Having achieved our genealogical research objectives in Duddington – we decided to use the last few days of this stay to visit one or two local landmarks – bearing in-mind that we only started extended visits to the area this year! Normally, or at least it was general practice in the past, to make day-trips from Sutton to Duddington. However, staying on location has meant that we can take a much more relaxed and flexible attitude to events. We can also double-check our work and repeat any visits that require re-filming or further photography.
In London, there are a number of “City Farms” designed to allow children born and brought-up in cities to experiences farm animals in real-time. Of course, visiting a working-farm in the country is a slightly different experience – and this is exactly what we did today. About five-miles up the road from where we are staying in Market Overton (situated in Oakham) – there is the “Rutland Farm Park” – a family-owned café-restaurant, play area, and hundreds of friendly, approachable, and feedable farm animals – including Heavy (Shire or Dray) Horses, alpacas, Highland Cattle, unusual piggies, geese, ducks, chickens, sheep, and goats, etc, as well as rabbits, and Guinea Pigs!
Unlike the City Farms or the bigger commercial entities – the atmosphere is relaxed. Indeed, a cadre of very alert geese provide the security detail – patrolling the grounds and showing the guests which way to travel in and out of the park! I remember once reading in a book at school (a very long time ago) that Celtic people used to live on the top of mountains and hills – and that it was geese (and not dogs) that used to warn the inhabitants of any approaching strangers! Geese “honk” really loud, and are physically brave, being willing to protect their owners with their lives! Brave little fellows they are!
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 