The hills around the distillery truly are alive with the sound of music. Not from instruments or orchestras, but from the countless birds and wildlife that inhabit the chalk downs surrounding us.
Yesterday, I took a small group out for a walk across the landscape. It felt rather like heading out on safari, albeit without elephants, lions or giraffes. Maps were studied, routes debated, snacks packed and binoculars gathered before we set off into the countryside.
Within minutes we were immersed in one of England's most remarkable landscapes. The Wiltshire Downs are steeped in history. Ancient drove tracks criss-cross the hillsides, while Neolithic monuments, burial barrows and Iron Age earthworks remind us that people have travelled these routes for thousands of years. Everywhere you look, there are traces of those who came before us.
Yet it is often when you stop looking and start listening that the landscape reveals its true character.
High above us, skylarks filled the air with their endless song. Linnets and finches moved ahead of us in restless flocks, darting between hedgerows and field margins. Buzzards circled overhead, their distinctive calls carrying across the valley as they searched for rising thermals. Occasionally they found themselves pursued by crows, who seemed determined to challenge every inch of airspace.
Perhaps the highlight was a flock of long-tailed tits moving through the hedgerow. Rarely still for more than a second, they flitted from branch to branch in constant motion. Nearby, two yellowhammers appeared, their bright plumage standing out against the autumn countryside. Their presence was particularly welcome given the decline many farmland birds have suffered in recent decades.
Then came the moment everyone remembers. A Red Kite appeared overhead, gliding effortlessly on outstretched wings. It passed so low that individual feather details were visible. Elegant and imposing in equal measure, it commanded everyone's attention.
Meanwhile, brown hares raced across neighbouring fields at astonishing speed, adding yet another layer of life to a landscape that never seems to stand still.
One thing I can guarantee, there is much more to experience and see on our distillery safari!
