It is rather cold but I mustn’t grumble (though I will) after all it is winter and cold does tend to happen at this time of year. A few days ago I was in Bromyard and it felt quite warm and I was wondering why I had been shivering at home as it was only 0c and it didn’t look frosty but as I turned into the bottom of our lane it was like entering a different world as the temperature suddenly dropped to -2c and all around was white frost, very pretty but…..

We haven’t spent all the time lately mooching by the fire…honest, we are still working our way through the pruning though when it is frosty I do not prune the shrubs just in case it has a detrimental effect though we still have a bash at the hedges. The pruning is the best bit but then there is still the hard job of clearing away made more hard by the fact that from most areas it has to be taken uphill to the shredding pile and it is best to shred fairly often as if the pile is allowed to get too big it becomes a very daunting task and the material at the bottom of the pile becomes wet and slimy. Anything that can be used for the fires goes to a pile to be logged when time permits. However the brush prunings from the lower garden, to save us heaps of time and energy is placed against the perimeter fences and allowed to rot down naturally which is good for the wildlife and puts goodness into the soil.

I get asked by some visitors how I feed the garden, I do try to tell them as gently as possible that there should be no need to feed a garden and most especially not with any chemical feeds as the chemicals are an unnatural substance and may build up in the soil and plants and leach into the water system. The effect to the health of humanity and the general environment is at best not good and more likely very harmful with the accumulation of all the different chemicals which are pushed into the market place without being tested for long term effect or in relation to each other. So it is far better not to use any chemicals at all in the garden in respect to our own health and those who come after us. With good husbandry and thoughtful management there is no need for chemicals in any horticulture or agriculture, and no I am not a raving bunny hugger, I just care deeply about mans abuse and misuse of our one and only world. I will get off my soap box in a mo but when people argue with me about this subject my reply is that I care and I don’t have children or grandchildren!