Additional Information  There are hazelnut and walnut trees with a decent crop from both though the hazelnuts are a  little small and we have always left them for the red squirrels.  The walnut trees have produced  more than enough to take us through the whole year and they are easy to  collect as the trees are in a row at the rear of the property.  They fall in  September/October.  The fruit trees were planted 3 years’ ago and there was a bumper crop of  almost 100 apples from one tree alone last year.  There was also a decent  crop of delicious pears and two of the cherry trees produced fruit for the first  time.  Not enough to make a huge batch of cherry pies as the birds feasted on  them before us but enough to make a few.  No apricots yet...  There are three separate herb areas - a wonderful resource if you like to cook  with them or create flavoursome oils, incense or pot-pourri.  All are essentials  like rosemary, thyme, bay, sage, oregano, marjoram, chives, lemon verbena  and tarragon.  The volume of some is such, that if you enjoy herb crafting you  could easily make some herb sachets, wreaths, posies etc without any  detrimental effect.  There are also around 80 lavender plants and these are  normally cut back in August so again another opportunity to be creative with the  flower heads.  The courtyard is home to a fire pit that is often lit throughout the year.   It is a lovely way to extend those cooler evenings outdoors whether with  friends or in private.   The bird life at Les Vieux Chais and around the riverbanks is amazing.  Each year a number of  swallows return to the stables and an area next to it. In April 2010 the returning group number was  lower, only about 4 or 5, yet within a few weeks of laying and feeding their broods, a new generation  of swallows was diving around the courtyard and flying in and out of the stable window.  During our first September (2006) a young swallow was found in a spoil heap in  the stables and Bernadette hand-reared him for 27 days.  She fed him cut up  worms initially then some maggots Ian had bought for fishing.  During the day he  was placed on a metal skewer pushed through a cardboard box which we sat  outside on a windowsill so he could watch, listen and learn.  As the days  progressed and he grew stronger, he was even taught to fly.   Eventually he flew off in early October and amazingly  returned the following April!  As well as swallows there are others who visit like  blackbirds, tits, redstarts, owls, kestrel, thrush, doves,  wood pigeon, hoopoes and we recently had a very determined sparrowhawk  spend some time here.  On high we see eagles and buzzards circling and at  the river swans, kingfisher and heron are frequent.  (No doubt there are many  more but we just don’t know what they are!).  One May morning in 2010, around 5.30am, Bernadette was awake and recorded the first dawn  chorus.  Even a neighbour’s cockerel can be heard joining in! (apologies for the poor visual quality  but this is all about the sound).    There is a well to the side of la Grande Maison.  We have installed an electric pump so it is very  useful for watering the gardens in summer.  Fishing and boating are very popular and from April to November it is common to  see anglers and boat enthusiasts up and down the river.  If  you enjoy angling a licence can be obtained from the village  shop and it is possible to purchase a monthly or annual  licence. The two operational moorings can accommodate different size  boats as one mooring is deeper than the other.   If you are a golfer then you will only have a 2km drive to reach the championship  course at Golf du Cognac with its excellent practice facilities and quality  restaurant.  Competitions are held regularly and a large percentage of the  membership is English speaking. And finally...the village has its own free tennis court and it is only about 300m away.  Made with Xara © Hot Property France 2011 Disclaimer/Privacy Competition status:   OPEN Register for our Newsletter Help Promote the Competition Links