Any gardening plans for the coming year?

yes, they aren't everyone's idea of what to have ib a garden - all the better for the likes of you and me!

See this link for the Woodland Trust's profile on the Yew tree: 

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/yew/

I hope this helps in some way

Stuart333 TheCatWoman As well as the fact that they will grow back from a stump, yew trees are also a native evergreen species to Britain. This means, I believe, that they will support multiple native bird species in Winter when other trees' fruits are not available. Maybe another factor to consider Cat Woman?

Best to get a good book on chicken keeping. We did use an old stone outhouse at our old place, foxes were never a problem but rats were, they can burrow through tiny gaps and attack the hens at thier most vulnerable, when laying eggs. We have a cheap hen house with a nesting box and put straw in the top nest box and bark chippings on the lower floor level. They are escape artists and can jump to a fair old height too, maybe keep them in an enclosure until they get used to where they live and then let them loose to roam. Mine are fenced off from the rest of the garden and won't come into the main bit of garden even when the gate's blown open. Sometime I don't where mine have gone, but they're always back and sunset for a feed of layers pellets. You will need to feed them layers pellets as well as topping up with other bits and pieces, one of the problems with giving them to much kitchen waste is that it attracts rats, so only give them smallish amounts at a time..

If you get rescue hens then they may have come from a battery or barn keeper, they may have few feathers, their beaks may have been clipped to stop them pecking at each other, in which case they will need chick crumbs to eat, their legs might be to weak for them to stand properly or for a long time. An enclosure would be good whilst they get used to being outside and in a new freer home home in general.

My cats help to look after the chickens, they're very curious and once accustomed to them don't hurt them, but they do protect them from rats.

Thanks for your kind offer, I would like further advice with chickens when the time comes. I’m planning on using an old out building for the actual hen house as it has a stone floor, I thought it would stop foxes digging in. Where do the hens like to lay eggs? I was planning on perches but don’t know what else to put in. There is an area in front of the building I plan to build a wire frame over. Can they roam free without disappearing?

Thanks for that, I'd never heard of it before, I'm not sure I'd be able or wish to build a mound as high as the one shown though, but it's interesting.

Thanks, I’m 60 next year, I do find I’m starting to get tired more quickly. 

This project sounds wonderful. I would be too old for such a large project but would love to hear your progress.

Thanks, greenhouses often turn up for free, this one was a massive property and a young family had just moved in, they didn’t want it with children playing in the garden. My last one was from a deceased estate, the previous owner had erected the greenhouse in front of the garage door. The family just wanted it gone. 

Phased said:

Hugelkultur

I've looked it up and it sounds really interesting. I've an area where I have ferns and my old Christmas trees underneath a holly tree, so it would be perfect and a good shelter for hedghogs. Thanks for this!

I have less plans than last year, as the weather did not give the best result due to the excessive heat. I have pots of tulips covered with netting to hopefully keep the squirrels out for now. A few of the smaller ones are appearing and hoping the others, after lots of crocks won't have rotted from all the rain.

I have a lot of seeds and a vague plan, in the hope that I get more colour in the summer this year.

Great acquisition with the greenhouse!  hehe i've gained 3 that way, albeit having to part with a relatively little cash on a couple of them.  All the best with it!  

That berm you have built is something similar to what I did last autumn with cut down cypress trees TheCatWoman (NAS92378). 

If you've not already done so you might look up "Hugelkultur" as this is the same idea?

Maybe a wood worker might be interested in the timber from the yew?  Or anyone who enjoys archery  might like to try longbow making...

Such heathers as you are replanting are not my plan although the rotting wood leading to acid soil conditions makes it a good idea.  I have accidentally created beds by piling logs in places in the garden before and they are really successful at creating great soil conditions for plants they border, in one case being a great place for ferns to thrive too.  Plus a perfect place for beetles etc.

I'm getting around to thinking about seed planting for windowsill germination - allotment and greenhouse veg, a wider variety of sweet peas this year.

I have late winter tree pruning to do in few weeks - our walnut doesn't really like it however it is so close to the house that it is a necessity.  Our Japanese Maples will also need shaping before they do their spring magic.

Oh and there's always the compost to tend to!

I wish we lived nearer as I have a really good rotorvator with all its bits siting in the shed, I think it would be to expensive to post. Have you looked at no dig gardening? If you cut down all the over grown bits and pulled out as many perenial weeds as you can see, then cover it cardboard, poo and compost and leave it and plant into it, it should be fine. It's so much less hard work and better for the soil too.

I've got 2 rescue chickens, we did have three but one escaped never to be seen again, we usually get an egg from each everyday, I sell some to a neighbour and give my hairdresser a box as a tip, people really love a box of fresh eggs, wheras they'd think you were being stingy if you gave them £1:50 as a tip. Chickens can be fussy eaters, they seem to prefer things like carrots and parsnips cooked, they should never be given anything onion related or any citrus. If you have a woody part of your garden they would be really happy to live there as they are naturally woodland birds and will clear up any fallen fruit. I enjoyed showing mine how to pick blackberries, they love them.

I'll be glad to be able to get out into the garden ost of which resembles a mud bath.

Thanks, ‘The Good Life’ does come mind, 

Your plans sound exciting Roy.  I love the idea of restoring a garden but I'm not sure my energy levels and achey old bones would allow me to.

Super regarding the greenhouse.

All the very best for all your projects.

Work on our house is still progressing, so we haven’t really done much with the garden, it’s about an acre with a small piece of woodland. The house had been empty for about 3 years so the garden was very overgrown.

I’ve managed to get into the wooded area but I’m going to need some professional help, I did find the wheelie bin though. One garden is an old English garden, we have photographed the plants in flower so can identify them and know their locations.

I’ve always found a lot of satisfaction in growing fruit and vegetables. I was browsing FB marketplace on Monday and a greenhouse listing caught my eye, it had just been listed and was local, I immediately enquired but heard nothing back, I enquired again on Wednesday and a message came back, it was still available and free if I disassemble it and take it away. I went yesterday with my son who is much taller than me.

The greenhouse is in perfect condition and fitted with safety glass, we removed it without breaking one pane, It’s 6ft x 10ft. So this year is going to be siting it and then looking out for a cheap or free rotavator for a veg plot. I have now found some staging and a potting station on marketplace that someone else wants rid of.

My wife plans to get some rescue chickens so they can eat any leftover veggies.

Marianne72 said:

black looks nice against the green

It does indeed. It makes everything stand out.

It’s a wonderful to see the shoots pushing through—the promise of things to come.