WELCOME TO CROOKEDSTANE.COM

Zacharry's shop opened May 30th in Moffat to sell our spruce goodies, now using the brand name ‘Zacharry’s’ (after my grandsons Harry & Zac)

The Meditation Walk at Crookedtane has been chosen as one of Scotland's Best Autumn Walks in the Scotsman on October 3rd!

Crookedstane spruce food
and drink has arrived!

Spruce beer, - a deliciously refreshing non-alcoholic drink made with our own spruce shoots; best served long and iced or as a mixer with whisky.

Ayrshire pork sausages flavoured with fresh spruce shoots; Speyside beef spruceburgers; spruce and lemon ice cream – a delicious way to end the meal, very good after fish or spicy meat dishes.

Spruce jelly – ideal with cheese, game, lamb or mackerel.

Vegetarian sausages flavoured with spruce; vegetarian minibites flavoured with spruce.

Fresh ground spruce sealed in a sachet to use as an aromatic herb

spruce chocolates – fantastic dark, milk and white chocolates filled with a spruce flavoured ganache.

All products made in the south of Scotland and available exclusively from: CKL Ltd, Crookedstane Rig, Elvanfoot, Biggar, ML12 6TJ

For current availability, details and prices, please contact Jim on jim@forestrypurposes.com or tel 01864 505277 mobile 07852943021

Folklore information:
American Indians made a Tisane from spruce bark
to cure fever and infection.

According to a Scottish herbalist, ‘the Essential Oil of spruce is popularly believed to be Antiseptic, Warming, Astringent, Soothing, Calming, Relaxing, Good for Sprains, Stiffness and Pain, Poor Circulation, Cellulite, Rheumatism, Coughs & Colds, Anxiety and Stress. An infusion of spruce can be used to treat: Arthritis, Rheumatism, Anxiety, Cellulite, Chillblains, Circulation, Colds, Fluid Retention and Stress.

Every Crookedstane Kindling box contains: kindling from Scotland’s sustainable forests, cones and a fair trade juniper and pine scented plant oil candle.

*Soil Association Certificate AB17798

The first daffodil of 2007 bloomed on the afternoon of the spring/summer solstice,
Sunday March 25th

Windfarm Inquiry
The outcome of the Clyde windfarm inquiry (held locally Aug-Oct 2006) is expected sometime after the May 2007 elections.

For an occasional blog by a Russian visitor to Britain go to: Tatiana’s Diary

January 2007

'Wallace's Women' - receives new 'virtual' production in the United States!

click to enlarge above pictures

Spring at Crookedstane October 2006
The plums ripened and were eaten. Encouraged by this, more fruit trees were planted in November 2006.

September 2006
A massive crop of Victoria plums ripening; the windfarm inquiry has opened in the village hall at Crawfordjohn.

July /Aug 2006
Cherries ripening on the trees for the first time since 1995. Trial patch of Bog myrtle planted.

June 2006
Marsh orchids (2 this year) have returned to the vegetable patch, which is suffering (unusually) from drought.

May 25 2006
First ever bluebells – two (self-seeded) in a grove of rowan trees; lilac flowers still not quite open; lots of young male blackbirds; a mistle thrush.

May 11 2006
Violets out; lilac about to flower; balsam poplars in leaf; pheasants eyes in bloom
April 20 Primroses out; newt seen in top pond

April 18 2006
The first daffodils have started to come out; Swifts seen in Elvanfoot

March 30/31 2006
Frogs and toads started to spawn
(two weeks later than last year).

Mid-March 2006
Black headed gulls arrived on the water
meadow down by the Daer.

?? March 2006
Snowdrops out at last

2006 – the Year of Staying Put.

Motto: Happiness is not getting what you
want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.

The snowdrops are out at last; no daffodils
yet here at 300m, but the snow has melted
and otters are much in evidence.

An application has been made for a
major windfarm which may include
Crookedstane Rig

Spectacular exclusive!
Rare Lichens and mosses at Crookedstane

Photographs by Jennifer Gough-Cooper

More pictures here

Sitka Spruce Exhibition

paintings by Norman Trewhitt
norman@trewhitt52.fsnet.co.uk
Norman writes: “...I am running an exhibition of my work on the said tree. The show ends in June, alas. However there are plans to show in Kielder and Jedburgh sometime in 2006."

Wildlife Biodiversity Survey

Of 83 bryophyte species identified, 25 mosses and 8 liverworts are ‘rare’.

The lapwings, curlews and oyster catchers are back!

The frogs started spawning in the ponds over the night of Friday March 18/Sat March 19.
The whole pond hums with the song of the frogs and the water is full of spawn.

First two daffodils came out on 22nd March!

Peacock Butterflies sighted from March 19th onwards.

March 31st
The rhubarb is through.
Wagtails are building their nests near the house.

April 19th
First Primrose out

Blackheaded gulls seen up here April 27.
Housemartins or swifts seen May 2.
Mallard ducklings seen on pond May 4.

May 1st
First Violets out.

June 10th
One spotted orchid has already come up in the vegetable patch.

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