I am staying here.
When Wendy moved in four years ago, what surrounded this 1830’s cottage was lawn.
Okay… moving on from extreme garden envy…..
We visited her friend, Jane, who raises champion Sussex chickens.
I’m told that proper Sussex don’t tear up lawns. It must be true. Jane’s birds are raised outside on grass. Look at this pen.
I’m also told that proper Speckled Sussex look like these hens. Don’t tell Lulu!
Sounds like I ought to swap my flock for proper Light Sussex hens!
Lawn still in re-hab here – not easy when we’ve only had a teaspoon of rain in 10 weeks.
Celia
PS Wendy’s garden looks immaculate – I’m off need to weed our courtyard…
That cottage and garden are just beautiful – and so are the chickens! Sussex sound like a great idea if you want to keep a decent lawn and free range some happy hens. I’ll have to remember that. Thanks for posting the wonderful photos, Terry.
Welcome to my part of the world!
Have a lovely holiday! xx
Beautiful gardens and hens… amazing that they don’t tear up the lawn. I have garden and chicken envy!! Thanks for posting the photo story. So glad to see you are having such a wonderful time!
That is just so lovely. An English cottage, garden, and hens. Are you having tea out in the garden?
I’ve been following your site for a while now. I have garden envy, trip envy and chicken envy! The municipality I live in does not allow chickens so I live vicariously through you. Lived in England for a year, it is an amazing country. Have a great time and post lost of pics!
OK! I am GREEN with envy! BEAUTIFUL! Where are the scones?
Those are some big birds. I’m SHOCKED that those chickens don’t scratch. Do they dust bathe?
How beautiful it all is. Can’t help loving England. Does Wendy’s cottage have a name? I love that custom. And those chickens are spectacular. Have lots of fun on the rest of your trip.
I LOVE the Sussex with the Columbian(?, I think that’s what the white body with black on tail feathers and neck is called.) Does anyone breed them in America? Specifically the northeast?
Hi Karen, Wendy here! these Sussex are known as Light Sussex, rather than Columbian. There are also speckled, red, brown, buff and white; silver and coronation aren’t recognised by the ‘fancy’!
And in answer to Jean, my cottage is called Mopesden. The suffix ‘den’ is anglo-saxon for a small farm in a clearing ( I think!)
Hi Wendy!!!…
I love your cottage!!…it reminds me of one we stayed in in Lancashire when I was about 7!!…I’m 43 now, living in the U.S., but i was born in Bilericay, Essex. Moved here when I was 2. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for you & Terry sharing with us, lovely hens and lovely cottage….a good subject for a painting!! Make sure terry gets some Cadbury snack and penguin bars!!!…I would be so fat if I still lived there!!!…haha
Thanks again!!
Maria
Are they are as active and nutty as Lulu though ?
I haven’t had scones, but have had some perfect shortbread, and fish as fresh as can be.
Those show Sussex are so pampered, well fed and fully feathered that they are the most placid hens I’ve ever met!. I’m told they dust-bathe in sawdust inside the house! I have seen other Sussex who do scratch and get dirty, but these are simply stupedified by their own beauty, I think.
I think Jane has another field that those hens have completely trashed and you saw the ‘show paddock’ they are moved into for VIP visitor viewing ;-)
Celia
PS the best scones will be found in Suffolk
I’ve yet to have scones – Wendy has been quite remiss. Look forward to yours.
How beautiful – the cottage, the hens!! Looking forward to more pix, maybe even some food pictures would be nice. I have a friend who takes pix of the food in each country she visits. Thanks for sharing your adventures Terry!
Just loving the travel posts, thank you!
I was in the UK way back in the early 1980s and always hoped to go back some day so reading your experiences is such a treat!