www.forest-edge.co.uk a B&B in a delightful setting in England

Devastation
With such a huge country, and a diverse range of climates, Australia will always have local problems but the wave of disasters with which your vibrant country has recently been inflicted must be unprecedented. One can only hope that, with time, many of the wounds will heal and that the nation will emerge stronger.
My heart goes out to one and all.

Sharing our gardens.
The newer versions of Google Earth have greater than ever definition. Some of you may well have seen my garden at Forest Edge on your computer screens already, but I’d love to have the chance to view your own patches via Google Earth or from e-mailed images. Share your gardens with me. Do not be shy; it isn’t in the Aussie tradition!

Forest Edge, Andover Down, Andover.
Exact location is: 51 degrees 12’49.73 N / 1 degree 25’37.69W … which is not where Google shows us! Look for the large bungalow, blue car and winding pathway near the forest boundary.

Vegetables & fruit, yet again.
Vegetable allotments and vegetable plots in gardens, as I’ve said before, are hugely on the up these days. But pot growing of edible plants is constantly being encouraged too. And potatoes are, surprisingly, the hot topic and no gardening magazine can be opened without encountering a raft of suitably encouraging adverts. Bags and pots in which to plant the tubers are on offer, and a range of conflicting (and sometimes overtly incorrect) advice on how to achieve a vast crop. There will be potatoes growing on patios, on balconies and even possibly in the toilet this year.

The National Trust is now releasing land for personal and community allotments. The demand for such land far exceeds supply and some 100,000 people are on waiting lists.

The European Union has reduced restrictions (which virtually everyone thought were stupid anyway!) on the sale of ugly vegetables and fruit. Amazingly, for 20 years the sale of forked carrots or badly shaped tomatoes was not allowed. Up to 20% of the crop needed to be rejected. Now, at last, sense has again been found and it is up to the consumer what they buy or reject.

Bramley apples at 200.
The star cooking apple in my household has now just had its 200th birthday. A stained-glass window has been unveiled at Southwell Minster to celebrate the original tree – which is alive and well in the local village.
The very first Bramley apple originated from a chance natural cross generating a pip that was planted by schoolgirl Ann Brailsford in 1809. A Matthew Bramley bought the house, and 37 year old tree, in 1846 and the rest is history.
The Beeson’s have their own ‘classic’ Bramley apple recipe: Apple almond. Absolutely delicious! Email for ‘How to cook’ instructions.

Life is all a twitter.
Our winter migrant birds are now wending their tortuous routeways off to their summer breeding locations, whilst some of our summer friends have moved back into our garden.
Some birds remain with us throughout the year: the tit family and robins being classic examples, but many more move back here from the river valleys and coastline, as well as from overseas, as spring again pushes away the touch of winter. Surprisingly even blackbirds and diminutive wrens flee our plot over the height of winter. But they now have returned in numbers. The lawn can see several pairs of blackbirds, delicately plumaged song thrushes and resident green woodpeckers at one time. The stunningly coloured bullfinches and flocks of goldfinches or chaffinches grace the shrubs.
Over the winter our resident pairs of wood pigeons have been joined by large migratory flocks of the same species, but soon the latter will depart and our loving pairs (who have already warmed themselves up mating) will have the food supply to themselves again.

Suddenly the sounds of the garden change too, with potential breeders shouting out their fitness to hold territories and to give a ‘girl a good time’. This melodious chorus lifts the human spirit after a particularly cold and snowy winter but will only hits its noisy peak in April or May.
Sheets of snowdrops now grace our meadows; crocus blooms dot both the boarders and lawns, whilst wild daffodils are showing their potential yellow beauty in their modest buds. Pulmonarias and other plants have already presented their nectar and pollen to early-year insects.
Amorous frogs have again migrated from the adjacent woodland to spend a few days in our pond. They dare not stay longer for they are hunted by both day and night by hungry predators, so flee rapidly back to the ambiguity of camouflaging vegetation.

Whilst many throw scorn on the English climate, I find it quite an extraordinary and fabulous climate. I recall a Peruvian friend who lived in a pure, rainless and sunny climate all year. She moved to the UK and totally revelled in the changing seasons: the winter mists, frosts and snow; the stark beauty of the branches and twigs of the winter trees and the optimism of incipient buds and fragility of winter blossom. She loves the crispy rustle of winter leaves, the changing colour of even the soil beneath her feet. All this and the stunning spring, gentle summer and subtle tones of autumn mists and changing leaf colours are still awaiting her. She, I and indeed most of us ‘up here’ absolutely love our climate!

Now, here in Southern England, our minds have changed gear. I have spent several rewarding days pottering around the garden and putting the plants in order for the surge in growth that awaits us. Each and every shrub, tree or herbaceous plant has been assessed, gaps noticed and planting opportunities (dead plants to everyone else!) etched into my memory.
The cold, sometimes wet, winter has had its effects on some tender plants but my optimistic side says that water supplies will last the summer and many potential pest species will be much reduced by the frosts and snows.

I hope most of you see opportunity even in the difficulties that has inflicted your country of late.
 

Good gardening.

David

david@forest-edge.co.uk David would love to get an email from you

© David Beeson

Forest Edge offers B&B in four en-suite, double rooms. Indeed Forest Edge is much more like a small, private hotel than a typical B&B. www.forest-edge.co.uk

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