A Cook's Tour of a Thriving Business

A quick visit to Janet's parents (John & Joyce) was capped by this beautiful Orchid.

The venison for dinner was excellent, complimented by a Chateau Montrose claret but the overnight rain persisted throughout the morning quashing any ideas of a wander around Parley Court Farm, and whoever quoted the saying "rain before 7, dry by 11" couldn't have been here today! After kicking my heels for almost a micro-second it was decided to join Hugh on his rounds of the farm and Eco Recycling Works, which is an integral part of the business, giving me a great opportunity to see a successful businessman at work.

First of all Hugh had to deliver the turf cutter to the 30 acre stretch that was about to be harvested, a drive of just over a mile half of which is along the main road from Hurn Airport, this being his very first go at handling this particular vehicle. He made it, ably assisted by the main driver his youngest son Gavin, after which we watched as cutting got underway.

2 cutters operating in tandem,

with the sods being manually stacked on pallets which the forklift stacks ready for transport.

The Gaffer oversees the operation.

We then moved on to the Eco Recycling Depot where most of Dorset's compostable waste ends up, along with thousands of tons of hardcore, demolition waste and all manner of timber. The processes that follow are truly amassing, with separation of the minerals being graded in huge piles of fine soil, sand, gravel, large stones and even boulders. The timber is similarly sorted with large amounts going to the chip-board industry, while the bulk is shipped to Germany to fuel power generation there.

Much of the raw material is transported in by East Dorset County Council. On this occasion (I guess just showing off for the camera) the exiting Waite's lorry, bound for Germany, clipped the Council waste vehicle knocking off a lump of metal.

Most of this wood will be bound for the Continent, while

this is likely to end up as 'chipboard'.

Vegetation awaits conversion into

compost, is then loaded into the 'mincer'


sieved and graded before bagging,

as soil is dealt with in a similar way.

A sculpture outside of the Manor House, commissioned to celebrate the 80th birthday of Theo, Mr Dampney senior.

The bride arrives for the reception at the Manor.

The 'metal detective' arrived mid-afternoon to show his latest find, a pistol thought to be of Victorian origin.

An ants nest uncovered on the Common during one of few bright spells during the day.

Regardless of the weather the Equestrians still practice tirelessly. This lady is from Finland.

and as the light was fading this Green Woodpecker landed

on the lawn right outside the lounge window, allowing me to approach within 8 feet - Wow!