On Sunday 8 July the sun shone down on us as we had our first visit to a garden in the village. We went to the home of Maggie Johnson and Dave Freak at Marble Mill Barn. The garden is still very much a work in progress, but Maggie and Dave have made a great start. We saw the flower beds planted by Maggie with a variety of perennial and annual planting. She explained to us that the soil conditions in the garden are in places very challenging, with large lumps of clay making drainage a real problem.
We were also able to look at the orchard they planted earlier this year with a mixture of fruit trees all carefully selected to grow well in our northern clime. Next to the orchard they have planted a hedgerow of native species, such as blackthorn, Guelder rose, hawthorn, wayfaring tree. All of this planting seems to be thriving, thanks to the hard work of Dave and Maggie.
Next to the orchard we saw the wild flower meadow containing a rich diversity of meadow plants, through which had been cut a pathway leading down to the woodland. This provided a cool, shady area, and welcome relief from the summer sun.
Our first village open garden was a treat for everyone that was there, and shows just how much can be achieved in just a few months.
