Sarah Rees

Yes, it’s all a bit of a mess out there!…. The overturned wheel barrow is full of sludge, the fallen leaves are everywhere and I’m going to resist the urge to do anything about it!… The leaves are providing much needed ground protection and nutrients as they break down. The heathers and hebe are still providing colour and texture by the old table. #gardenrestorationblog

I’m looking forward to seeing the bluebells in bloom. Spring is definitely around the corner. These are Spanish bluebells that were here in the garden when we arrived. The Spanish bluebell is common in garden centres and is a robust, chunky bluebell popular as a garden plant in the UK. However, they are causing an ecological issue in areas where British Native Bluebells thrive in the wild. For more information about the implications of the Spanish bluebell on the future

These amazing flowers have withstood the cold of winter and are still blooming. They have continued to provide much needed nectar for insects – and colour for me! Apparently when the flowers have died back they begin to resemble little human skulls on the stalks! I'll investigate with my camera again in a month or so... #gardenrestorationblog #flowers

Found a lovely big cellar beetle today. On closer inspection I noticed he was actually missing a bit of one of his left legs…. Didn’t stop him from scuttling off into the undergrowth. #gardenrestorationblog #beetle

These have actually been giving the bulbs below a nice bit of protection from the night frosts and now the bluebells are finally beginning to show through… #gardenrestorationblog #newgrowth

Since throwing out a load of breadcrumbs, the wood pigeons have told their friends. The garden has been full of these big chunky birds... and the cats have been glued to the windows indoors! Surprisingly this noisy magpie that usually bullies the food off the other birds gave up the squabble and flew off - leaving the garden free for even more wood pigeons to arrive for the feast. #gardenrestorationblog

The ground has been solid and the birds haven’t had a great deal of food around. After throwing a few handfuls of breadcrumbs outside, the birds were encouraged within minutes. (I made sure the cats were securely indoors!) Wood pigeons and Magpies strutted their stuff along the path, squabbling over chunks of bread. #gardenrestorationblog

Winter has finally arrived. #gardenrestorationblog

Just one of many frosty fern fronds this morning – and so very pretty…. #gardenrestorationblog

A frosty hebe this morning. #gardenrestorationblog