Sparket Mill

01/08/2026

01/08/2026

Balsam bashing with my boy. We used the extremely dry conditions to fully explore our stretch of river and only found a few clumps of balsam, which we quickly removed.
If we didn’t do this every year, the situation would multiply to a point where balsam would shade out everything else and no native flora would survive and this would ultimately cause more erosion in the river banks in the long-term.
We’ve had so much support from Ullswater CIC in trying to keep this river in great condition. Eden Rivers trust helped us with a great volunteer balsam bash last year and it’s this involvement which is helping us to look after this beautiful stretch of Cumbrian beck.
But more than anything, it was great to have an hour long adventure, exploring this pristine watercourse with my son.
-

23/07/2026

The workshop. This is HQ to our new business The Wildlife Food Company . We’re starting small and (like everything else) we’re learning as we grow.
We sell wild bird seed and specialise in Red Squirrel food.
Take a look at our account to see what we’re up to.
-

14/07/2026

The swallows above the wheel are now on their second brood. This warm weather has really given them a head start.
-

26/06/2026

The garden is alive with insects at the moment. Our mix of wild native and hybrid plants is bringing in those pollinators!
-

21/06/2026

Happy Summer Solstice from Sparket Mill. Good weather ahead in the Lake District(well everywhere by the sounds of things!)
-

15/06/2026

Mid Summer pace at Sparket Mill.
-

10/06/2026

Long days…
-

08/06/2026

Fields, river, ponds and streams are really coming on. Habitat and corridor for lots of native wildlife.
-

06/06/2026

Our garden is left every year, for nature to do its thing. No mow May turns it into a thing of beauty (if you’re an insect).
-