Events at Mill House Banham

27/07/2024

Well it was Kingston's 2nd birthday today.
What better way to celebrate than a couple of candle workshops with and lots of treats for the alpacas.

Thanks to all of you who came.

21/07/2024

The results of the bat survey carried out in our garden are back. (Data below)

Very excited to see we have 10 species of bat including one that is nearly extinct.

As you all know we have been trying to create a wildlife friendly garden and this is really encouraging for us to keep going. I think having lots of mature trees helps and also all the areas we leave for insects to live.

The numbers on the left are the number of times a bat was recorded. Obviously the same bat can fly over multiple times so the number on the right is a fairly accurate guess to how many of that species of bat we have.

3452 files 5.76 GB Lat 52.46914 long 1.06423

Barbastelle 33 ( VULNERABLE) No doubts. All but one are 99% probability. The single one is 52%

Serotine 3 (VULNERABLE)
Brandt’s Bat 2 (Data deficient)
Daubenton’s bat 6 (Least Concern) 2 low confidence
Natterer’s bat 9 ( Least concern ) 3 Low Confidence
Leisler’s bat 2 (NEAR THREATENED) Both low confidence
Noctule Bat 18 (Least Concern) 6 Low confidence.
Common Pipistrelle 3157 (Least Concern) 33 Low confidence
Soprano pipistrelle 33 (Least concern) 1 Low confidence
Brown long eared bat 10 (Least concern)
Speckled Bush cricket 18 (16 low confidence)
Dark bush-cricket 17 (14 low confidence)
Green silver-lines moth 5 ( All low confidence)
Bird cherry Ermine moth 16 (All low confidence)

20/07/2024

Well it's been summer at last this week!

We have had 2 lovely groups of people come to meet, feed and walk the fleecy crew.

Pepè was the favourite on Wed and today it was Iggys turn to be adored.

18/07/2024

Here's Kat.... Dressed and ready for summer and whatever faces her here at Mill House including -

▪️Ragwort
▪️Alpaca poo
▪️Brambles
▪️Admin
▪️Lippy husbands
▪️Cat shenanigans
▪️& impromptu cocktail parties!

A Big THANKS for all you do 🙏

12/07/2024

So today our resident village bat expert Janet came and put up sonar listening equipment in our garden 🦇

All bats give off different sonar patterns. These will be picked up by the microphone and recorded and saved into an SD card within the box. This will be checked against a database of bat sounds and analysed. Clever eh?

We get a lot of bats in our garden at night so it will be interesting to see how many different species we have.

Hopefully it can't read my thoughts or I might be arrested or carted off.....🤣

11/07/2024

Well everyone we are almost at the summer holidays!

Our accommodation is fully booked now until September but we still have spaces available for our Autumn events.

You can book online using the links below:

Alpaca experience
Dreamcatcher workshop and meet the alpacas
Places must be pre booked.

Looking forward to seeing you soon for fun and alpacas 😀

09/07/2024

Well we had a great time at Applewood Hall wellbeing weekend and met so many lovely people. We were offering reflexology and mindfulness/meditation sessions.
I got to try laughter yoga for the first time and loved it and joined in with the drumming ceremony.
Great memories ❤

30/06/2024

So Pepè is 2 today!
He and his buddy Kingston will be having a party later with games and jelly and ice cream 🍦

Alpacas love lime jelly but they can't stand orange flavour....

Flo and Sweet Pea hate children's parties so we have built them a bar in the field shelter so they can sit in there drinking cocktails and bitching about men.

Iggy plans to stand around in a daydream like he does every day 🤣

24/06/2024

22/06/2024

Wishing my handsome husband a very happy birthday 🎂

You work tirelessly here keeping things running (don't mention the drains this week!) You are a great animal daddy and have far more patience than me.

You run around solving my dramas (yesterday it was "baby I got the mower stuck in a ditch, can you come and push me out please?")

You have a huge heart and always make sure everyone around you is happy but sometimes forget to look after yourself.

Today is your day and we shall spoil you like you deserve. A nice walk later, fish and chip supper tonight and a glass or 2 to celebrate.

20/06/2024

So after our sad week here losing Bo we then had some truly amazing news!!
Our cat Marbles who went missing without a trace 10 years ago was found alive and well.
To say we were emotional about this was an understatement. So much time has passed I thought something bad must have happened to him.
He went out of the cat flap one night from where we used to live in Crowborough and didn't come back in.
We spent hours and hours searching the streets, putting up posters, looking on missing pets websites etc and just felt awful. He was micro chipped but no phone calls.
Last week an elderly couple not far from where we used to live bought him to the vets as they knew there was a new law requiring cats to be microchipped. They were rather surprised when the vet scanned him and said he was already chipped!
We have spoken to them on the phone and he is happy and well looked after, they have had him for 4 years and we have managed to piece together most of the other missing years.
We are happy to leave him where he is but we will be having a video call with them next week to see him and it's wonderful to know he is safe and well.
The moral of this story is: if you ever find a stray cat or dog please please take them to a vet to see if they are chipped.

15/06/2024

We are about to take a much needed week off but before we do EE here (short for Evil Eye and she is the boss) would like to tell you about all the great events we have for July. We have more details for all the events on the "about" section on our page. All places must be pre booked.

🌷 Sat 6th and 7th we will be at the Wellness Weekend with a fantastic line up of yoga, zumba, reflexology and massage treatments, music, meditation and more.

🌷Sat 13th First workshop in the healthy lifestyle series "The Seasons" by Norwich Massage The Seasons- a Chinese medicine workshop A look at the season of early summer from a Chinese Medicine perspective including exercise, eating and acupuncture for this season. 10 till 5pm £80pp.

🌷Sat 20th Alpaca experience Our regular meet and greet with the alpacas plus a short walk. 11 till 12.30 £15 adults £10 under 14's.

🌷Sat 27th Candle making with Red Panda Crafts Norfolk This workshop is fully booked but places are available on Sat 14th Sept.

10/06/2024

Thank you so much to everyone who sent best wishes for Bo, we were very touched and we did let him know his fans were sending love.

Sadly the blood test results were not good. The reason for his weakness and collapse were because he was in late stage heart and kidney failure. This also explains his recent weight loss and breathing problems 4 weeks ago. Alpacas deliberately hide it when they are poorly as do all prey animals so it can be hard to tell.

As animal lovers we had to do right by him even though it was heartbreaking. Here he is in his best herd leader pose lording it over the others and being the boss. We have enjoyed every moment of having him here and forgive him giving us the odd kick!

09/06/2024

So we are not having much luck with our alpacas at the moment 🙄

Bo is unable to walk this morning without collapsing and so we are waiting for the emergency vet.

He wasn't right 4 weeks ago and we had the vet out but couldn't get to the bottom of what was wrong with him and he seemed to recover. Blood tests will be needed today.....

Bo is well loved by everyone even though he is a grumpy old man so please everyone send him some love today ❤

06/06/2024

We can’t wait to join & for their first ever Wellness Weekend on the 6th & 7th July!

Louis will be offering reflexology treatments and I will run meditation and mindfulness sessions.
 
There’s a packed schedule full of exciting activities, classes, and workshops that you don’t want to miss.
 
For a limited time only, you can get £15 off a weekend ticket, but be quick, this offer ends Friday 14th June.
 
Head to and check out the link in their bio for more info and book your tickets now!
 

04/06/2024

And another great new series of workshops to announce. You can book for the talks individually or take advantage of the discount for booking all 5.

The Seasons
With Norwich Massage

A series of five interactive workshops looking at the seasons from a Chinese Medicine perspective.
Summer.
Late summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Spring.

Learn acupressure and lifestyle techniques to help you live in harmony with the seasons.
There will be mini bodywork treatments, gentle movement activities and meditation practices.
Seminar style information will be given along with a chance to discuss aspects of your own life in relation to the content.

We will finish the day with a craft project to cement in our minds what we have learned about each season.

Please dm to book or for further information

02/06/2024

Half term fun.....with alpacas of course!

01/06/2024

We have so many great events lined up for this summer such as this mindfulness and movement day for neuro-diversity hosted by Sophie. Mindfulness & Movement - Neurodiverse Focused Events

Sophie was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult but whilst her diagnosis gave her huge relief and clarity the choice of treatments and finding a way forward was overwhelming.

Sophie also had other people approaching her and saying "I think I might have ADHD or Autism too" and asking questions and confiding in her.

All this lead to much research and then a desicion to qualify in mindfulness and specifically for neuro diversity.

This workshop is fully inclusive and with no judgement so if you are interested get in touch or you can book online (link below)

Our events at Mill House are particuarly suitable for anyone who may be neuro diverse as groups only ever take place in small numbers and we offer a calm and welcoming space. Time with the alpacas, refreshments and lunch included.

27/05/2024

Shearing day today and they all look so different!

Can't add photos of Iggy as we have reached the photo limit for posts 😆

They will all be much cooler now when summer finally comes, and we were really lucky with the weather today as their fleece has to be dry for shearing.

We had a new shearing team this year and they were excellent, very calm with the animals and did a great job.

24/05/2024

One of the best ways we can look after nature is by just leaving things be.

We love our garden and spend lots of time looking after our plants.

Here is one of those plants being eaten to pieces by these caterpillars.

Will I be pulling them off or reaching for the pesticides?? Never! Not a single chemical gets used here as they do so much damage to the eco system.

Remember everyone if you want to see butterflies first you need caterpillars 🦋🦋🐛

22/05/2024

' The cat's sat on the mat!' Furb and Tezzy having a lazy morning here at Mill House 😻😻 zzzz...

21/05/2024

We are excited to announce that is going to be offering shiatsu massage treatments and a series of workshops in the cobhouse.

Shiatsu appointments are available on Wed 5th of June and workshops will soon be announced.

Shiatsu is a highly relaxing Japanese bodywork that takes place on a futon on the floor. Clients are fully clothed and the practitoner works along their ‘meridians,’ which are the same as in acupuncture. Shiatsu can help with many different health conditions.

Claire has a wonderful calm personality and has been working as a practitioner for 6 years. Treatments are individually tailored to your needs.

Please DM to book

19/05/2024

A few snaps from our alpaca experience yesterday.

Thanks to everyone who came and made it lots of fun.

The alpacas were as well behaved as they ever will be and a bit of walking happened 🤣

Pepè was a real star and was letting people cuddle him which is unusual as he is normally aloof!

15/05/2024

And finally the weather is warmer 🌞

If you are wondering what we have in store for you in June then please take a look at our events list.

We are getting busy now so if you do want to come and stay this summer or book your own event then get in touch as availability is limited now. Look forward to seeing you soon.

Sat 1st June Alpaca experience

Sun 9th Jun Mindful hour for mental health £10pp.
An hour of mindfulness, nature and alpacas to soothe the soul.

Sun 23rd June Day retreat for Summer Solstice – Celebrating the Light . Hosted by Serenity Norfolk a relaxing and nurturing day. Vegetarian Lunch provided £75pp