Fairy Favours

The dancing Cowslips come in pleasant hours; 
Though seldom sung, they’re everybody’s flower

John Clare

Fairy favours Shakespeare called them, but the old country names of cowsups, cowpats and cooslops reference the old folks’ observation that they flowered most abundantly where a cow had ‘slupped’ – cow pats to you and me. Very sadly more cows are being kept indoors for longer, or even all year round. Cows belong on grass, whether in meadows, scrub or woodland. Choose organic and grass fed to ensure that your daily dairy is cowslip friendly!

Spring ephemerals, cowslips in woodland areas will always flower before the tender new leaves unfurl on the trees overhead. Here, a pale lemon yellow carpet of cowslips spreads across the forest floor of Sheepdrove’s Natural Burial Wood.  This broad leaf deciduous woodland is sheltered by mature hedgerows of hawthorn, blackthorn and briar rose and a tapestry of native wildflowers – cowslips such as these but also wild orchids, oxeye daisies, red campion, lady’s bedstraw and devil’s bit scabious – flourish under the trees, providing sustenance and shelter for bees and other pollinators throughout spring and summer. It is a beautiful place to spend eternity.

More News

We Won!

We won!  Sheepdrove won two awards from the Sustainable Wedding Alliance! We are passionately committed to sustainability and so are absolutely thrilled to receive this

oak room prepared for wedding celebrations

Wedding Open Weekend

Our next Open Event for Weddings is on 28th and 29th January from 12 midday until 5pm. We’d love to show you round our epic

sheepdrove hall prepared for a wedding

Wedding Open Day

Looking for a wedding venue that offers a modern rustic vibe, hidden away in beautiful unspoilt countryside? Sheepdrove is hosting wedding viewings on Sunday 2nd

farm building with scaffolding

Renewing Renewables

Our various solar arrays are receiving essential servicing this summer to make sure they’re fully functioning for the winter. Sheepdrove’s events venue and farm office

combine harvester at work

Harvest is Underway

Harvest began on July 25th with the winter oats. With the weather on his side Gavin has finished the rye, winter oats, winter wheat and

the well-lit sheepdrove barn

Let There Be Light!

The rustic pole barn on the central courtyard that is home to the gypsy caravan can now lit up at night for evening weddings and