Parched

The hot weather continued into August 2022.

Back at Repton pond, we carried out some more weeding. Amy had the task of thinning out the lilies (rather precariously stretched out horizontally over an extendable ladder to the fountain - which thankfully was not timed to be on).

We would visit again in September and October, to cut back the bushes and shrubs, plus any other plants that had 'gone over' since flowering.

The lodge/picnic area had been decked out with lights and bunting for the jubilee, and it was now time to take this down, followed by lots of watering.

Watering continued to be the main theme for August, mostly around the picnic area. There was also some tidying up of vegetation by the lodge pond, and some lilies were removed in order to thin it out.

The shrubs in front of the lodge received a 'haircut', and there was further cutting back along Oak Lane.

Before and after photos of the short back & sides.

Into September, and the woodchip bay was getting very low, so the next mulching job meant using some quite old chippings - it was more like compost!

This week heralded the return of some much needed rain (thunder too!).

The wet weather got things growing again, so the middle of the month saw us strimming the 'nuttery' and an area close to the dead 'climbing' tree.

We continued coating more of the wood sculptures with decking oil, then it was back to  strimming.

The end of the month involved planting trees. Two existing metal cages in the parkland had dead trees, and these were replaced with an Indian Horse Chestnut & a Hungarian Oak.

Right: Indian Horse Chestnut

A further seven trees were planted in the picnic area;

2 Japanese Larch, 

2 Katsura, 

Williow Leafed Beech, 

Arizona Cypress 

Hungarian Oak.