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.