WOODLAND GARDEN

This is by very nature of what it is, the part of the garden most in it's infancy, because all the trees that will eventually form this woodland garden have been planted as young saplings from 1997 onwards, as have the native hedgerows that form boundaries and divisions. These divisions are used to create 'rooms' with adjacent garden areas. Woodland is what we miss most from our Derbyshire garden, because there we enjoyed a very old and mature woodland garden that was already established, being built around an orchard. Here, we are growing fruit trees in the adjacent fruit and veg garden, whilst here in the main woodland we have planted various mainly native trees: alder buckthorn, ash, beech, elder, elm (wych and English), field maple, hawthorn, hazel, holly, hornbeam, oak, rowan, silver birch, whitebeam, wild cherry, and others. A few other species are to be found in the other wooded area we are creating at the end of the pond garden (details in that section). On the southern edge, facing the house, is a dogwood copse. The northern boundary hedge comprises largely English elm with further other hedgerow trees filling the gaps, and a beech hedge helps divide the garden from the neighbouring veg garden. A final mixed hedge surrounds the 'hill' - in time they will hide this from view. It is in fact the dumping ground of all the dug out turf over the years when beds have been created.

As well as adding a totally different perspective to the garden (and providing much needed shady areas!) we have long term hopes with the woodland garden to encourage species of butterfly such as the Speckled Wood, White-letter Hairstreak, and maybe even the White Admiral, that rely more on woodland habitats.