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| This is a Bassenthwaite osprey but look out for something similar near Hill Top |
Beatrix Potter loved the countryside round Hill Top (it is after all set in beautiful countryside) and used it for some of her book illustrations. At the bottom of the hill is Esthwaite Water which makes an appearance in Beatrix's 'The Tale of Jeremy Fisher'. It seems that now there is an exciting addition to the wildlife of the area with the appearance of an osprey over the lake, a sight which Beatrix would never have been able to see in her lifetime as the bird has been absent from the area for generations.
The appearance was reported last week in the local paper and Carole one of our Visitor Services team can verify it having seen it herself. She was excited to see an osprey flying over Esthwaite Water on Easter Sunday while sitting in the tearooms at the Sawrey House Hotel next door to Hill Top.
Not so wild!
For anyone who's recently followed our countryside colleague John on his 'Lambing almost Live' blog posts you'll know that this is the lambing season. At Hill Top Farm, which is still a working farm, the lambs have been appearing too and for some of those who are born on the farm their first taste of freedom is the 'orchard' right next to Hill Top garden. The visitors love seeing these very cute baby animals but they can be a bit shy during opening times, waiting for the late afternoon before they play their mad running and jumping games.
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| Wait for us! Hill Top lambs running after mum |
osprey photo credit | David Boardman Flikcr