Our original plan was to widen the borders, include a pond, a bigger greenhouse, make space for vegetables and to keep some of the grass. When we started digging we discovered that there was very little topsoil and a lot of very heavy clay. We decided to remove all the grass and we also decided to dig out the clay to allow for a reasonable depth of topsoil. We ended up removing 35 tonnes of clay, all dug by hand, and bringing many tonnes of topsoil back in. We have planted numerous trees, shrubs and perennials with many coming from our previous garden in the Cotswolds. A pond has been constructed, deep beds for the vegetables, a potting shed and greenhouse built, trellising added to hide the oil tank and paths laid used chippings, slabs and blocks salvaged from elsewhere in the property.
Pond
Liz has finally got the pond she has been wanting for 25years! The sound of running water and movement is provided by a copper pipe emerging from the pebbles and this is powered by a pump that includes a UV filter. This keeps the water amazingly clear to the extent that we need to something to hide the pipe that circulates the water as it is currently very visible! Hopefully the pond plants will grow rapidy in the spring and will cover it.
Potting Shed & Greenhouse
The old greenhouse has been given away to another resident of Talaton and replaced with a larger combined potting shed, greenhouse and cold frame. The potting shed might be compact but it is really convenient being part of the greenhouse. It has been well insulated and provides a cosy place to work in all but the coldest weather.
In it's 1st year the greenhouse has been well used for raising plants from seed and for cuttings. The border was used for tomato, pepper and cucumber plants, all of which thrived.
Deep Beds
4 deep beds each 8'x4' have been constructed using oak sleepers. They have produced amazing crops of lettuce, courgettes, sprouts, broad beans, sweet corn, leeks, onions, shallots, black kale, savoy cabbage, spinach, radishes, carrots, parsnips and beetroot. Alongside the deep beds is a small bed used primarily for runner beans.
Borders
We have planted 6 birch trees and a rowan in this area along with arum lillies, fuschias, hydrangeas, penstemons and many more.
