More trees and mowing

A mixed few weeks for weather and events.
The last few days has seen the more positive side of people out and about around the fields who are genuinely interested and care about the outdoors and countryside, compared to the ignorance and irresponsible actions of a few. The neighbour in the field to the north confirmed that the fence damage they suffered leading to the horse fatality was deliberate, blatant and by someone determined to remove the section of fencing.

I took advantage of the rain and moist ground conditions in my first full week off work to transplant more young native trees from pots into the field corners.
After a brief spell walking in Snowdonia, a turn in the weather to intense sunshine.
I also gave the Green Fair at Whittington Castle a look in, always an interesting calendar of events.

A few nights with the tent and dining al-fresco back at the field.
Out with the tractor and mower to cut about 2/3rds of the field area - particularly the orchard area, which seems to carry more general weeds in the grass.
The remaining 1/3rd seems to have better grass density and a lot of Meadowsweet which I have useful plans for.
Next year I hope to progress to proper hay-making...

This last weekend I travelled south again, initially to Bernwode Fruit Trees and picked up:
A historically interesting Medlar 'Senlac' which has suggested origins from the area around King Harold and Hastings.
A Quince, Little Ickford Pineapple.
A Plum, Manaccan (Traditional Cornish variety) on rootstock VVA-1.
An Apple, Tydeman's Early Worcester on rootstock MM111.
Just a case of transplanting and adding to the orchard layout plan

Onwards for a relaxed lunch by the Oxfordshire Canal at Heyford Wharf, then a couple of hours in the historic gardens at Rousham.
From Oxfordshire, an overnight stop at Salisbury and then a quick look at a managed habitat on Pepperbox Hill - always interesting to see other projects...
A relatively new independent wine merchant in Salisbury had some interesting ciders and a Kingston Black brandy type blend.

Back home and a week without rain at the field, so out with the water bowser to give each of the fruit trees and recently transplanted saplings a few gallons before returning to work.
Reassuringly, after last year's safety related hedgerow tree-work - one of the more ambitious re-pollarding attempts has signs of regrowth.

Most of the apple trees are coming to the end of their blossom and have developed fruitlets, nothing significant on the plums, but suddenly almost everything has burst into leaf including the walnuts and mulberry trees.

A post of mixed thoughts

Almost an extra week away with work and a minor river innundation seeped away, leaving the ground moist for the trees and vegetation just as they needed it.

A hurried 'rescue' of  a number of willow trees from a local redundant filter-bed that has an impending appointment with a JCB for clearing out. These have gone in a mixed planting scheme of native broadleaf trees in a couple of field corners.
The grass has grown somewhat over the last few  weeks, but so have a multitude of dandelions and buttercups. A noticeable increase in Cuckoo-flowers in both the open grass as well as field margins.
The orchard trees have all had an extra strim of the grass in a 2 metre radius and most stuff now in leaf bud if not already bearing blossom.

The hedges where cut back have noticeable clusters of new growth, as well as established hawthorn and dog-roses doing well.
A couple more trackway trees became uprooted with the increased water levels.

Annoyingly, another scrambler bike has been to  the edge of one boundary in the neighbour's field as well as damage / vandalism to an adjoining fence - this has been a previous problem with teenagers thinking they are out of the way and wayward walkers roaming away from designated and clear paths.
This has since led to a fatal accident to livestock, due to the careless unthoughtful actions of whoever decided the fence was in their way!

onwards through springtime

Still busy with the full-time job, but a couple of things in the post back home.
A little surprised that the three 'sale' fruit tree plants from T&M had two packaged as bare-root with a sprinkling of compost, fortunately Father has intercepted them into his care and with rumours of grapes already formed on the vine...

Importantly, the River Dee flood level has reduced.

Quite keen for a couple of relaxing days doing odd-jobs on the land (and probably some river debris / drift-wood to untangle). I'm anticipating minimal (if any) damage, and considering how dry the soil was a couple of weeks ago and it's structure I suspect at this time of year the innundation has done some good.
It'll be interesting to see what species are flourishing in the grass, although fewer dandelions would not be a disappointment.

Staring at an aerial view of the plot and it's surrounding land, I'm piecing together some ideas around the significance of the old track along the east boundary.
Observations by others regarding tree lines and boundaries and the nearby castle and older landscape features may link together nicely in a historical context.
Hopefully some overlap with the local history society may lead to further insights...