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Tue 27 Feb 2024

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Click for hi-res

Mon 26 Feb 2024

Catchup from past week. Mostly been ordering plants and updating spreadsheet grwd.cc/tir-plants and site visit Friday 24th February

Landscaping

• Matt booked for Monday 4th March. Jake coming that day to discuss placement of paths, possibly markout trees, and take aerial photos for updating plan.
• Landscaping will take a couple of weeks, to Friday 15th March. Should be able to start planting before then, on the areas that have been finished.
• Jake to visit at end of landscaping, to take aerial photos for final update of forest garden plan.

Pinch points

Scrubby corner in Witches Garden

Removal of Hazels in Witches Garden?

• Raised with Russell via WhatsApp Saturday 25th February:
  • I’m aware that there’s a lot of rubbish on the site. Depending on how much work you have on, it might be an idea to see how much there is before Matt arrives, as it will probably slow them down a lot, and I am very keen to get the plants in ASAP.
  • There is a lot of brush in the top corner behind where the Witches Hut is marked out (see photo). It would make sense in terms of usable space to clear out that corner. There is also a big pile of earth there too. Matt can do this, just wanted to highlight it for you now.
  • What is the size and orientation of the solar panels? Planning says 5m from boundary (do double-check) which is what I have marked out with bamboo and string. But really need to know position and size before putting in solar path.
  • Which hazels to remove from Witches Garden. I’ve marked these up on the plan but obviously, need to run this past T&J. (attached photo)

Also, there is the remnants of the Box hedge by the play area. Is this in any state to rescue? Or replace with tall Bowles Willow and Privet hedge?

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Re. Blackthorn, there is plenty in the hedge along the southern boundary:

Finally, couple of photos that I’ll be using to create sketches for Courtyard and Patio.

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Click for hi-res

Tue 20 Feb 2024

Courtyard raised beds

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• Have made courtyard entrance raised beds curved, with central point on centre of verandah

Tree guards

• Approx 40
• Biodegradeable

Parking area

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• Much easier for parking if area is levelled, with retaining wall at back
• Will need to measure drop, might want to put raised beds in front of retaining wall, depending on height
• Once have heights, work out screening plants between patio and parking

Fri 16 Feb 2024

Parking

• Looks like the Griselenia tree is too big for the parking area :(
• Outlines are for the Volvo XC90

Forest garden witchy parking

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• Space for 3 vehicles in parking at top of land
• Very useful access point for garden supplies

House garden update

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• Updated the house garden design, to fit in with the aerial photo
• There is distortion on the photo from the angles
• Design is robust though
• Might only be room for 2 raised beds on courtyard entrance

Dead hedges

• Approx 140 split Chestnut posts
• Approx protection for 35 trees

Wed 14 Feb 2024

Update forest garden paths

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• Main path: 155m long; 1.2m wide; 11% slope
• Solar panel path: 80m long; 0.9m wide; gentle as possible
• Boundary path: 300m long; 0.5m wide; whatever slope
• Connecting path: 80m long; 0.9m wide; gentle as possible
• Woodland path: 125m long; 0.9m wide; gentle as possible
• Top parking area: 50m²ish

Path widths

• Recommend Oleo Mac WB 51 S6 flail mower
• 51cm cutting width
• 1 pass: 0.5m wide
• 2 pass: 0.9m wide
• 2/3 pass: 1.2m wide

Tue 13 Feb 2024

Forest garden CAD on aerial photo

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Paths & areas for Matt

• Main track: 155m long; wide, 11% slope
• Side track on N boundary: 50m long; not-so-wide, gentle but can be over 11% slope
• Boundary track: 300m long; width of wheeled brush cutter; whatever slope
• Top parking area: 50m²ish

Mon 12 Feb 2024

Aerial photos

Whole garden

Curtilage

UK habitat classification

A little bit nerdy but kind of fun: how much habitat can you create in a garden?

• UKHab website - UK habitat classification
• UKHab v2 Documentation PDF↗

Sun 11 Feb 2024

Curved courtyard path

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Updated the path, so it mirrors the curve of the patio retaining wall. The crossroads feature will need to moved up slightly.

Sat 10 Feb 2024

• Here’s how utility-scale solar farms may just help save the bees - native plants and wild flowers around large scale solar farms.

Fri 9 Feb 2024

Courtyard and main walkway

Working on the layout for the summerhouse. Moved it to the east, by the boundary, then a couple of shrubs (Bay?) on either side of patio path screens path a bit. Tricky entrance to the courtyard from the main crossroads, using 6 rectangular raised beds with a pergola, so breaking up vista but lettting in light. Also, elegant post & rail fence on entrance.

Main walkway is defined by crossroad: a big feature, seating, raised bed, water, tree?

Enter from parking area, left to courtyard, straight on to forest garden, right to pool and veg area.

Thu 8 Feb 2024

Summerhouse

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For the courtyard, thinking of a roundwood summerhouse with a verandah and grass roof.

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Patio beds

Today, working on the patio beds. The tricky thing is the change in level, about 1.8m? Steps by the garage, slowly sloping path at the back of the patio. Two terraced beds, so to speak. Material for retaining wall and beds? Ideally stone, but much cheaper option would be reclaimed stone filled gabions. Can also create curves with gabions. Ditto structure of raised beds.

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The path runs by the side of the retaining wall. Be nice to get a curve in there, will talk to John.

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Thinking to have smaller post and rail fence along retaining wall edge, for safety, behind a bed

Courtyard

Because of narrowness of Courtyard, possibly use continuous “gabion walls” on neighbours boundary. Provide good privacy, and good growing surface for climbers and espalier fruit trees.

This gabion wall has gaps, useful to see construction

Fencing

Fencing by Peak Traditional Fencing

• Had quote from Kingsley on 3rd Feb
• 35m of cleft oak post and rail fencing
• £907 for fencing, £150 delivery, £190 installation (£10 per post)
• £1,247 total

Tue 6 Feb 2024

Patio

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Extend the patio back 2-3 metres, remove & reuse the shed. Have the steps at the end of the garage up to the courtyard, and the other entrance a gradually sloping, curving path, extending from the corner of the dining room doors, around and up to the summerhouse.

Remove (& reuse) existing steps in the middle; they would cut the space in half.

Need to check angles, incline and how tight the curve can be. And, how the rising path would work with beds 🤔

Courtyard

One of the sunniest spots on the site, so thinking to make good use of this by using stone and Mediterranean plants. A grass roof on a relatively small summerhouse, which has a verandah. Raised beds with good drainage for herbs and scented plants. The underlying structure is very rectangular, so soften it with curves.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Mediterranean aniseed

A stone wall on the neighbours side would block out noise, capture warmth from westerly sun and give a frame for scented climbers. To increase available space, could use narrow gabion wall, supported by posts.

A gabion fence; this one has gaps, showing the narrow profile

If possible, source local reclaimed stone for courtyard surface and/or wall?

An example of local stone from the village

Witches hut advice

Advice from a Reiki Master who also has shamanic training:

once the directions are marked in the hut, I feel they need to research and then meditate there to see what feels right for them if they just wish to use wiccan teachings. There will be elements, colours and animals that correspond with the directions.

However pyrite (fool’s gold) should be popped in any windows/openings to create a positive and general protective glow around the hut and a smoky quarts point should be placed by the door pointing out. A meditation with the smoky quartz point should be done focusing on firstly and always - for the greater good of all - then protectively whatever is sent to them is returned three fold.

Of course once the hut is finished a good smudging should be done (burning sage, and allowing/wafting the smoke to envelope the space with the intent to clear, cleanse and protect the space) White sage is best, and it can be brought on Amazon

Forest garden first draft

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I have sketched the rough direction of the main p0ath. It is as 11deg (need to double-check), so that it’s a gradual slope to walk up. It is approximately 165m. There is also the perimeter path, which is used for maintenance and keeping the Bramble under control. This is about 260m. Landscapers to clear a path, so that can run wheeled brush cutter around it but it will be steep in places. Other job for path landscapers is clearing parking area at top. Also, need to discuss aggregate for paths and parking area.

1. Main path 165m
2. Perimeter path 260m
3. Parking area 18m diameter

Also note the position of the polytunnel and potting shed, both facing due south. Potting shed is 5m x 3m, area for veg growing is about 185m². Is this enough Russell?

Really need to mark out the structures, existing flat areas, parking space and main path. Will do this on next visit.

Mon 5 Feb 2024

Solar panels

• 20 solar panels 104cm x 175cm
• @ 35deg angle, 2-up is 114cm x 175cm, 10 wide is 1750cm. Height is 1.64m.
• In an array, landscape 10 wide
• Need to consider planning - 5m from boundary

Array of solar panels aligned south, 5m from boundary

Surveying

25mm cotton tape for marking out areas for aerial photos

• Back with Matt when the sky is clear, which currently looks like Mon 12 Feb
• Matt will mark up path with red markers
• Jake will mark up with white cotton tape for structures and existing flat areas.

Ideas

• Iron Ivy Tree - wrought iron tree, with Ivy growing up it.
• Green roofs, for the habitat win. They have a book.

Sat 3 Feb 2024

Fencing

• Quote from Kingsley 35m cleft oak post & rail fencing £1,247 inc VAT, del & installation
• Cheaper than Cleftwood or Peak Traditional Fencing

Wed 31 Jan 2024

Witches Hut and paths

• Great conversation with Jamie Miller from Ty Pren about the Witches Garden Shed.
  • A ballpark figure for a well constructed & resilient 6m x 4m garden shed is £15-20k.
  • As the proposed use is for sorting and drying herbs, propagation, tool storage and animal feed, it should be permitted as an agricultural outbuilding. However, please do take professional advice on permitted development, as it does vary from council to council. The key thing is it’s not being used for accommodation.
  • Planning permission: permitted development rights for householders guidance from gov.wales
  • Extending / changing your home - guidance on Carmarthenshire County Council website
• Spoke with Matt Broome from West Wales Trails, he can hopefully be onsite with me on Friday afternoon. He can mark up the proposed paths with flags, which means I can get a much better idea of spacing for planting, using an aerial photo. The key thing is to get the gradients right (I think no more than 1:15). Matt has worked on a job for people with limited mobility, so has the specs to hand. A ballpark figure for landscaping the paths is £4-5k. Best to wait for Matt’s quote after his visit.
• Also spoke with the woodworker Kingsley Hudson, who makes oak roundwood post and rail fencing. I had envisaged fencing around the Witches Garden, to help with demarcation, so that the wood is wilder on the other side. He is getting an estimate for me at the end of the week.

Tue 19 Dec 2023

• Design the garden as a series of walks; different lengths & gradients
• Moon Gardening podcast, ideas for the Night Garden Courtyard
• Concentrate on the entrance to the forest garden, make it enticing

Wed 13 Dec 2023

• Celtic Wild Flowers nursery in Swansea
• Old maps

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