Woodland Garden is introducing us to masses of wildlife

It’s absolutely teaming with life. I often go down to the pond and sit and watch the pond skaters, tadpoles and damselfly larvae. As well as the odd Dragonfly hopping from leaf to leaf. 

We have piled up a mass of logs to one side to help the baby frogs escape from the numerous Jackdaws that seem to pray on anything that is small and moves. 

Last year they decimated the young pheasants. Although thankfully this year they don't seem to be as many in the vicinity.

Keep looking out for a newt, but presently without much success. But its still early days.

Plant life seems to be managing quite well, yet Judith's waterlily doesn't seem to want to grow into a mature plant. Must be doing something wrong. Time to delve into the internet to see what we can do to encourage it to flower and spread. It does have three leaves, but its minute. 

Recently we have been finding the remnants of eggs on the beach. Something is bringing them down and devouring them. Can’t distinguish the eggs. They could be pheasant eggs, or even chicken eggs. Which leads me to believe that it could be a Pine Martin. We have seen one around, surprisingly during the day, trying to catch a squirrel, fortunately with no joy. The red squirrel is just too light, enabling it to escape along light branches. Unlike its grey cousin, which hasn't managed to get into this part of the world.

Perhaps that’s the reason why they have introduced the Pine Martin into areas overpopulated with the grey squirrel.

Frequently see signs of the roe deer, but a friend has started seeing big reds in the area. As across the world, animals are starting to spread out into areas that were once over populated by people.  

View of the pond

The bird feeding station has attracted a multitude of species. besides the usual we have been treated to a Greater spotted woodpecker, Coal tit and long tailed tit, goldfinch, wren and a treecreeper.

Also realised that deer seem to enjoy the grain and birdseed as well as the new plants.

  

We have been waiting for a delivery from a garden centre to add to the bog garden. A large Gunnera Manicata, which we want to spread out at the bottom of the pond into the bog area. Unfortunately after 14 days it still hadn't arrived, so we had our money back. Must have got lost in the post. Very disappointing. On the look out for a new supplier.

Ian and Cath our next door neighbours were kind enough to give us a piece of there Gunnera plant that was getting too big for their pot. 

Put straight into position in our bog garden.

 

Work in the garden has come to abrupt halt due to the torrential rain. Managed to get fence posts set and start the Japanese garden before the heavens opened. But not before being eaten alive by the black marauders. Normally not a problem, but as soon as the wind drops and it becomes damp, out they come. I have little bites all over, even in areas that you couldn't imagine. Very uncomfortable.The midge had and net will be out if the rain stops, along with the bug spray. 

The Cuprinal black paint arrived, so Judith can get the wood painted and l can get it fitted. But only if there is a break in the rain. Supposedly, Wednesday. Tomorrow. 

Starting to form part of the Japanese garden with large stones. You needs lots of imagination to realise the final look.

View up to the house with the bird feeding station. Posts in for the screening to the Japanese Garden. Just see the pallet compost area at the bottom of the bank. We hope to top it with a growing roof.

Plenty of well rotted compost and horse manure in our new composting pen

Presently occupying my day fitting out the utility room and building gabion baskets for the hidden garden. Making a stone retaining wall at the top of the bank to give us a raised bed for climbing bushes.

Scenes across the water at 9pm this evening. Fortunately its stopped raining and the temperature has risen. Could be a good day tomorrow. Get out and paint, fill the gabions and erect the fences. How many hours are in a day.

Judith busy as ever getting more paint on herself than on the wood.Painting up the treated timbers for the fence.

Wednesday - Dry, but the sun is still hiding behind the clouds, oppressive thick layers filling the whole skyline. Nevertheless, the weather forecast does clearly show it’s going to come out some time today. We will have to crack on and wait and see what materialises. 

Get Judith organised with her timber boards to paint. Thank god Judith doesn’t mind the boring monotonous jobs.

For me, its another repetitive job, moving over two ton of stone up the hill to the hidden garden to fill gabion baskets. I thought my days of man handling stone were over, but needs must. 

Keep trying to justify by a motorised wheelbarrow, but at a couple of grand its not feasible.  

Decided that we wanted flower beds, especially for climbers at the top of our hidden garden. The earth, or should l say compacted building site was just not suitable for the beds. So we have built baskets which we are going to fill with a mixture of rotting logs, well rotted horse manure, earth and gravel. 

The old bugger pushing up the stone, little by little. Its amazing how heavy this local stone is.

After the initial chomping by the deer, the hostas are performing brilliantly this year

New patio and steps completed. We only have a few concrete sections and a path at the top of the bank in the hidden garden to finish it off.

Living roof on the post box doing well.

Posts for the screen now set and ready. With Judith's rockery at the edge of the slope coming on with the addition of a few plants we managed to get

At long last the fencing panels are going up.

Wild woodland garden coming on.

Screen starting to be completed, although cant see it happening this week. Too much rain on the way in.

Pan view so it looks a little bent.

Mini sub coming in to port

For two days the weather has been warm and dry,but with the ground behind damp, the horrendous little buggers have been out. When l went down to the stables to get six trug loads of well rotted manure, they ate me alive. Considering they are smaller than a pin head, their teeth are as large as a tigers canines, or at least the bites feel the like it.

On the second trip, l was wearing my very attractive head net. So much better, although it’s not a design look, but very necessary. Last night, 50mph winds and torrential rain. So work in doors today.

Its started blowing a gale and the rain is bucketing down. Time to curl up and enjoy indoors

Another loaf out the oven. As always cant wait to try. These sourdough loaves have a great taste, although Judith still prefers the ones from the Coop.

Takes me back to my childhood. Hot toast loaded up with pork dripping. Not healthy, but it tastes amazing. Yummy.

We read something the other day, either on line or in a magazine and we just couldn't believe it.

A person grew vegetable leaves on from off cuts of various salads. So Judith tried it out.

The bases off celery, spring onions and leeks were soaked in a saucer of water for five days, in which time they grew a root system and started to sprout. These were then transferred into a pot. An by god, they sprout and shoot. Giving you living leaves to cut and add to the salad. What a revelation. Just imagine the amount of possible recycled leaves we could have produced over the years. 

And its great to see it grow so quickly.

Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled her four phased road map out of lockdown today.

The document was published as she revealed restrictions will start easing from next week.

Phase 1

Physical distancing and hygiene rules apply

Meeting up - meeting up with another household groups in small numbers outside, including gardens, is permitted.

Leisure and activity - sitting in parks and sunbathing permitted as is short distance travel for outdoor exercise and leisure (around five miles).

Unrestricted outdoors exercise; non-contact, outdoor activities in local area, for example golf, hiking, canoeing, outdoor swimming, angling.

Education - school staff return 

Business and work - remote working should continue where possible. Employers encouraged to use flexible working and staggered start times to help manage travel demand.

Non-essential outdoor workplaces with physical distancing resume once relevant guidance agreed.

Food and retail - gradual re-opening of drive through food outlets, garden centres reopen, however, associated cafes should not reopen at this stage, except for takeaway.

Support services - waste and recycling centres reopen

NHS services - phased return of some GP support services; increase care offered at emergency dental hubs as practices prepare to open. 

Phase 2

Physical distancing and hygiene rules apply

Physical distancing and hygiene etiquette applies to all areas.

Meeting up - meet with larger groups outside; meeting with people from another household indoors.

Leisure and activity - reopening of playgrounds and sports courts; resumption of professional sport in line with public health advice.

Education - On campus university lab research restarted subject to physical distancing

Business and work - remote working remains where possible; non-office indoor work resumes, including factories, warehouses and labs; construction industry implements final phase of return to work.

Travel - allowed to drive locally; public transport increased services, but still limited; travel at peak times discouraged

Housing market - Relaxation of restrictions on housing moves.

Retail, food and drink - small retail units reopen; outdoor markets resume; pubs and restaurants reopen outdoor spaces.

Religion - places of worship open for private prayer.

Weddings and civil partnerships - will be allowed with minimal guests.

NHS - some chronic disease management, including pain and diabetic services resume; dental practices can see urgent cases.

Increased home visits to shielded patients; phased return of care home visiting.

Phase 3

Physical distancing and hygiene rules apply

Meeting up - meet with people from more than one household indoors permitted.

Leisure and activity - can drive beyond local area; public transport operating full services, but limited capacity.

Gyms, museums, galleries, libraries and cinemas reopen; relaxation of restrictions on accommodation providers; live events permitted with restricted numbers.

Education - children return to school on August 11 under blended model split between classroom and home learning; all childcare providers reopen subject to public health measures; universities and colleges phased return with blended model.

Business and work - remote working remains where possible; non-essential office work resumes, including contact centres.

Retail, food and drink - large retail units, pubs and restaurants reopen.

Personal services - hairdressers and other personal services can resume.

Religion - places of worship open to extended groups

Weddings, civil partnerships and funerals - relaxation of restrictions to attendance beyond close family.

NHS - expansion of screening services; emergency and planned care services resume

Phase 4

Physical distancing and hygiene rules apply

Meeting up - further relaxation on restrictions on gatherings

Education - Schools and childcare provision, operating with any necessary precautions. College and university campuses open – including key student services

Transport - full service operating

Work and business - all open, but remote and flexible working remain in place

Public services - operating fully with increased use of digital services.

Weddings and mass gatherings - can resume with precautions.