First of May and things are hotting up  in our Forest garden . Pitched up yesterday ready to eat my sandwiches and looked out up the hill. A flash of red  and I spied a fox sitting there casually watching me potter around the van. Good afternoon!

The watching Fox

We have cleared the brambles down by the stream as they were slowly doing their pioneer trick and creeping up the hill. Slashed into long trailers with a machete and then rolled into easy bundles to put under the trees to rot down.

Brambles climbing up the hill

Brambles rolled under the tree

We now have good access to the woodland and we can even consider creating the Sepp’s Hugelkultur raised beds. (https://coedenblog.com/?attachment_id=166) once we have learnt a bit more on our next course Growing in a Changing Climate Training Day at coed Hills, Vale of Glamorgan. ( Details )

The vegetable beds are complete. Just need to keep them watered and slug free- a big task.

Potatoes, onions and garlic planted up.

Further up the hill Lucy has worked wonders with the fruit bushes and the push is on to create our guilds of plants set around each group of orchard trees. Comfrey, poppies, clover so far with more to come

On the way back home we  looked over the woodland and passed the medlar tree ( http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=131) in front of the  turf roof hut and Martin’s excellent rhubarb and comfrey.

Woodland scene

The turf roof hut

Rhubarb and comfrey

Casey’s birthday today- Happy birthday XXX

Scarlet till I die!