Since Peter and I have been at Higher Bowden, we have seen a huge variety of birds and animals visiting the grounds. Most obvious amongst these is the prolific community of rabbits which currently includes several black rabbits of domestic descent. We have also seen foxes, badgers, bats (which live in our workshop), shrews, grass snakes, slow worms, frogs, toads, newts, squirrels and moles.

Buzzards are a common site in this part of the country and there are several of them nesting in trees along the Beech Walk. At night we have spotted and heard both Barn Owls and Tawny Owls. The pond attracts a lot of visitors including herons, a pair of moorhens, huge emperor dragonflies and a kingfisher. Other notable birds include green and spotted woodpeckers, kestrels, cuckoos, sparrow hawks, yellow hammers, skylarks and an occasional pheasant taking refuge from hunting parties. We have also found giant bush crickets, a very rare cricket only found in this part of the South Hams.

Yet more creatures have been seen in the surrounding area. Deer, previously unheard of in the South Hams, have been seen several times only a few fields away. A couple of guests returning from an evening out where surprised to come upon a stag in the lane in front of them. It promptly leapt over the nearest hedge and disappeared. Indeed, many animals get temporarily trapped in the country lanes, allowing the motorist a good view before they disappear into a gap in the hedge. Or scuttle quickly across like a family of stoats I saw recently.

Occasionally guests have been lucky enough to sight seals swimming or basking along the coast.