Chocolate Recipes for a Chocolate Feast Day

Added on March 11th, 2010
Found in Events, Recipes

With our Chocolate feast Day coming up on Friday 26th March and Saturday 27th March here at Cotesbach we thought it a good opportunity to add some new chocolate recipes to the recipe section of our site.

The two new recipes are for :

• Read the rest of this entry »

Return of Chocolate Feast Day

Added on March 6th, 2010
Found in Cotesbach Estate, Events, News

By popular request the “Chocolate Feast Day” returns, for two days before Easter we are giving the site over to chocolate, so for those of you close enough to come you can try some chocolate.

We have all sorts of chocolate, so you can compare the delights of milk chocolate to very dark chilli chocolate, try raw chocolate. We will also have a selection of home made chocolate treats for you to try together with a free cup of real hot chocolate.

Read the rest of this entry »

Cotesbach Educational Trust

Added on October 11th, 2009
Found in Cotesbach Estate, Events, News

The Cotesbach Educational Trust had its launch meeting and presentation on Friday 9th October.

Jackie Strong the Chair outlined the vision for the future, bringing the old school house back to life as an Educational resource. It was really good to see such a full turn out, and the village church was packed. After the presentation all the visitors were able to view the school house and discuss the project. For more details you can visit the cotesbachschoolhouse.org,uk site that is now up and running.

Ullesthorpe - Save Money Go Green

Added on September 8th, 2009
Found in Events, News

On Saturday 10th October between 10am and 3pm Ullesthorpe Environment Group is holding a Save Money Go Green Event in Ullesthorpe Village Hall.

We will be attending along with others to promote the Green Agenda and we hope to show that being Green can save you money, what’s good fro the environment can also be good for the pocket.

The event has been timed to link into the Big Switch Off -  an energy saving event taking place in Leicestershire in the week following our event. The Energy Saving Trust, ENABLE, HDC, Leicestershire Food Links,  etc will all be taking part.

Open Day and Organic Tasting

Added on August 26th, 2009
Found in Events, News, organic

On Friday 4th September and Saturday 5th September we see the welcome return of our Open Day and Organic Tasting at Cotesbach.

• Garden Tours - As in previous years the kitchen garden will be open with Phil our resident expert Organic grower giving free guided tours, so for those of you who have not seen Aubergines growing now is the opportunity, as always Phil has many tips on growing and getting the most from your plot.
• Tastings - There will be lots to try and sample, so you can try before you buy. This year in addition to our old friend the Godminster vintage cheddar we also have cheese form Greens of Glastonbury. You can try the chocolate courgette cake and the best in dried Apricots, there will of course be many other bits to taste.
• New Organic Butcher - In a couple of weeks time Jason will be opening his Organic Butchers shop in the Stable Yard here at Cotesbach. So the Open Day is a good time to see progress on the latest addition here. We hope that you will be able to try some of Jason’s Organic burgers, which are just the best you have ever tasted, there will be a small charge for the Burgers.
• Recipe ideas - We will have on hand some interesting and possibly new recipe ideas for you to take away and try at home.
• Arts and Crafts - New this year our neighbours Blue Butterfly glass and animal artist Mary Herbert will be on hand for that bit of refinement and culture.
• Cotesbach Estate Farm Walks - The farm consists of 22ha arable and grazing land in the Natural England Countryside Stewardship Scheme.  It will be entering an organic conversion  period in autumn 2009.  Groups of 6-20 welcome, walks take 2 hours, pre-booking essential.  Contact: Sophy on 01455-552697.  BOOK YOUR FARM WALK FOR 5th SEPTEMBER NOW!
• Merlin Engine firing - On Saturday the resident Merlin Engine will have an outing, the first for a couple of months.

Read the rest of this entry »

Organic Fortnight Event

Added on June 22nd, 2009
Found in Events, organic

This year we see the return of our Organic Fortnight Event, this year the dates for your diary are Friday 4th September and the Saturday 5th. This year we will be having :

• Tours of the Garden - with Phil giving his expert advice, your chance to see where the veg in the shop comes from.
• Tastings in the yard - this year we will have a huge range of great organic food to taste.

Read the rest of this entry »

Music Day 2009

Added on June 3rd, 2009
Found in Cotesbach Estate, Events, News

The annual music day in the yard will be held as usual on the second Saturday of July, again as usual there is a full programme from 12 noon to 12 midnight, camping is also available so come and enjoy a relaxed day in the sun with good music.

Read the rest of this entry »

MERLIN FINDS A NEW HOME

Added on March 20th, 2009
Found in Cotesbach Estate, Events

Cotesbach has recently become home to a Rolls Royce Merlin 724C engine, which was fired up successfully for the first time since its arrival on 8th March 2009.
The Merlin is a liquid cooled 27 litre V12 piston aircraft engine with supercharger, designed and developed as a private venture by Rolls Royce (PV-12), first flown in 1935 and fitted to the Spitfires of Battle of Britain fame (designed by Joseph Mitchell) which were pivotal in the victory of World War II. 
The Merlin enabled aircraft to fly at least 100mph faster than before, reaching speeds of 450mph and greatly improving performance at high altitude.

Widely considered to be among the most successful engines produced during World War II, Merlin engines were also used in Hurricanes, Wellingtons, Defiants, Lancasters, Halifaxes, Mustangs and Mosquitos. 
This engine was one of four fitted to a Canadair McDonald Douglas DC4 Argonaut civilian plane of the 1950s, each 1800hp (this one is labelled ‘Right Wing Outer’). 
It was acquired and lovingly restored by Tom’s late cousin Francis Machin, architect and son of the sculptor Arnold Machin who produced the iconic image of The Queen’s head we know so well from the Royal Mail stamp.  His mother, Patricia Newton, was an artist. 
The engine was kept at Francis’ home, Garmelow Manor, Staffs, but since his early death in 2007 resulted in the sale of that property, Tom has been appointed ‘Guardian of the Merlin’ until Francis’ children can accommodate it, as it is hoped to keep the engine in the family.
 
We are proud that this crucial piece of aviation history can make its home so close to two others : Stanford Hall where Percy Pilcher broke the world distance record in 1897 leaving the ground in his ‘Hawk’ for 250 metres, and Lutterworth, the birthplace of Sir Frank Whittle whose jet engine superceded the Merlin design at the end of World War II. 

 
THE VITAL SPARK

Read the rest of this entry »

Music In the Yard - 2008

Added on June 30th, 2008
Found in Events

This year the Music in the Yard event will be held as usual in the yard at Cotesbach Hall on Sat 12th July, with bands live on the stage from 12noon to 12 midnight.

•  Admission 5.00, under 12 free.
• Tents 5.00 pre-booked please

 This year the bands include

• The Backroomboys
• Our Amazing Company
• Escher Rocks
• Manos Puestas Quartet
• Maryanne Ratcliffe

Read the rest of this entry »

Talk at Leicestershire Vegetarian/Vegan Group

Added on June 17th, 2007
Found in Events, News

On the 17 June Sue gave a talk at the Leicestershire Vegetarian/Vegan Group.

Sue talked about organic growing and the group were able to taste some of our vegetarian range.

For more information on the Leicestershire Vegetarian/Vegan Group contact Sue or Tamsin by Tel 07786 175445, 07966 178211