s founder, as he loves nothing more than introducing people to the farm and watching the look of wonder as the realisation dawns as to all that goes on there. However, with safeguarding the top priority and the happiness of the Co-Farmers our number-one priority, we had little choice but to put a hold on casual visitors and protect the sanctuary the farm affords.
Happily, those wishing to visit don’t have to wait long! The farm’s next Open Day is this Sunday, September 25, where we would love to welcome lots of new friends and show you all just what it is that makes High Mead Farm the happy, peaceful place it is.