Article - Whitelee Holiday Cottages on a Northumberland hill farm

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Events News Vistors to three luxurious self-catering cottages on a Northumberland hill farm

VISITORS TO THREE luxurious self-catering cottages on a Northumberland hill farm can now enjoy a wonderful view of barn owls, badgers, foxes, pheasants and other wildlife without moving from the comfort of their armchairs. Three CCTV cameras have been installed on Whitelee Farm to carry live pictures from inside a barn owl nest box and from a feeding station direct to the television screens in each of the farm?s 4-star cottages. Infra red lights allow holidaymakers to watch the various birds and animals that come and go by day and by night.

The Naturewatch cameras have been installed with the support of the Northumberland National Park whose Sustainability Grant part funded the scheme. Whitelee Farm owners John and Jill Wilson have worked closely with the park authority. John told us: ?The barn owl nest box was erected by the Park?s nature advisor at a time of year that ensured the owls were not disturbed. Without the National Park?s support the scheme would not have been possible

?The camera located inside the barn owl nest box allows a fascinating insight as the adult owls rear their family, totally unaware of being videoed,? John said. ?Eggs are laid at the end of April, hatching 4 weeks later. The rather grotesque looking chicks are fed on the nest for 4 - 6 weeks before venturing out of the box onto a platform. Over the next few weeks they gain strength and confidence and begin to take short flights, staying close to the nest box while they are still dependent on their parents for food. They leave the farm to find their own territories in October.

?The badgers can be seen in early spring, after coming out of partial hibernation in around February. They love peanuts which are rich in fat and help them build up fat reserves which they need to carry and rear their young successfully. In the autumn, again they need to replenish their fat reserves to support them through winter. It?s a real privilege to be able to watch all these wonderful creatures.?

In addition to the Naturewatch cameras, the Wilsons have embarked on a programme to install alternative energy to the cottages. With funding from Energy for Enterprise and Northumberland National Park, one cottage is already being heated by a geothermal system with electricity generated by photovoltaic panels and hot water supplied through solar panels. A wind generator has been erected to supply power to a large holiday unit that is currently being created from redundant barns and a geothermal system, PV and solar panels will also provide power and hot water. The Wilson?s plan to convert the other two cottages in the future.

Whitelee Holiday Cottages are situated amongst spectacular scenery looking out across the Whitelee Fell National Nature Reserve. They are the perfect get-away-from-it-all location, ideally placed for the many attractions of Northumberland and the Borders, including Kielder Forest Park, Hadrian?s Wall, Alnwick Castle and Gardens, Holy Island and Edinburgh. You can find more information on the Wilson?s website at www.whiteleeholidaycottages.com

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