As from Monday 28th July River Cottage is welcoming a group of biologists from the University of Gloucestershire, led by Dr Adam Hart, (Course Leader Biosciences), to carry out a biodiversity study.  They will be looking at the plants and animals on the farm, identifying the different species and getting an idea of their abundance.  They will be writing their own blogs for our website and let you know what they have found which will also have links so that you can find out more about some of the discoveries they make.

When they've finished, they will create some information boards to go up on around the farm and some suggestions on how to keep, and increase, biodiversity.  For those of you who have yet to visit us at HQ they will also suggest ways that everyone can increase biodiversity in their gardens.  One way would be to have your own pond - but don't think you need to dig anything too big, a ceramic basin sunk into the ground (put the plug in first!) can attract all manner of plants, creepy crawlies, frogs, toads, newts and birds to your garden.

One of the perks of being a Member of River Cottage, is taking part in our Members Seed Project. We will chart your progress if you send in your pictures and as a member you can add your own comments....

Tim is the Head Chef at the River Cottage Local Produce Store and Canteen in Axminster.

We always have a stream of photos, and stories from our events so we thought, as a team, we would keep you updated, as live as possible with all the event action. For photos, recipes, tips and quotes, keep an eye on the Events Team Blog.

Steven Lamb is our resident host at River Cottage HQ (Park Farm), and is involved in our whole range of courses and events on a daily basis.

The latest from the Garden Team, headed up by Simon Hansford, HQ Head Gardener. 

A busy day today making sure that all the pitfall traps and mammal traps were collected and that everything that could be identified had been.

Homing pigeons have made several significant yet short appearances throughout my life. Like a fleeting cameo role by a reputable actor in an independent movie, they arrive literally out of the blue to deliver a significant message and then they are off; and somehow, by the sheer fleetingness and gravitas of the delivery it transcends into something more meaningful.

A relatively warm but overcast, and windy day meant that many creatures were a little quieter today. However, a 7am start checking the traps led to the first mammal trap success - a pygmy shrew.