The garden at home is now constantly changing with the warm weather we have had recently. Fortunately we have also had recent rain which has spruced things up a bit as it has been very dry for weeks now.
After well over 2 years hedgehogs are back in our garden. A very welcome resident indeed as we get a lot of wood lice , slugs and beetles that ravage our plants. Now I know the hedgehogs are back I know they will be keep the pest population down and away from my plants.
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8th July 2014 and the final row of potatoes
planted, King Edwards.
I have planted these late in order to aim for the Christmas dinner table.
First Strawberries and Raspberries with a glass of Elderflower Champagne
Fishing for small carp in my local pond I could not believe it when I landed 2 Tench and a Crucian. I had no idea Crucian carp were resident in my lake.
Remarkably the bailiff has not been round with his petrol cutters and the whole edge of the lake has become overgrown-fantastic. Taking advantage of this I fished very, very close in under some overhanging giant grasses.
Finally lifted my winter onions.
I planted these in September 2013. Very slow to grow but now I have them drying on a bench in the greenhouse. This is the perfect location for onions as there is a vented window right under the bench pushing air upwards, and the onions get a direct blast of sun from the roof.
Although from the same family, the opposite must be remembered for Garlic – keep them out of the sun and in cool conditions to dry them off and store.
For years now I have talked about brewing Elderflower Champagne, and now following a kind recipe given to me I have finally produced a batch. I have added my own ingredient which is a handful of Lavender. Lets just say the resulting concoction is explosive. I have left it for a fortnight but am having to crack open every bottle morning and night as it still seems to be fermenting. Oh and by the way, it tastes delicious.
16th June beginning of the 2014 fishing season, I have been very fortunate to be able to fish a small lake deep in darkest Wessex, steeped in history.
I cannot remember the last Tench I caught and could not believe it when the float ‘zipped’ away and I landed the Tench pictured. I was very lucky to land another in the morning as well as 2 Roach. I also fished that evening and caught another roach – magical place.
The farm at Beamish is actually a working farm, it is not simply there for show and originally belonged to the Shafto estate. A lot of old traditional methods, long since died out in modern farming are kept alive on the farm.
Arrangement of bicycles from yesteryear.
Army canteen at Beamish
This year I have started all my onions in cell trays. This has certainly given better germination as I have been able to set them away in the greenhouse before planting out. Varieties the same as 2013 White Sturon and Red Baron.
This year I am chitting the early potatoes. I made a mistake last year when I bought my potatoes for the season I kept them in their bag in the dark. When I cam to plant them they had all sprouted. Never-the-less, this did not seem to affect the yield I got from them.
This year I am planting the same as last. Arran Pilot as first early with the addition of Pink Fir Apple as part of my main crop along with King Edward for the Christmas dinner table.
Fantastic to see new buds on gooseberries and blackcurrants. Is Spring on its way? Yes!
Early season and the allotment is clean. Fruit canes are just starting to show signs of new growth
First seeds sown in the greenhouse.
Along with veg, I have sown many flowers aiming to get as many insect attracting plants into the allotment to aid in pollination, these include Borage, Rudbekia’s, Cosmos, Echinacea among many others.
Starting the huge job of going through each bed and riddling the soil to get rid of reaming glass/bricks and god knows what else I keep finding.
I’ve levelled everything in order so that seedlings may go straight out when ready.
Although the weather has been really mild of late this snow snap came and lasted for a few days halting the continuation for rubbish extraction and sifting of the soil as the ground was rock solid.
With a week of good weather this February, I took delivery of my 12×10 greenhouse, what will become the hub for everything I intend to grow.
The raised beds have been levelled out and are ready for planting in the spring. I have added organic fertiliser to beds that will need it, and left it out of beds where I intend to grow such things as carrots as they do not require feeding.
Water barrels have been installed at either side of the greenhouse to take rainfall from the greenhouse roof, very effective they are too.
Automatic vents are in place in the greenhouse to open and close the windows in warmer weather.
With the new fence and all the raised beds finally installed, work was halted by a covering of snow with mounds of rubbish still to be taken away.
New Years Day sees the very first plants being planted in our allotment. Bare root gooseberries, early, main crop and late raspberries , Buddleia, and a number of Clematis plants on the back fence to bring lots of pollinators into the allotment.
All planted with microrhizal fungi in order to develop really good root systems. Along with good old horse manure.
After 4 years on a waiting list for an allotment, August 2012 saw the start of the clearance of what only can be described as a rubbish tip to make way for installing raised beds and a large greenhouse.
The pictures are from September/October 2012. When we first took over this allotment, you simply could not even see the ground it was that thick with weeds. It was so thick, it was impossible to get a spade into the ground. I ended up spraying and leaving for 2 weeks. I wish I had started my allotment picture diary back then to get a then and now comparison. Needless to say, it has taken a massive amount of work, time and money.
We managed to fill a one tonne skip. Finding at least three different wooden structures and countless panes and bucketful’s of smashed glass. Trips to the local tip were endless.
I dug a two foot deep trench all the way round the allotment and part of the wire fence is buried to this depth in order to make the allotment rabbit proof.
I also dug a French drain, filled with rocks and stones at the front of the allotment in order to alleviate any flooding issues that may occour.
Very privileged to be able to fish this lake. Stayed at the manor for 2 nights whilst in Dorset.
The lake is an anglers paradise which has been left in a natural state without any resemblance at all to a country park. Had the whole lake to myself for the 2 days. The only visitor I had was an Adder that got a little too close for comfort. No fish, but really enjoyed my trip.
Will have to return one day for another crack at the wildies.
Writer, fisherman, amateur naturalist and sometime Idler...
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
The Wonder of the World, The Beauty and the Power, The Shapes of Things, Their Colours Lights and Shades, These I Saw, Look Ye Also While Life Lasts. - "Denys Watkins-Pitchford".
look ye also 
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