Last friday evening I was working late on Black Down, it turned out to be well worth it as I was treated to seeing something pretty unusual, a Black (or melanistic) Adder. I know some people don’t like them, but I think adders are fantastic creatures and always really enjoy seeing them.

Their usual colouring is grey and black for the males and copper and black for females. I always think the copper colouring is particularly pretty, but sometimes an excess of pigment leads to the snake taking on a much darker overall colouration. It’s not something you see very often, so I was really pleased to spot this one and thought I would share it with you.

Its been a busy week on the build site, foundation trenches have been started and we have been busily cutting out rafters and joists on the sawmill. The first of the A frames of the building is now sat on the framing bed being worked on.

Above you can see the timbers for it being lifted onto the bed. Some of you might start to recognise them by now, and maybe even where around Haslemere they came from. I certainly wont forget, especially that oak beam!

And, lastly for this week, in a sure sign that easter is nearly here, the sheep that graze the Speckled Wood orchard have started to lamb. Here’s a picture of the first one to arrive.

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