A gloomy, grey and damp day yesterday but the wood anemones carpeted the floor and the first bluebell had opened which brightened everything.  I had a number of jobs I really wanted to finish before spring really kicks in. There were several coppiced hazel stools and young plants that needed deer netting before the new shoots open and offer a tasty temptation to them. I drove stakes into the ground that had been cut from the hazel when I coppiced them, then tied the netting on. They can be removed in two or three years. The coppice area is looking good and should be amazing in a few years when they put on more growth.

The hazel leaf buds are just starting to open. I love the early spring when the new growth provides fresh, perfect and untainted leaves.

The wild garlic (also known as Ramson and actually not part of the garlic family) are lush and when brushed or accidentally stepped on (you can’t completely avoid it) give off that powerful garlicky aroma. All parts are edible.

The second job was to finish my new campfire logstore. I ordered a green tarp to replace the blue one but the sizes were inaccurate and too small, so the blue one stays for now. I stocked it up ready for my first camping trip which hopefully wont be too far away.

The other important job was to transplant various clumps of ground cover. The sycamore plantation area is quite devoid of anything other than anemones, bluebells, moss, a few ferns and of course bramble. Two years ago, in order to create more diversity and interest, I had experimented by digging a couple of small clumps of Ramsons and replanting along the sycamore edge. They have done really well and are starting to spread. So I wanted to try some more in other areas and also some clumps of wood sedge which grow profusely in the area where I park the car. A small holly sapling and some honeysuckle were also moved. The structure of the soil is much different, so they might not take so well but “nothing ventured” etc. The soil was incredibly wet and sticky so there’s no danger of them drying out until they establish new roots systems.

Small clump of Ramsons

Clump of Wood  Sedge

As usual my time ran out quicker than I liked but the jobs were done and I had time to sit and watch and listen to the numerous birds and just enjoy the peace and beauty surrounding me. In Japan they call it “Forest Bathing”.