Helping in the Gardens!

It has been so dry lately that there is not much going on in the grassed areas of the gardens so we are all delighted when the gardeners have been working and turning the soil for us to have a good old root around!  Normally at this time of year we are still making nice puddles of mud on the lawn and looking for slugs and worms there but now we have some fresh plants and new shoots in the main beds we could not be happier. Oddly, the Gardeners are not happy -- they keep shooing us off and have started putting wire mesh around the more tasty plants!  There has even been talk of 'cooking pots' but we know they are joking!

The gardens have started to look quite nice, with a bit of help from us!

This year the Gardeners have built a new pergola/arch way (you can see the edge of it above), it is really a framework for some rambling roses and some scented clematis which will be planted shortly - should look and smell lovely when it is all grown up.

We had a really busy weekend last weekend with a children's Pottery party on Saturday and then Mother's Day on Sunday.  We are expecting to be busy again this weekend too as it is so lovely weather wise and it is so pleasant in the garden -  the view is great today.   The next public event on the agenda seems to be Easter. On Good Friday we are having a visit from West Midlands Search and Rescue who are bring a boat into the garden - should be fun!

DON'T forget to join us for Go Walkies event for Guide Dogs for the Blind on 1st April (no joke!).

Allo Lola!

Spring is coming and we are all feeling it out on the pond, there is a lot if 'pairing off' with the mallards and even my "white" (am I allowed to say this?) duck friends are starting to move into groups rather than sticking with the larger group.  At this time of year it is very dangerous if you don't keep your wits about you -- the mallards are particularly daft when they are 'in love' and they will keep heading off into the field to 'be alone'... this is very silly with the number of dogs, foxes and humans that are walking the fields!!  Paddy -- the golden lab who lives next door gets quite beside himself when he see them in the field just waiting to be chased!

Many of the females ducks are now laying eggs and the sadly the crows are already moving in however, Mick the Site Manager, has rescued the first batch this week and is setting them in the incubator to hatch so we will have ducklings this year all being well.  Hanbury First school are also going to try an hatch us a few too so I am sure we will have the pitter patter of tiny webbed feet in a few weeks.....watch this space.

Lola meeting the crowd (with Linda her new handler)

We had a new visitor this week - Lola -- she is working for the Guide Dogs for the Blind and is designated to be a brood bitch.  Linda Atkins (who has been puppy training for GDs for years) will look after her and will be helping with the pups and Linda will get to keep her as a pet she has "done her bit", so she is a lucky girl as Linda is a great "Mum".   Lola had only just arrived to her new home when she was invited up to the Jinney Ring along with Marley (who is going to be a Guide Dog when he has been fully trained) to help promote the "Go Walkies " event that is being run from the Craft Centre gardens on 1st April.   We are expecting to keep up with Lola's antics and life and will keep you up to date too.

Marley (the lab) and Lola with posing with Lyndsey and Polly from the gift shop.

Around the Craft Centre, activity is generally increasing as the weather improves -- the new pergola/rose arch is has been stained and is finished ready for planting which should happen in the next couple of weeks.  There are lots of other garden preparations going on too, ready for the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, but that will have to wait a little until next weekend is finished, as Mother's Day is always very popular here and we are expecting to see a lot of people in the gardens next Sunday.  There is a special Mother's day breakfast in the morning and then an all day carvery with flowers for all mums.