Winter 08
4th December
Well, reaching the end of our tree planting fortnight, and we've done really well....we still have some mulching to do...about another 250 trees, and it's hard work! But we will get there eventually!
What a lot of trees!
Where we are not using the Mypex to plant through, we are hoeing the grass away from around the tree roots, then laying cardboard and covering it with half rotted grass and weeds to stop it from blowing around. We expect to have to replenish this organic mulch, probably annually (though hopefully we won't need to hoe - it's really hard work!!!)
Left: our tree planting spade broke!!! The supplier are sending us a new one! Right: Melvin the gnome keeps watch over our caravan!
Left: Winter light on the waterfalls. Right: Baby hazel tree poking a bud above it's treeguard....hope we don't get frost!!!
As if we hadn't had enough of hard graft we started digging a drainage ditch along the back of the waterlogged field next to the stream. We have completed most of it - we need to extend it a little further along the back wall, but it is satisfyingly full of water! (it has been really wet this week...!)
Today we also planted some bluebell bulbs in between the silver birch trees - roll on spring!
12th December
Simon has been working on our planning application for the polytunnels and compost loo:
After consulting with the planning department, we were informed that we also needed a flood risk assessment for the environment agency....groan!!! So Simon did a site survey (with his new levelling equipment....!), some more drawings, and a statement...more homework!
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What fun!!!
16th December
Our conifers finally arrived today! The nursery sent us plug plants in the end because they could not lift the bare-rooted trees due to exessive rainfall.
20th December
Planted our conifers - that's all 1000 trees in the ground!!!
The conifers we have are Sitka Spruce...Christmas trees!! Also used for guitar soundboards.....We have decided to also get some Maritime pine, Monterey Cypress, and maybe Cedar of Lebanon after Christmas if we can fit some more planting in....along with some Rowan, and a few other bits and pieces. We have already lost a few trees and lots of Olearia cuttings to rabbits - they have been digging under the tree guards - the horrors!!!!
26th December
We got a sink to go in the compost loo hut from Marazion Nursery last week
It is an old catering sink, I think it will do nicely!
8th January 2009
Happy New Year!
It's been really cold the past few days, hope all the trees are well!!
The ice in the trough was thick enough to stand on...just as well really! We have wired some pallets together to make a compost bin....
The stream looked beautiful in the winter sunlight with steam rising from the water
The spray from the little waterfalls had created icy globules on overhanging foliage
This little robin follows everywhere, hoping that we'll dig some more worms up for him - all the little birds are very hungry.
31st January 2009
Harry the top cat died on Friday night, at nearly 15 years of age....aaahhh. We decided to plant him under our fig tree, which will eventually be sited in our polytunnel...(planning permission permitting!!).
We have also planted a victoria plum tree....
and have been preparing veg plots
Melvin has been busy too....!
3 February
It has been snowing!!!
These lads were sliding down the hill on body boards into our trees!
