Hello to all,
I have just read what I wrote over 2 years ago to let you all know that I had moved and arrived finally at Valley View, Dargate Road, Yorkletts, Whitstable to my beautiful pasture.
I had no idea what life would throw at me when I arrived, and now am not sure I would have been brave enough to do what I have to do had I known just how hard it would be. It’s been so very different to what I thought – I now have skills I never thought I could learn and am still working with very little money, which has in itself taught me valuable “make do and mend” skills, and now I realise that I am a much stronger person, but just as in love with plants and nature as I always was.
My nursery plants sat in the pasture for 18 months and that resulted in losses of over 60% – I did cry at that point but then I started to divide my plants, re-fresh into new pots paying particular attention to root systems. Nothing was fed and still throughout the year I would glimpse flowers in the meadows overgrowth only to wander through and realise that yet again something else was just about surviving. I did manage to dig up a number of key species – plants I have had for years and have been able to plant the beginnings of garden borders, carefully dividing areas of interest.
In my list of “to do” initially was a car park, which I now have, I wrote that renovations are taking far longer than expected; I needed a new roof and further inspection of some of the stables found woodworm, and so much rotting timber I very nearly gave up….. I would like you to know that I am writing this from my new office and kitchen which took all my energy and effort but I made it!
I also wrote that I had no polytunnel, which resulted in my Salvia stock dropping to just 2 pots of some varieties, but with the help of gardening friends we have re-grown all from cuttings, so I take start 2025 with healthy stock which is all housed in my un-heated Brand New POLYTUNNEL!
My hopes and dreams are all intact as they always have been for this land which gives me endless joy for my conservation work; I have so much to show you all.
I think this land will continue to give up its secrets year after year as I work to make it completely Enchanting for me to share with all of you, whoever you are, so that we can all appreciate and learn what Mother Nature has in store for us as we move forward.
I will be in touch as often as I can now and whilst I will celebrate this season of rest and renewal I will also be working day and night to realise my hopes of an Enchanted Future.
Please let me know how all of you are doing, what is happening in your gardens and if I can help in any way, just email or call.