When the local tree surgeon lopped off the branches and dead trunks of several trees, some months ago, we elected to keep the wood chippings.  There were trailer loads and we stored them in a wooden container that we made from old planks. We had spread some on the muddy ground that was churned up when the new drainage system was installed and there is still enough to use for raised beds and flower pots.  So today we tackled the pergola and herb beds outside the kitchen door, removed brambles and ivy and trimmed the honeysuckle 

It’s a beautiful place now and the beds are ready to receive the agapanthus plants that we brought in pots from London. We will stock the area in front with herbs. The hanging baskets that we planted when we arrived in August are still giving us colour and might continue through the spring and summer.

We have been in the field, just now, planting out twenty strawberry plants that arrived in the post this morning. Although the rules state ( according to Jeremy) that we can’t eat the fruits in the first year he said that I will be able to take some – to encourage me!