Summer Storms

It’s been a funny summer don’t you think? In fact the weather this whole year has been less than enjoyable. A lot of rain, then some more rain and a bit more rain, we have had a few brief spells of sun, but not what you would call a summer. Still, nature is always resilient and things have been growing good, despite the miserable grey days.

We’ve been subject to a number of summer storms. The last one just this morning, thunder and lightning and a deluge of rain. Sometimes I think the grey makes you appreciate the brighter days all the more, but I’m hopeful next year will be better and seasons will return in a more edited way.

Willow Harvest

We have been busy with the willow this year. It needed to be harvested. It took four long days to get through it, but it’s all gone now. A lorry load or two went to Kendal Calling. I’m not sure what they used it for, but it’s good to know that it was used locally. The willow is a short rotation crop. It should be harvested every 3 years. It can be used for many things, including biomass. There are a growing number of farmers who are planting willow. It’s good for the environment as it is second only to oak woodland in its biodiversity. It’s also good for sheep. Once the willow has been growing for a year you can put sheep in to the fields. They eat the grass and the willow is antiseptic so it’s good for their overall health. A symbiosis of sorts.

The willow crop and the sheep are gone now; those fields are empty. But other things change very little. The landscape, including Little Mell Fell, doesn’t look much different from when I was little. Its context, the changing weather is a state of constant flux, but its shape on the horizon remains as steadfast as ever.

New Additions

it’s been a busy summer season with lots of new guests and plenty of returning ones too. We opened the Gardeners Bothy and the Gardeners Retreat earlier this year and they have proved to be very popular. One guest who has already been to the Bothy twice, called it paradise! They have a lovely dog called Poppy who comes with them to enjoy the garden.

I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to summer yet, there’s still the second flush of roses to come and perhaps one or two more days of blue skies above the pele tower roof. But it’s almost time to start to look ahead to the last part of 2024. I am certainly looking forward to the Autumn season and all the changes that has to offer.

Bye for now.😊