*Spring Update*

After ten solid days of blue skies and hot temperatures, Spring is truly here and we are all trying to keep up with it in the garden...

The first Asparagus head is up and looking rather delicious. During April we offer freshly cut asparagus with our own scrambled eggs and or smoked trout from the fish farm three fields away. A great way to start the day! We have just planted another row of asparagus and although we can't harvest it for 3 years we know it's worth the wait!

Our new potatoes are looking fab, with the first picking expected soon after Easter, we serve our freshly dug new potaotes right through the Spring and Summer for evening meals.

It's all looking rather peachy up under the stone fruit cover - our apricots, peaches and nectarines are in full bloom and it promises to be a good crop. These stone fruits can suffer from a disease called Peach Leaf Curl and instead of spraying them we put covers up during the Spring. This year we have underplanted the fruits with a Bumblebee mix of Phacelia and Borage so when the covers come off in May it should look a picture!

This week one of our old beech trees had to come down as the top branches were dying back. This beautiful wood will be used for making long timber planks, a couple of traditional beehives and the chippings will be used in the garden as mulch. The 5ft stump has been left to provide a bold support for a small deck overlooking the house and garden. We have a Strawberry Tree and a Crab Apple to plant in it's place.

Talking of apples, we have been busy restoring a local orchard and have taken some scions from there and our own orchard to graft 35 of these heritage varieties on to a mixture of rootstocks. Most of these will go into our forest garden next Winter.
The pigs have been taking the warm weather in their stride, by mostly, sleeping. And occasionally trotting over for a scratch and a turnip or two.

Gertrude, our pedigree Oxford & Sandy Black, is almost full size and will be off to the boar next month - fingers crossed for midsummer piglets!

Forest Garden Frenzy!

The pigs have been doing a fine job turning over our forest garden site over the past year and as they look on, we have begun planting a range of coppicing and wind break trees.

Today was a glorius warm March day (note short sleeves!) and it was a joint effort by three generations, with over 40 trees planted.

Once these trees are providing some protection we will plant more tender trees and an orchard.

Thanks again to everyone who has dedicated a tree, it may not look much now but in a couple of years time this muddy field will be a brilliant space!

This place is buzzzzzing!

The mild Spring has been great for our honeybees who are already out collecting nectar and pollen. Our heather and rosemary bushes are buzzing and they are enjoying the crocuses we planted n mid-winter. We love our friendly bees and avoid the use of smoke and artificial treatments. We are hoping to expand our apiary this summer and increase the number of bee-friendly plants in the gardens. If you're a bee fan we have a spare bee suit and we can see how they are getting on during your stay if the weather is settled. For further information on natural beekeeping visit www.biobees.com

Green is the new Gold...

The Old Rectory has just been shortlisted for the new 'Gold Star' Award run by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), which is awarded to just 2% of its participating businesses. During our recent inspection we scored nearly 90% for our green credentials (and that was before our tree planting and solar panels!). We have been 'Gold' rated since the scheme began and are constantly striving to reduce our footprint on the Earth. The Award's will be presented during Green Tourism Week in late May - we will keep you posted!