Donkey Days

It was a crisp, frosty start to this February day. 

The new hedging opposite our house, completed yesterday by Woodland Trust volunteers, was looking very neat in the early sunshine. 

The sun was warm on our backs and it was particularly lovely in the polytunnel, where we toasted, for our tea-break. 

The ground was as hard as iron, so no point in continuing with the herb garden. It was in shade anyway. 

So we pruned the apple trees, improving their shape at the same time. I felt that pruning in frosty weather was a no-no, but on looking it up on the Internet, I surmised it would be OK. 

I need to read up about pear pruning because I`m sure I spotted fruit buds on the long growth. I don`t want to cut all those off.

Steve mended the entrance sign which fell over in the gales.

I did manage to clear a bit of ground....

But when Paula arrived, we set to in the fruit net. She hammered in 3 posts and trained the rest of the raspberry canes ..... a job unfinished by me in the autumn. 

 She also got rid of buttercups and nettles.

I surrounded the blackcurrants with old carpet and weed suppressant and began to cover in chipped bark. 

That job was not completed.

 My brother came with Frazer and Fletcher.

Steve took them to see the donkeys.

 

 

Oh, they were enjoying the sunshine. 

I was disappointed not to have any treats for them.

From the lower path we got a different view of the compost area, realising how much work we need to do here.

Steve did a lot there today.

 My niece`s partner, Andy, is getting us a load of pallets soon and they will form the basis of our new compost heaps.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this pile of willow branches is still useful in the spring.

We all came home to sit by the fire enjoying mixed vegetable soup.