Thursday in the woods and most of us were feeling the strain of four days hard work. Amazing amount achieved. These people are champions!

Wood, brash and compost all ready for Sam Holt’s course on Monday. Can’t wait.

Wood and Brash stacked ready

Went for a lie down Thursday afternoon no not really – things to do in town.

Friday, Lucy and I went to the National Botanic Garden of Wales to meet up with Andrea Powell of Tyfu Pobl

We had come to get support from Andrea for our activities at Coed Panteg but also to have a quick tour of her area and the Forest Garden site.

Great morning meeting with Andrea and her two assistants and having a very useful conversation with Sally the Gardener in NBGW.

Andrea showed us a key hole compost bin basically a large planter with a willow basket in the middle to take vegetable waste. The base of the planter is filled up with cardboard and bio-degradable waste. They had just won an award for this design. We loved it.

Words fail me- It’s amazing!

Compost Bin and planter outside Tyfu Pobl office -NBGW

Close up on the compost bin

We also liked the massive planter with pea plants growing. Lots of them around the Garden with sweet peas.

Andrea and Lucy share a pea pod

We walked round the Forest garden site and thrilled to the heart shaped compost site, the Hugel Mound and the familiar use of logs in the lee of an earth terrace. Met with Sally and her team as they planted up the Forest Garden guilds around a fruit tree I planted last time we did the course in the Garden.

Heart shaped compost bed

Thanks for the warm welcome and all your support, Andrea and Sally. See you soon

Sally and team in the Forest garden – NBGW