Exciting times, flowers aplenty and blue skies and sunny days at least now and then. We have been working hard on the growing spaces with carrots, onion sets, garlic and shallots planted. The Hugel mound has beans, beetroot and even lettuce growing. We have had one marauder visit ( a pheasant ? ) tuck in to some cabbage and broccoli.

The local school Ysgol Glan Y  Ferri – Ferryside primary school are visiting us next week to learn about charcoaling and to see the wild flowers in full bloom. Also great news from Mrs Howells, a teacher in the school. They are through to the last five in a competition  run by The Royal Forestry Society, Excellence in Forestry Schools Award competition ( http://www.rfs.org.uk/ ) The judges are coming to the school and visiting the woodland in late June. Congratulations!!

Some pictures of the wild flowers – Just got a handy reference book produced by the RSPB called  simply Wild Flowers A pocket guide to identifying over 400 wild flowers.

Early Purple Orchid

Dog Violet

And the very British native Blue Bells evident where the last coppicing took place and throughout the glades in the wood.

Bluebells among brash in the coppice

Even common flowers like the dandelion give joy

Common dandelion

Alternative name for the Anemone is “smell fox” because of its musty smell. Greek legend has this flower springing up where Aphrodite’s  tears fell as she wept over the death of her lover, Adonis. The plant is poisonous

Wood Anemone

Lady’s smock beloved of the Orange tip butterfly. It was once used as a food substitute for watercress. In folklore it was said to be sacred to the fairies, and so was unlucky if brought indoors.

Cuckoo Flower or Lady’s smock

Cowslip

The celandine is one of the first Heralds of Spring

Celandine

Campion

The willow hedge has been clipped and more branches tied in. An apple tree blossoms centred in its guild

and on the hill the small pond has burst into life with tadpole, water boatmen and fresh red leaves evident.

Liily pond