Apologies for the horribly long time since I last posted. I am really hoping that this time I can post regularly and keep everyone up to date with what is happening at NurtureNature. It has been a long time without posts and while the garden has continued to be developed to make it a healing environment we have not been able to have events because of Covid . However we are now getting back in the swing and planning a number of events and plant sales for this summer. The garden has been developing and the woodland area is now rich with beautiful woodland plants including shuttlecock ferns, dicentra, epimedium, brunnera, forget me nots, viola freckles, trillium and more. The nepeta under the pleached hornbeam are vigorous and have filled that space out and the step-over apples opposite are full of blossom. It is surprising how productive a small step-over can be – clearly it likes its position and the dwarfing rootstock is as productive as a small standard tree. The espaliered apple tree against the fence on the back platform actually has quite alot of blossom this year but whether it will produce significant numbers of apples this year remains to be seen – it certainly hasn’t been famed for its productivity in recent years. Sadly we have lost a number of plants to the cold wet winter with the late hard frost being particularly damaging- pittosporums have been especially hard hit and we are having to lift a number that have simply curled their toes up and died over the last winter. They are meant to be hardy but only H4 ( hardy to -5 to -10 degrees celsius) and this winter had some really cold frosts where plants really needed to be H5 hardy (-10 to -15 degrees celsius) to guarantee survival. We have replaced some in pots but will bring them in to the polytunnel this winter to provide protection from the harshest weather The magnolia also suffered, losing alot of its buds to a late frost so its flowering was not as prolific as usual.

Our first event is on the 23rd June when we are having a silk scarf making workshop – no artistic talent or experience needed I am assured. Places are £17.50 if you can afford that or a donation of what you can afford. To book a place contact NurtureNature by email on nurturenature61@gmail.com. We are planning a plant sale and open day on the 1st July – details will be posted nearer the time. Also very excitingly on July15th, Jackie Kay a wonderful poet who was the Scottish Macca (like the English Poet Laureate) is coming to do a poetry reading and answer questions in the garden. Details are just being finalised and I will post them shortly but please put the afternoon of July15th in your diary now to reserve it for this wonderful event which we are very lucky to have in the garden. Other events will posted on here as the details are finalised.

I hope that you will come and visit us over the summer for an event, a plant sale or both or simply arrange to call in if you are passing and I am free. Looking forward to seeing you over the summer.