A story without an end

Our 5 acres is shaped like a kidney bean, it slopes away so that wherever you go you are either climbing or descending and has a tendency towards mud. It used be the the bottom tip of a farm that had been in a family for generations. At the turn of this century the M65 was built across the farmland, cutting a chunk off the bottom of the farm as a result it became a dumping ground.

This forgotten little plot attracted fly tippers for a couple of decades, and over the years it became engulfed by brambles and cleavers the size of which would astound you. We have given everything in time and energy to clearing this with numerous tip runs disposing of rubbish including baths, bikes and electrical equipment. Dozens of bonfires and the production of a huge amount of very rich compost.

As we have cleared, beautiful corners have emerged and we have let them speak to us to create a sitting space here, a stairway there and gardens and boundaries and work spaces.

This creative process has involved my most favourite pastime of researching plant life and the insects and animals it sustains and has involved much nurturing and planting and moments of intense satisfaction when we sit back and view the results of our efforts.

In these last few weeks however, I have become aware that the completion of a project isn’t an end or a completion at all, but the start of a cycle of tending and caring for what has been restored. Each tree planted needs regular care and watering in its first year of life. Each garden needs regular weeding and tending and a good bit of humour as the moles always seem to enjoy leaving piles of soft soil right in the middle of new steps or a veg patch The rewards are immense as we spy caterpillars and dragonflies and early butterflies, birds and little mammals.

The jewel for us though are the briefest glimpses of deer, but this week we were spellbound to find this little beauty in our orchard. This makes the hard work worth every bit of effort.