Lots has happened, both good and bad, as evidenced by the strange fruit harvest of dirty nappies and other waste on the hawthorn and major dumping by the side of Man Moel road, mercifully cleared by the council only to be dumped on again. It’s a never-ending battle. We had a big result litterpick in May, but not so much last Sunday the 16th, because the weather was so bad.

The orchard and the wildflowers are now starting to come on, which is great. We have vipers bugloss, ox-eye daisies, yellow rattle, vetches, and we have cherries, damsons, apples, and possibly a plum fruiting. We have small yields at the moment and we may need to take most of the fruit off to help the young trees. They are all heritage varieties, such as Cariad cherry, Denbigh plum, and lots of different apples such as Cox Cymraeg, Rhyl Beauty, and Bardsey Island and that’s Lucy in the long grass in the orchard, due for a cut soon.

The nut grove has survived without too many sorry-looking specimens. Most are now in leaf, with the exception of one that appears to be lifeless, but we will leave it as trees are funny things and can be very tenacious, and they may just be late developers. Photos to follow in the next blog.

We have lots of other things going on as well. Please message or email Susy if you have availability and are interested in volunteering with us at info@sirhowyhillwoodlands.co.uk.