When writing about roses last month I forgot to mention that, even though I tend to leave the final pruning until relatively late, it is good practice to shorten the overall growth before winter. I was reminded of this during Read more »
I’ve always looked forward to April. There is a general feeling of anticipation and hope—winter is behind us, and we can look forward to growth again. But I’m not sure about this April. We live in such confusion that it’s Read more »
At last it is time to sow most crops. April weather is highly changeable in spite of good light levels, and the soil is still cool. All seeds germinate better, stronger and faster when the soil is warm. Try and Read more »
A burgeoning opportunity for rural jobs and renewable energy Some newly cut wood and a hedge ready for coppicing above Racedown Farm The management of hedges is an important, complex and often thorny subject, that Read more »
From waking in his bed as a child and hearing the thump thump on the butcher’s block in the shop below to wielding the meat cleaver himself, Richard Balson knew from a young age he would follow his father and Read more »
A garden designer, nurseryman and writer, there isn’t much that Charles Chesshire does not know about plants. And he loves to talk about them. Anyone visiting his haven of a nursery, Charles Chesshire Plants & Gardens, situated by the old Read more »
‘I was an only child until I was seven when my sister came along. I read a lot and enjoyed my own company. I wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember and still have scraps Read more »
Margery Hookings meets young Bridport man Luke Shirley who leads horse trekking tours of Mongolia Photograph © Steve Luck Photography (www.steveluckphotography.co.uk) A lust for life and a quest for adventure have led a young Dorset man to set up an Read more »
As the song originally gave us about flowers—where have all the people gone? I used to enjoy chatting with Chris—the guy at the local bank—whenever I wandered in to cash a cheque. However, now he’s gone and been replaced by Read more »
Blizzards, strong winds, drifting snow, bitter cold – that was the story in early March last year when the “Beast from the East” collided with storm Emma bringing extreme weather and disruption to life across large parts of the UK. Read more »