Burning Woman

The Glade from outside..After an enthusiastic start at the beginning of the year we accumulated lots of clippings, garden waste and dead wood. We have been storing in in the Glade but it is time to clear the area out as an old ash tree on the neighbour's land needs to be pollarded and dropped into that area.

Although I am sad for the ash (one of the oldest in the area) because it is reaching the end of its life span and the grand old dame is going to be reduced, it is exciting for us because it will open the Glade up to more sunlight. I'll post photos later to show the project, but in the meantime let me show you the before and after pictures that result from 3 days of chopping and burning.

The start of the ordeal....

It was so satisfying to have cleared a huge pile of waste and the ash will now be added to my new compost bins that are quietly settling down to creating next years feed.

(According to the experts compost should be the colour of christmas cake. Yum.)

and now ashes to ashes .....

Beating the system

I think I have beaten the squirrels. The garden terrorists have been invading my 'squirrel-proof' bird feeders and helping themselves to the birdseed by just lifting the lid. The rain then got inside the feeders and I was doing brilliantly with sprouting seeds. The feeders looked like a plant nursery!

So, here is my solution. The brilliant paper clip. So far no sign of the squirrels and the blue tits are gorging on food.

Spring is here

What better confirmation of the arrival of spring than a posy of primroses! At least the deer haven't eaten them! I have found shy little violets who are starting to show off now that the sun is here. The birdsong is deafening and the garden is bursting into life. Now the projects can really begin.

Oh, What a beautiful morning!

God's in his heaven, all's well with the world.

Well well well

This is apparently a 'bottle well' (with thanks to John from the Kent Underground Research Group for helping me with research). It acts as a cistern or a tank and collects water from the surrounding areas - hence the pipework - and is not a groundwell, which would hold water coming up from a spring.

The big worry is the ash tree that is behind it has started to disturb the surface brickwork (top photo). How on earth am I going to a. get rid of the tree and b. turn this into a feature? John tells me that it would be worth getting a pump into the well to empty it of water and then descending with a bucket to clean out the debris that has gathered at the bottom. Any volunteers?

I quite fancy putting an old fashioned hand pump on top and restoring it to a water supply for that area of the garden. Its where we want to have the Glade - a open area within the woodland where we could have a Bell Tent and firepit. A water source for washing hands, dishes, making tea might be good. Better also test the water!

A new discovery

This is the greater spotted woodpecker and, sadly, I couldn't get a photo of him. It was thrilling as I had never seen one before. At first I thought it was a magpie and then suddenly caught sight of his red bottom! I grabbed my binoculars and found him high up in a tree ripping the bark off and looking for grubs. I have often seen a green woodpecker here, but this is my first EVER sighting of this species.

I hear the tawny owl hooting often and have tried going out and to see if I can spot him, but to no avail. My son's night vision glasses are great fun and I was hoping they might help me, but I have had no success with them yet. The problem is I am often too busy laughing, knowing how completely daft I look wandering around with them on. Can't wait for warmer evenings - I am on a mission: there is so much of the nocturnal world I would like to see.

Summer Camp

the view out from Summer Camp

Looking in to Summer Camp - stage one clear logs!

Here is Summer Camp. Can you see it? A dappled area where the hammocks gently sway as people snooze in a shady spot away from the heat of the day. There is a level area where the table and chairs will sit.

For those who have slept out it is the place to sip that early morning tea whilst watching the sun rise, or a cool spot to have lunch when everyone is wilting in the summer heat, a refuge with an evening glass of wine at sunset listening to the final birdsong and watching the sky change.

A little outdoor fireplace will ward off the chill and boil the storm kettle. Perhaps a coolbox hidden under old logs, to keep the drinks just the right temperature.

Roll on Summer.