I did the birdwatch today for the first time in this garden. I watched between 11.00 and 11.30 and 1.00 and 1.30. Lots more birds and varieties than I had anticipated.

4 Great Tits

2 Blue Tits

1 Chaffinch

2 Robins

3 Blackbirds

2 Magpies

1 Dunnock

5 Long Tailed Tits

2 Jays

1 Thrush

1 Greenfinch

1 Collared Dove

2 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers

1 Wren

Lets compare next year..

Cleared out both the shed and the greenhouse this weekend and now just have to clean the greenhouse glass and guttering. It was good to clear out the stuff left behind and to make the shed my own ready for the growing season. I plan to buy some cheap staging for the green house to maximise space for growing seedlings and there is also a gravelled space for growing plants in pots. The greenhouse is large 10’x 8′ so there is plenty of room. I have bought lots of seeds. In the greenhouse I plan to grow;

Tomatoes ( Ailsa Craig and and Rainbow mix), Jalepeno Chili Peppers, Sweet Peppers, Aubergines

Outside there are four beds 10’x 5′ so I should be able to grow plenty of food. I have the seeds to grow;

Runner beans ( snowstorm), French beans (cobra), Sweetcorn ( lark), Leek (musselburgh), Kale ( darf green curled), spring onion ( white lisbon), Broccoli (summer purple), Fennel ( victorio), Beetroot ( boltardy), Sage, Carrot ( flyaway), Thyme, salad leaves, basil, coriander, rosemary.

I should also get some early sprouting broccoli for next spring. I also want to develop some perennials along with putting the strawberry seedlings in the long containers Stuart already put alongside the greeenhouse.

I will especially concentrate on growing herbs which this garden lacks and I plan to make a herb garden near to the house, perhaps in a new bed in front of the french doors.

My in-laws gave us a witch hazel shrub hamamelis sunburst as a wedding present. My plan is to plant it in a new bed near to the back of the house where we can enjoy it from the window. I shall underplant it with snowdrops which I will take from the area underneath the weeping beech tree where they cannot easily be seen from the house and which will be disturbed when we remove the tree.