Visit to Manor Farm at Tarrant Monkton
Jul 2nd, 2010 by Keith Chaloner
On Tuesday 29th June, twenty-four club members assembled - with the permission of the owner - at Manor Farm, Tarrant Monkton, where they were met by Steve and Dawn who were to be our hosts for our guided tour of this impressive Dorset farm on a wonderful summer evening. After an introduction to the farm and a brief walk around the farm buildings we climbed aboard a trailer equipped with straw-bale seating facilities and towed by a tractor. From this elevated position, we were able to appreciate the countryside at its best, featuring wildlife including rabbits, pheasants and deer all of which were shot (in the photographic sense) by a broadside of cameras. We were also able to view acres of ripening barley – and very possibly wheat – lit by evening sun and rippled by the breeze.
After a visit to a modern milking parlour where the problems of bovine tuberculosis were earnestly discussed by several of us with much interest and enthusiasm but precious little knowledge, we returned to the farm where we had the obligatory ‘team photo’ before enjoying excellent refreshments prepared by Dawn.
All in all a really enjoyable evening that offered social intercourse and photo opportunities galore.
Malcolm Bowditch
