Wildlife at Ormidale
Red squirrels and a Golden Eagle, two families of deer and the tallest Grecian fir in Scotland may be the highlights – but there is an extraordinary variety of other birds in our landscaped gardens and wild woods. Children love what must be the world’s biggest ant heap, and of course the ubiquitous gigantic rhubarb. All in all, the flora and fauna are both fantastically diverse at Ormidale. Argyll is famous for its gardens, with many being open to the public. Ours is not at that level, but it was designed by the famous Victorian landscape artist Sir Thomas Mawson of Kendal at the same time as Robert Lorimer redesigned the house itself around 1910. While the tallest single tree in Britain is just down the road in Glendaruel, we have what is by repute the tallest Grecian Fir in the UK in our grounds; it has a distinctive and very attractive blue green fir, and enormous pine cones. It sits outside the swimming pool, on the main drive. The gardens are home to an abundance of interesting plants including the brilliant giant rhubarb that go with the giant Christmas trees!
The woods are an absolute pleasure to explore; unlike so much of Scotland, there is a genuine diversity of species represented, with dappled glades of elm and beech and birch interspersed with denser plantations of fir. There’s almost as many types of tree in the woods by Ormidale, as at Kilmun arboretum, near our other holiday property, Old Kilmun House.
We have an abundance of moving wildlife at Ormidale, too.
This summer we had a colony of bats which resulted in a decimation of the midges that have been known to plague any still summer evenings! A colony of deer live and breed in the woods and can often be seen crossing the lawn. Red squirrels – while obviously endangered and threatened here, as everywhere, by their grey cousins - are also regular visitors to our tables.
We have a huge variety of birds as well, largely because we keep feeding them! Barn owls, cuckoos and woodpeckers add to the twitter and tweeter of the smaller birds. You’ll see kestrels, eagles, and other hawks on a regular basis on the estate and just around.
Our Lochan is host to the occasional fishable trout and we have played host to otters in our own stream. Rabbits are usually bouncing around the fields and gardens.
Helen and Mark, our resident estate managers, don’t count as wild-life and nor do their dogs. (They are not free range, living in the cottage’s private garden.) Amelia, their daughter, is also usually quite tame. Mark and Helen are both wild-life enthusiasts and keen gardeners, so they will be great guides to interested parties.
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