Happy New Year…..welcome back!
I’ve been busy this morning checking the garden over as I am on weekend duty at the end of this particularly frosty and cold week. I get to walk around the whole site, which is lovely and not something I generally get to do on a regular basis, and to see the bare bones of this breathtaking space.
The bird hide is a real treat. I sat and watched the Harlow Carr train-station – with the blue tits, long tailed tits, coal tits flitting in and out onto the feeders like passengers getting on and off busy commuter trains with blackbirds and thrushes bustling below – such a hive of industrious activity, with the delightful bullfinches putting in guest appearances. You can quite easily lose time up there, it is very addictive viewing from the comfort of the new plush hide – take a look, binoculars provided!
This week we have been pulling together as one big team to get some jobs done. We have relocated some of the Malus hedging from the new learning centre site to the productive area below the alpines. Had a slight thaw on Thursday so relocated them swiftly to their new home. It’s a good time of year for moving shrubs and small trees as they are in a dormant state, so suffer less stress in the move.
Good time for some renovation pruning too. The beech hedge alongside the main borders path was going skyward and needed reducing. So armed with a sharp saw and some loppers we set off with the help of a guide line to keep things straight and level. We have a one legged robin who has shadowed us all week whilst pruning - we felt it looked a bit hungry so has had a feast of fat ball pieces and bird seed this week ! Our birds help us out all year by eating our pests, it is the least we can do!
If you fancy a stroll round the witch hazels are looking and smelling very alluring at the moment in the winter garden along with the christmas box. Pruning some more shrubs next week too, a really satisfying job which keeps the hypothermia and frostbite at bay as well!
Sarah Bell
Team Leader – Gardens West