January 2002

Our much wanted Black Labrador puppy has been settling in well at Burtonfield. She has made herself at home and now rules the roost. Despite the weather and the puppy progress has been made on the garden.

The wet weather has restricted much of the gardening to indoor activities. The propagator is now full of seed trays with developing seeds and seedlings. The first to be sown were tomatoes (Money-maker) and strawberries (Sarian). The most recent were sowings of Birch trees, Lady’s Mantle, Lettuce and Begonia. Germination rate seems to be quite high of all types but the Birch and Lady’s Mantle.

Work has begun on the woodland garden. Two conifers (Leylandii) obstruct the light entering the garden and the house. One has been removed and the other has had its height drastically reduced. This has made a great improvement to the quality of light in the back garden. Some of the turf has been removed to create a large bed that will be filled with woodland type plants. Recent rain has prevented further digging on our heavy clay soil.

The land surrounding Burtonfield Gardens is currently rough grass filled with dock plants. Our aim is to level and re-seed the land this spring. It’s too wet to plough the field at the moment but we hope to get the work started as soon as there is a dry period. A visit from Norfolk County Council’s Countryside Officer (Gerry Barnes) enabled a thorough discussion of our plans. Grant aid could be available for most of our ideas. We’re planning to commence planting of a traditional orchard and woodland this autumn. We hope to have contact with a local orchard specialist next month so that detailed planting schemes can be developed.