A Week on the Estate: Autumn Equinox, Shy Eel & Ceiling Sealing

South Ormsby Hall is receiving some TLC. A crack in the ceiling of the drawing room, and the water ingress that caused it, are receiving some skilled attention. This means scaffolding both inside and out, and Housekeeper Jacqui Rhodes is diligently making sure that all the fixtures and fittings are well protected from dust, grime and steel poles.

We had some good news about South Ormsby Estate’s improving biodiversity.  Jacqui Rhodes spotted a slithering shape in the beck and whipped out her camera just in time to bag a picture or two before it disappeared. The folks at the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project told us: “It’s a tricky photograph to identify….but from the flash of white underside [it] could well be a European eel [which is] fabulous!”.

If we do have European eels (Anguilla anguilla) in our beck, this is worth celebrating. This snake-like fish is critically endangered, its numbers having declined by more than 90% across Europe since the 1970s. Overfishing, changes to ocean currents and watercourses, and industrial and agricultural pollution are all factors in this decline. We’ll keep doing our part to improve this picture and we’ll keep our eyes on the beck.

Chapter Five of ‘Granny’s at Brinkhill’ can be found HERE. This week, Cecile Stevenson tries to recapture the flavour of her granny’s “agonisingly moreish” potatoes cooked on a frightening and potentially explosive stove, and remembers Mr Boyden the baker delivering all sorts of treats. The next instalment of ‘Granny’s at Brinkhill’ will be published towards the end of the month.

Finally, here’s a date for your diary. St Leonard’s Church at South Ormsby will be holding its Harvest Festival at 9.30am on Sunday 3rd October. This will be our local church’s first service since March 2020. The Harvest Festival allows us to give thanks for a successful harvest. Donations of food (ideally dried, tinned and long-life goods) will be most welcome so that the church can share the blessings of the season with those less fortunate.

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