French Angora Rabbit

Honey, a French angora rabbit that I managed to buy on one of my round trips - this time to Yorkshire - collecting new stock. Unlike the English strain, the French have short, sleek fur over their face. Honey is just 12 weeks old.

Ducklings Fooled by "Artificial Lake"

All that glitters is not gold... and all that shimmers is not water! This group of ducklings, wandering under the watchful eyes of Shaney, my German Shepherd, were fooled by the shining woven plastic of the willow bed that I had planted cuttings through!

Willow Rooting in Water

Some willow that didn't get planted earlier, rooting in water. It needs to be planted with great care at this point as the roots snap off so easily. Note that this red stemmed willow variety also has red roots.

WILLOW FEDGE

A Fedge is the name given to a willow trellis style hedge - part fence, part hedge. The willow cuttings are interwoven and tied to give a strong trellis structure that will form a barrier from a relatively early age. By planting at an angle new growth is encouraged along the length of the stem, rather than just at the top. The fedge below is double for extra strength and quicker growth, the purpose being to give a windbreak and shelter. New growth will be woven in to thicken the fedge.

Tree Planting

Wishing I hadn't been so ambitious with the tree planting scheme now, lol. Roots are massive and ground is clay and flint. Large flints. Very large flints...   planting seems to be at the rate of about 2 hours per tree, plus recovery time between them!  If they don't grow I shall stop believing in fairies.

Tree Planting

Took me all day to plant the largest tree today - a Victoria Plum.  Having removed it from Caddy by tying it the Plymouth Rocks shed and driving off, I decided to plant it in the spot where it had fallen! Ok - so I had little choice as I couldn't move it! The Plymouth Rocks seemed happy with the donation, anyway.

Tree Planting

Two trips to Somerset, returning with poor old Caddy loaded down with freshly dug 6-8 year-old fruit trees. When the sun shines there is insufficient shade for birds and so these semi-mature trees will hopefully produce shade for them as well as fruit to eat and sell at the farm gate.