We have been busy fencing along side newly planted hedges. Thank fully all the work planting and watering hedge plants and newly established apple trees seems to have paid off and the survival rate has been very good. I am waiting for tree stakes to arrive in Hay-on-Wye and as soon as they arrive we will stake and guard the apple trees. We have protected them with temporary spiral guards to ward off the rabbits and other creatures that like to eat the tender bark on young trees.
Yesterday we finished fencing off one of the bird-seed plots at Holt Farm, despite a poor initial germination the mixture of seed bearing plants is now thriving. The footpath leading up to the western ridge behind the farm passes the bird seed plot. At the moment it is highly visible for great distances as it includes oil seed rape that has bright yellow flowers.
Erecting the sheep and cattle proof fences is a time consuming job as the fence lines weave alongside the historic hedgerows and natural stream banks. The terrain is undulating and in places access is difficult so we are able to complete less meters in a day than we would on lowland sites.
As a result of the minimal rainfall for several weeks the soil has compacted and the posts take much more effort to drive them into the ground. A positive of the dry spell is that we are able to drive machinery over the land without doing any damage and we are able to work without getting plastered in mud.
The Herefordshire/Welsh Border upland country is looking fantastic at the moment with hedgerows in blossom, orchard blossom and all the magnificent green shades of foliage as different species of plant and tree reach the peak of spring growth.
Next weekend our visitors for the Hay Literary Festival will arrive, hopefully the windy weather will die down and everyone will be able to enjoy all the events that the Festival has to offer.
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