Well, what a beautiful end to August, hot and sunny, I hope you all got a chance to enjoy your gardens and outdoor spaces. Meanwhile, at Ashdown Park, we have been watering our hanging baskets and containers every day but even that does not seem to be enough for some of the plants! This time of year the containers and baskets are full of matted roots which means the water will take longer to penetrate the compost and is more likely to just run off the surface, this is why watering your plants regularly is so important to keep the compost moist will help the plants take up the water.
I have noticed some of the trees are starting to shed their leaves and this could also be due to the available moisture in the soil. I still highly recommend a stroll around our grounds and around the woods as there are lots still to see, for example, the mushrooms are now starting to show. This has come in perfect time for our Mushroom Foraging event which will happen on Saturday 19th - Sunday 20th October. You can choose to stay with us across the weekend and enjoy, Afternoon with Ashdown Forest Education Team, Mushroom Foraging with our expert, Mushroom Luncheon on Sunday complete with coffee, Table d'hote dinner in our 2 AA award-winning Anderida Restaurant with Overnight accommodation in a Deluxe Bedroom and Breakfast. Find out more here. Or simply join in on the foraging fun on Sunday 20th October which will be a great time to explore and learn all things to do with mushrooms, find out more here.
We have been busy with the watering and grass cutting and shortly will be starting work on the hedge cutting. We will be holding our Christmas decoration workshop and afternoon tea on the 27th & 28th November, more details can be found here.
Wildlife in the Park
Recently on my early morning walks around the grounds, I have come across two very young fox cubs, who seem to be in the same place at the same time each morning, we watch each other and they only move when Jigsaw (my two-year-old Cocker Spaniel) decides he wants to move on. I have also been seeing more young deer around, especially early in the morning before sunrise. It has always been one of my favourite parts of the job and a privilege to see all the wildlife that roam around the estate and it definitely sets me up for the rest of my day!
Garden Tips
- Take the dead flower heads of bedding plants to prolong flowering
- Should start seeing spring flower bulbs becoming available
- Remove excess weed from ponds
- Fill any gaps in borders by dividing large clumps of perennials
- Net ponds and water features before leaf fall gets underway.
Happy Gardening,
Kevin Sweet