The ground was parched. The seeds were waiting. Cracks were appearing in the hard clay. I sense that the recent rain was a delight to nature, even if we humans tend to call it ‘bad’ weather.

Our park is looking its usual Spring splendid. Even common cow parsley and buttercups stand in great magnificence.

Down at the Langley pond, there were a few inhabitants who I am sure welcomed the refreshing of their water. The mallards are currently cavorting about as if at Versailles and the moorhens are already rearing their first chicks.

They say ‘nice weather for ducks’, but I am not sure that this young moorhen was appreciating the rain!

I gather that the late, hard frost was a problem for vine growers across the country and noticed that both the vines and the kiwi in our orchard have had their leaves burnt by the frost. We will see if they bear any fruit.

Otherwise the orchard seems to be doing well. The apple trees were beautiful as they flowered. The gooseberries will be ready soon. Jostaberries are full of vigour as usual. Why not take a walk through the orchard and see what you can identify?

We have our second orchard working party this Saturday May 20th 10 – 12 as usual. Please come and join us if you would like to. We will be planting herbs in our new herb bed, as well as some thimbleberry and chokeberry plants (heard of them before? I hadn’t!).

Lots of different jobs for all ages.

Have a good summer!