Firstly a very happy new year from my team and I!
Did you get to visit us over the Christmas period?
Once again the decorations throughout the hotel, gardens and in some of the bedrooms looked truly amazing and the Christmas Trees were magnificent. We love seeing guests’ delight at the decorations, especially the impressive main tree which goes up to greet guests in the reception.
In order to be as environmentally friendly as we can, when the trees were taken down we shredded them for repurposing as mulch for the shrub borders; the greenery will be composted. Already I have noticed the exciting signs of spring with a few brave bulbs poking their heads above the soil.
Now the Christmas & New Year festivities behind us, it’s time to look forward to 2019 and the coming longer (and hopefully warmer) days, although there is a chance of snow again soon!
2019 will see the completion of one of the projects which the gardening team has been working hard on, the ‘Sunken Garden’. This garden has been overgrown for a few years, so we have been cutting back the excess and restore the area to a beautifully manicured space, like our other gardens, and add in new planting. Although work is in the early stages at the moment, it should be ready for you enjoy and take Instagram ready photographs by the summer.
Wildlife at the Park
As many of you may know by now, I start my day early. When I arrive for work, which is normally before 6am in the morning, I am greeted by the sound of owls chatting. It’s a small thing and brings me a lot of pleasure. Such a lovely way to start the day!
One of the first jobs of the day is to check on the estate, which I do with the help of my wonderfully crazy young cocker-spaniel, Jigsaw. We normally come across deer grazing in the early morning light. During the colder months, the deer tend to be closer to the hotel, if you're not an early riser then not to worry, as well as being active around daybreak, normally there's a good chance you will see them around dusk too. Jigsaw will normally smell them before I see them, which is why he is always on the lead.
Although he can't get far on the lead, this doesn't stop him when he sees the rabbits, which casually continue to enjoy the grass when we pass by - they seem to know he can't actually get them and enjoy winding him up. It does make me chuckle, maybe he'll learn one day.
Garden Tips for January into February
While the snow is still at bay, it's a great time to give your garden a general health check.
1. Make sure any plants in containers have good drainage
2. Inspect any stored dahlia and begonia for rot
3. Prune apple and pear trees
4. Clear any worm casts on grassed areas
5. Prepare the soil in borders for any new plantings
One final note, please do book as soon as possible for our Hanging Basket Workshops during May! The team and I are running two this year as they always sell out.
Until next month. Have a wonderful remainder of January!
Kevin Sweet
Estate Manager