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Tidy and cut down borders when conditions allow.
Helleboure displays are greatly improved if old leaves are removed to make way for the flowers.
Check greenhouse heaters and fleece in the garden regularly. The wind can easily dislodge loose fleece.
Check garden ponds when conditions are icy and gently melt holes in the ice with boiling water. Keep pond liners from cracking by floating a tennis ball on the water. It will absorb some of the pressure from the ice.
January was a difficult month as we started the year with half the staff off work ill. Mike and Debbie both had a virulent virus which has left them feeling weak, and several pounds lighter. Richard and myself have battled bravely on, ably helped by our intrepid part timer Dennis. We continued to clear up after the Illuminated Trail, clear up after the gales, rake up and store fallen leaves, and mulch borders when conditions allowed. This period of 'shortstaffedness' has meant that the Kitchen Garden project is on hold for a while but we hope to pick up at least part of it again soon.
The gales towards the end of January caused some problems across the estate as a whole, with eight large trees being blown over, one falling across the access road to the farm, and another flattening a section of fencing in the deer park. This particular tree was quite a challenge as it was not spotted until late on Friday when again, my husband and I were walking our dogs. Chris the Forester arrived to chop the tree and temporarily patch the gap, in the dark. After finishing the work he and my husband took a tour of the park to check the deer and saw 3 groups of eyes shining in the tractor headlights.
Red deer, fallow deer and... the third set belonged to a neighbouring flock of sheep that had discovered that the gate to their field had blown open, and had decided to go walkabout! Chris and Nigel managed to herd them back through into their own field and patch another temporary repair. Chris now has his work cut out clearing all the mess.
In the gardens we lost 2 trees: a conifer in the copse by the tennis court and one on the corner of Gardener's Cottage garden, a very tall conifer (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) that fell towards the peacock pen between the yew hedge and the old mulberry, without damaging either.
Some of you may know that Isabelle Roberts, who has lived in Gardeners Cottage for over 20 years is returning to her native Canada soon.
Isabelle worked on the gate for many years before her husband Bill became ill. She is returning to her family, very close to where she grew up in Alberta. We wish her all the best.
This month's picture shows red deer in the Deer Park
Another new year is upon us and with it the excitement of the new Kitchen Garden. The final plans have been given the go ahead and we will soon start to lay out the new beds. If all goes to plan I will take a monthly picture of the whole kitchen garden to chart its progress.
The Illuminated Trail was spectacular. The last weekend was so busy that about 3500 people visited in the final two days! I think there is a lesson to be learnt here... When you visit next year, come early, and during the week to avoid the rush.
Holly, our tree climbing dog, was photographed doing what she loves to do best, had an article in The Times newspaper (albeit a very small one) and was then spotted on a Pakistani website a couple of days later! The web is indeed world wide.
Just before Christmas a peahen arrived as a birthday gift for Mr Berkeley. Simon, our land agent, transported her in a large Interflora box which she was not keen to leave. In fact we were unable to tip her out as she climbed up inside and clung on. In the end, and under cover of darkness, (eventide and flat torch batteries), we opened both ends and left the box in the pen. The next day all seemed peaceful.
On Christmas morning after church, my husband and I were walking our dogs as usual across the fields when we came across a peahen...
I panicked, thinking the pen door had been unlocked, and left my husband to watch the peahen whilst I ran back to check. The remaining birds were as they should be. Returning to the field I decided I was not about to pick up a bird the size of a terrier, not knowing if it would turn and savage me, (unlikely I know, but I am not at all brave) so I rang the keeper who came, saw and conquered, with far more skill, speed and elegance than I could have mustered. We managed to get the escapee back, and to mend a gaping hole in the roof of the pen. What a Christmas day!
On a more mundane note: we are continuing to rake and collect fallen leaves, in between weeding the garden ready for the spring visitors, and clearing away the bark chips and straw that were laid for the Illuminated Trail. It is going to be a busy spring. (The pic shows cherry leaves covered in frost).
Ensure tools are clean, oiled and ready for next season.
Book machinery in for a service early in the new year.
Keep clearing up fallen leaves from lawns, paths and borders. They will provide a useful, free mulch if stored in black sacks or large heaps for the next 18 months or so.
Tie in whippy shoots of climbing roses before they are damaged.
Float a ball in the fish pond to reduce the pressure of ice on the structure, and to prevent total freezing.
Ensure the potting shed is clean and tidy, and all pots and trays are washed, ready for next season.
All dahlias and cannas should have been lifted by now, after the frost has blackened the top foliage.
Tie in whippy shoots of climbing roses before they are damaged.
Float a ball in the fish pond to reduce the pressure of ice on the structure, and to prevent total freezing.
Ensure the potting shed is clean and tidy, and all pots and trays are washed, ready for next season.
All dahlias and cannas should have been lifted by now, after the frost has blackened the top foliage.
Odd patches of bright colour are all that's left in the gardens, from early bulbs and evergreens such as mahonia (see pic).
The leaves have gone through a rainbow of hues, and almost all have now fallen. This of course means that leaf collecting must now begin as we have start clearing leaves from paths, and areas where the trees have completely shed their leaves. We are also collecting leaves where they lie in thick layers, from lawns and borders as they can damage grass and other low growing plants. Using a lawnmower will chop the leaves into smaller pieces, and add grass clippings which speeds up decomposition when storing leaves for leafmold. It is important however, to burn leaves from plants that have suffered from leafspot etc as the spores will overwinter on the leaves and then reinfect anything they get near enough to touch.
In my July diary, I mentioned that the heat of the summer had caused a serious problem for the carp in the garden lake, after which a firm was called in to relocate some of the stock. They finally arrived last month, and used an electronic probe to stun the fish for a few seconds so that they were easier to net. Although the amount of silt in the lake caused a problem with the electronic pulse, they managed to collect a tank containing over 100lb of fish, mostly common carp, and all in very good condition, the heaviest single fish weighing in at 16lb. The fishermen were pleased with the number and condition of the carp, and intend to return when the weather is colder because apparently, the fish move about less in colder conditions, making them easier to find, and net.
After last month's discussions about the new Kitchen Garden, all the garden staff, including Dennis, the Kitchen Gardener, have been busy drawing up plans and putting forward suggestions. We hope that December will see the beginning of some of the basic groundwork, as we break the final design down into managable chunks.
And last, but not least, it is that time again. We are preparing to see you again at our second, even more spectacular Illuminated Trail. Have you seen the single tree on the hill by junction 7 of the M5, after sunset? Very pretty.
Lift and divide borders, so that perennials are regenerated for a better display.
Top dress borders with leafmold, well rotted manure, or compost from the local recycliing centre.
