Garden

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 The house is set in its own mown meadowland of 3 acres - providing plenty of space for ball games - and there is a large area of lawn by the pool screened by high laurel hedges.  Choose from among the many paved sitting/dining areas either in the shade to avoid the midday heat or in full sun.  There are a number of mature shrubs and trees, containers of flowers on the terraces and our original restored well.  The garden to the rear is another area of lawn from which to enjoy the 360 degree panoramic views over the fields and across the valley.

Garden furniture, pool recliners and parasols are provided for our guests and their friends, and on the large paved terrace outside the French doors there is a circular wooden picnic table seating eight.  Also for your entertainment we have Kettler 9ft x 5ft outdoor table tennis, badminton, a full-size antique croquet set, boules and various other outdoor and in-pool games. 

 A very enjoyable first week of gite holiday near Marmande has 43 birds on the list, mostly from either in, or from, our garden. The Golden Orioles have visited us daily, some days returning every couple of hours to collect plums and flying off with them. Green Woodpeckers are here daily, probably for the insects attracted by the fallen fruit, or the fruit itself.  Willow and Melodious Warblers, Cirl Bunting, Chiffchaff are present daily, and Grasshopper Warbler heard but as yet unseen.  Buzzards, Black Kite, Swallow and Swift are overhead each day also.  A visit for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker so far is a one off.  Cattle Egrets, Crested Lark, Hoopoe, Purple Heron have been seen in nearby fields, lanes and lake..