Nippy start with a bit of a frost to begin with, but today turned into a lovely, sunny day full of the promise of Spring – which made such a nice change from all the dull grey weather we’ve been having recently.

Our task for today was to get the remainder of the Food Forest planted up and crack on with putting the raised beds together. The highest part of the project site is where most of the forageable fruit will be. We planted thornless blackberry and some raspberry canes along the uphill edge of the plot; on the mound between the apple trees we planted the redcurrant, blackcurrant and gooseberries; we put wild garlic around the apple trees; and added some blackthorn and filberts (for sloes and nuts) in a little ‘thicket’ towards the dead hedge; and we also popped in a small clump of lemon verbena.

At the other end of the project site, we added some currants and raspberries to the mounds behind the compost bays. Then Dez and Mr Thompson wheeled barrowload after barrowload of woodchips to add to the layers of mulch – to surpress weeds and (in time) feed the soil.

Whilst all this was going on, Gerard and Karen also assembled a few more raised beds!

All in all, it was a fantastic day and we got *loads* done!

Huge thank you to Karen, Gerard, Mr Thompson, Janet, Dez and Jane for today.