The weekend in Ludlow was very relaxing. We got a few bits done for Liz's grandmother; pruning a few things, moving a few perennials, and shifting a heavy compost bin. On the way home, we stopped at a previously un-visited garden centre, and picked up some seeds, a couple of half-barrel planters, and some free bulbs (autumn saffron crocuses; just ten, but a useful trial).
The hedge up the left/west side of the orchard is part of a plan to properly define the boundary. We'd previously put in a number of fence posts, but only five along the orchard section, and another six or so from there upwards. Ultimately, we'd like to put some sheep to graze the orchard, and the vague edge didn't make the orchard feel tidy, defined, or complete. So we've agreed with Sarah and Peter to put up a stock fence along the edge, which should secure the fields long-term. Of course, fences aren't terribly pretty, nor good wildlife havens, which is why we decided to separately plant a hedge inside the fence, with space between it and the fence to get for maintenance. It's going to be a non-prickly mix of hazel, purple beech, crab apples, and myrobalan plums ('cherry plums'), which should be attractive, good for wildlife, and yield fruit for us, too.
Hedges are best (well, cheapest) when planted as bare-root saplings in the autumn. The disadvantage is that they come with very little warning, and will need planting out within a week. We'll need the weekend to do the planting, so we decided to dig out the necessary trench, clearing the stones and adding grit and compost, in advance, so that planting them will be as quick as possible.
So, today, we dug a bit further up. Only a bit, though, as we hit a really rocky stretch, with some pretty big stones. However, we should be finished before too long.
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