Towards the end of summer...

After planting more fruit trees at the field from the stock back at home, a steadily busy time with other tasks around the field, before returning back to my proper job for a couple of weeks and a little less intensity down at the field.

From Meadowcopse 2011

Unintentionally, the apple trees yielded quite a bit of fruit (I nipped the buds out earlier in the year as they are still relatively young trees).
Quite a range of flavours, but not greatly developed apples as such, so a bucket full was pulped and pressed to make juice, that was quite good (although the small quantity worked out at about £5000 litre, if you take in the cost of buying a field, trees, tractor, mower etc.

During a riverside walk, I spotted a rather old orchard on the Welsh side of the bank at the same level as the field, alaying any concerns about the winter flood water risks as the trees seem rather established just down from the ruined castle.

From Meadowcopse 2011

The spacing is reasonably consistant with my own planting scheme and the established orchard recently visited (during a fine lunch and weekend away) at Barley Wood Walled Garden near Bristol.

Flooding is the least concern at the moment with the dry weather and yet more extra watering carried out.

From Meadowcopse 2011

Turning up with the tanker on a warm summer evening seems to have caught a couple of amorous folk out too as it draws dark - although one couple seemed to be about to get down to things even when my Landrover was blatently parked in the middle of the field.

Rather chuffed by mid-August to now have the bulk of the orchard planted at a low density spacing and some handy help doing so and with the watering after-care too.
Into the second half of August and some slightly more mundane tasks but some far from mundane days (and nights) at the field.
The Topsoil I had for levelling a couple of low spots has been spread and levelled (the resident moles seem to like it too, the other day a new mole-hill was appearing about every 20 minutes, despite rolling it)!

From Meadowcopse 2011

I spent nearly a week with the tent - giving each day a more flexible and open timetable and relaxed working into darkness.

From Meadowcopse 2011

A couple of fine cooked breakfasts over a camping stove as well as the handy and wholesome Look What We Found brand of ready meals in the evenings washed down with locally brewed ales. An extra pleasant aspect was Deli-Fine across the River Dee at Holt - decent coffee, decent light breakfasts and handy take-away baguettes with local produce.

From Meadowcopse 2011

A short walk either along the ancient track-way or riverbank to the old Holt-Farndon Bridge, a relaxed breakfast in Holt, then back to the field.
A mix of people out on the fine days as well as the regular locals that venture as down the track as far as the field either dog-walking or circular walks back along the river. A bit more time to talk, both of local history and what is going on at the field (already a subject of light harmless speculation and gossip).
I think I surprised a few people by remembering the by-pass being built in the 1980s as well as having reasonable local knowledge and familiarity (I was born and lived only 5 miles up the road).
Some very interesting chat all the same, a couple of insights about the track-way and also historical curiosities back to Roman times for the area.

The walking back and to from the village revealed some wild hops in the hedges as well as a suspected 'chicken of the woods' fungus.

From Meadowcopse 2011

From Meadowcopse 2011

The ditch at the side of the track has hardly any flowing water, but is reasonably alive with small fish and plant life at the edges. It runs into the River Dee, a bit of research suggests Mr. Appleby lived at Crewe Hall. (The late 1700s map with land enclosures might turn up a few clues regarding drainage and field layouts - the double tree lined south boundary is on it).

From Meadowcopse 2011

By the time I'd finished camping, the planted trees had all got a bit of mulch spread about them for moisture conservation and weed suppression.
Still lots to do, but a couple of weeks of less intensity will give the wildlife chance to re-assert itself.
The bees in the hollow tree for a second year are quite happy by all acounts (spoke to a couple of bee experts at Shrewsbury Flower Show about them).
At night time there are quite a few owl hoots and warbles and fox howls and other small quadrapeds shuffling about, buzzards during the daytime ad hedgerow small birds.