We have been enjoying some wonderful weather this Easter, and the flowers and birds are reminding us that Summer is just around the corner. 

I heard my first chiffchaff a couple of weeks ago, and today saw my first swallow of the Summer.  This got me thinking about the warm, sunny months ahead and the wonderful events that Cornwall puts on. 

Here are the dates for a few of our favourites:
Tuesday 8th May: Flora Day, Helston
7,- 9th June: Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge
Monday 16th July: Stithians Show
Sunday 29th July: Porthleven Lifeboat Day
Wednesday 1st August: RNAS Culdrose Airday

The winter months also provide an opportunity for focussing on developing our small range of alpaca knitwear. 

It’s a lovely spring day.  All the animals are enjoying the sunshine.

A rare photograph of Nell relaxing!

Jerry the gander prefers his drink from the watering can!

Frodo, Legolas and Pippin

The winter months also provide an opportunity for focussing on developing our small range of alpaca knitwear. 

Our 3 alpacas produce about 8 kilos of fleece between them, which has to be spun before being knitted up into hats, scarves, gloves and jumpers. 

All our knitwear is individually designed and hand-knitted.  Alpaca fleece is very fine and incredibly soft. 

Here are some examples of some of the items we have produced so far.

Of course there are always jobs to be done around Tregathenan – here are a couple of small projects we have been working on.  Wall mending and re-roofing the pumphouse. 

Here we are taking the opportunity of a spell of dry weather to get on with a few of these outside jobs

The mild, wet weather seems to have produced perfect conditions for the early flowering shrubs such as magnolias and camellias. 

Nearby Trevarno Estate has a magnificent display of camellias. Here are a couple of Tregathenan’s own.

We are often asked what we do when we are not busy running the business.  Well, one of our passions is walking and we take the opportunity to explore and revisit parts of our beautiful coast and countryside. 

Today we walked from the Merry Maidens, a late Neolithic, stone circle via the pretty Lamorna Valley and Lamorna Cove to Paul (near Mousehole) and returned via the coast path, managing to squeeze in a pasty and a pint of Doom Bar at the Lamorna Wink Inn on the return.

There are always treats along the way, and today we saw hundreds of wild narcissi, some early violets, a small colony of kittiwakes, oystercatchers, shags and black-backed gulls.