December 2014

The year draws to a close with the first flood of the winter.
An automated call from the Environment Agency last Saturday (for the River Dee, Llangollen to Eccleston), but I've just about managed to get by with just a large puddle developing in a low spot and the access track.

During the recent days of rain I've been busy now and then indoors with paperwork for some new project ideas - mainly concerning a large number of young trees, Forestry Commission / Natural Resources Wales detail, agri-environment registration details and legal aspects.
The new year could prove to be quite interesting...

A bit of a wait now until April, after a recent surprise mention of my orchard in The Sunday Telegraph and making the finals of 'Gardening Against The Odds' with a trip to The Grand Conservatory of Syon House pencilled in.

A rather positive end to an initially uncertain 2014, after health aspects reduced areas of activity on several fronts.

August 2014

An interesting and mildly challenging few months...

After little trouble for a while, an incident of fly-tipping along the access track / footpath.

Normally I'd use the local council reporting pro-forma which initiates some minor forensic i.d. attempts and appropriate disposal,

Most of this was food waste / kitchen contents and stinking on a very warm day, so it went on a green waste bonfire in my field. Last bag on the fire revealed some significant i.d. details, so they have been passed on appropriately...

 

 

The meadowsweet flowers were harvested and 10 gallons now brewing / fermenting to the recipe in Nick Weston's book 'The Tree House Diaries'

 

 

 This year as well as reasonable fruit on its way in the orchard, quite a few sweet chestnuts and hazelnuts, including filberts (a corruption of 'full beard' from the husk around the nut...

 

Because of some previous health aspects (mainly Crohns Disease secondary issues), I hadn't made any great targets for the field this year, apart from subtle incremental management and seeing how wildlife was doing.

Quite a noticeable number of owls in the evening and leaving the main grass area in its entirety for a few weeks longer, there is certainly evidence of small mammals and a few frogs and toads in the long grass.

Now the meadowseet is beyond the best of its flowers, the mower and tractor will be put to use in the next week or so (as well as a simple hay-turner / mounted rake).

The possibility of some interesting extended projects around the corner, but as they involve initially third parties, there are some aspects and a look-ahead to define and sort, before I get too involved...

July 2014

Some long spells of sunshine throughout June, causing a little concern for watering of the less established fruit trees in the orchard. Just enough rain for new growth to flourish quite prolifically (as well as the grass coming on well, but layering slightly in breezes and odd spells of dampness).

For the first time some (fortunately minor) rabbit damage around the graft line of a couple of trees.

The meadowsweet seems a little earlier this year, so brewing of the flowers will have to get going next week.

I managed a trip to the Malvern Spring Garden Show. I bought a Medlar from Mr Darcy's Heritage Fruit Trees, variety 'Royale'
Another recently acquired tree was Malus sieversii - a historically interesting variety considered a progenitor for the modern apple. A more adventurous blog by others here...

Curiously I've had a take down request regarding an inoffensive and neutral / positive blog reference to a local high quality greenhouse manufacturer who was exhibiting at RHS Hampton Court in 2012 and is at most of the major garden shows. Most people will know I am enthusiastic about supporting local business, particularly if there is a good level of quality and service, social responsibility in local employment and skills training and retention.
Unfortunately there was no reason given by http://www.integrityseoexperts.co.uk and I don't think they expected me to wander a mile up the road to the company referenced in the post to discuss the matter, who then contacted them within 30 minutes.
In terms of reputation management and how the internet works, their initial style of approach could be quite damaging if they provoke anybody who has made legitimate negative comments about a client.

 

Moth Mallow

 

Rabbit (or vole) damage

May Eve

As night falls before the 1st of May tomorrow, sounds of youth frollicking in the enclosure of the ruined castle across the river, on a relatively mild night.

Not sure a Maypole would be a useful addition to the meadow and orchard?
However, heavy rain and maybe frost is expected over the next couple of days and nights.

Spring has been relatively mild and the ground drying out a fair bit. Everything has really greened up over the last couple of weeks.
The field and trees are mainly looking after themselves, my own level of activity is still a little reduced due to ongoing Crohns Disease problems. The opportunity of a large green space to relax in as nature cycles through the seasons is a pleasant distraction.

Early evening view from the south west corner of the orchard:

 

Hedgerow dog violets 

 

Cuckoo flower / Ladies Smock (Cardamine praetensis) 

 

Black Mulberry breaking into leaf (late compared to other species) 

 

Medlar fruit forming 

 

Malus pumila niedzwetzkyana - historic natural parent of most pink / purple fleshed apples 

 

Tom Putt apple blossom in foreground 

 

Doyenne du Comice pear fruitlets  

 

A row of 13 pear trees 

2014 and a New Year

By the start of the year, the River Dee was in flood, peaking around 8.7 metres at the Holt / Farndon Bridge height gauge.
This is around the gate top for water level at the field,  but the trees seem to cope (an old established orchard at the same ground level near by, as well as mature ash, oak, lime, hawthorn, blackthorn and walnut give me no real longterm concerns).

The waters now back withon the river channel, the ground is walkable and the flotsam debris removed and burnt to ash from the gateway.
Unfortunately some fly-tipping on the lane at the top of the access track, but the council have a handy web page / app for reporting for investigation and removal.

A couple more hedging plants ordered for filling gaps and the final planning of the finished orchard layout to plod on with...

Winter 2013

Up until Xmas week the field had been reasonably dry until the rains and an expanding River Dee filling up from Wales...

Ongoing Crohns / health distractions have rendered most of 2013 a slow year.
I did manage to get nearly 30 litres of cider prepared from the orchard trees as well as a couple of litres of fresh apple juice refreshingly drunk soon after pressing.

A handy implement was acquired from a talented local blacksmith - a sturdy levelling ring for dressing over a couple of low spots in the grassland. Based on an old cartwheel iron tyre used for similar in one of Louden's old agricultural encyclopaedias.

Tree stock at home for transplanting has a minor backlog, but includes the interesting malus pumila niedzwetzkyana