Your local wildlife trust may be able to help with ideas on ways to protect and improve the habitats you have, maybe even do a survey so you know what creatures to look out for and are aware of anything special.
Brilliant idea @Buttercupdays I was thinking of talking to the woodland trust regarding the trees looking around I don't think the wood is that old unfortunately no ancient oaks etc. I also have a old mill pond (found out only today it was a mill pond reading the old deeds) it's a bit overgrow with trees. I would like clean it out and remove some of the tree's to open the area up a little at some point.
One thing you could do very soon is to establish an area for snowdrops ... the growers are taking orders now for delivery soon of snowdrops ‘in the green’ which is the best way to establish a naturalised area.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Dovefromabove Are they ok in dappled shade? I was thinking maybe I could plant them on the edge and slightly into the wood maybe.
Obviously I don't know what may be there in the way of native wild flowers yet I hope blue bells I love a blue bell wood in spring.
I was talking to some friends at lunch and mentioned I might like to have a small infinity swimming pool or hot tub at the edge of the new terrace, they said why not turn the pond into natural swimming pool I have heard of these anyone have any experience ??
What a fabulous, fabulous opportunity Philomena, although I am sorry for your loss. You mentioned playing in the house and garden as a child so I hope you have some happy memories of your aunt. I cannot add to the wealth of good advice you have already received on this forum but one thing does occur to me is that I think you should be a bit careful how much personal information you put online for security reasons, especially if the house is going to be empty at times and later with the builders in. Just a thought.
I lived in Sussex as a child and the wood where we played was mainly coppiced hazel. It was full of wood anemones and then bluebells in the spring. As kids we got very upset when we saw the men cutting down 'our' trees, as we didn't understand that it was a way to keep them renewed and prevent them shading out all the other plants. Maybe a possibility for your wood....
@Lizzie27 I do remember going to see my aunt when I was young a few times but she became a real recluse and would see no one for many years, so it was all a bit of a surprise when I inherited. As for security I have temporarily had an alarm and CCTV fitted and the builders start work in the next week or so and are going to have alarmed security fencing around the outside and the CCTV will be temporarily moved to cover there cabins / tool stores so I hope we wont have any problems you just have to do your best and have good insurance
@Buttercupdays wonderful memories There is some hazel here my tenant cuts his bean sticks from them each year so he tells me but they have not been properly coppicedfor years another reason I need to talk to woodland trust and get advice.
This is all going to take a huge amount of your attention away from your degree .... 💡 unless you’re doing an environmental or land management course ... so don’t get too carried away 😉 ... the land will still be there when you graduate.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Dovefromabove I'm in the last few months I hope of my law degree, so it's a welcome distraction at weekends from all the books and writing.
Having talked on here I now realise I was being a bit hasty and have decided to leave the garden for a year to see what appears.
The hard landscaping close to the house will go ahead as that is part of the building contract but again the borders between the paths close to the house can wait to be filled.
I will just look for ideas and advice for now and maybe start planting these borders in the autumn / spring next year?
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I also have a old mill pond (found out only today it was a mill pond reading the old deeds) it's a bit overgrow with trees.
I would like clean it out and remove some of the tree's to open the area up a little at some point.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Obviously I don't know what may be there in the way of native wild flowers yet I hope blue bells I love a blue bell wood in spring.
I was talking to some friends at lunch and mentioned I might like to have a small infinity swimming pool or hot tub at the edge of the new terrace, they said why not turn the pond into natural swimming pool I have heard of these anyone have any experience ??
As for security I have temporarily had an alarm and CCTV fitted and the builders start work in the next week or so and are going to have alarmed security fencing around the outside and the CCTV will be temporarily moved to cover there cabins / tool stores so I hope we wont have any problems you just have to do your best and have good insurance
@Buttercupdays wonderful memories
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
Having talked on here I now realise I was being a bit hasty and have decided to leave the garden for a year to see what appears.
The hard landscaping close to the house will go ahead as that is part of the building contract but again the borders between the paths close to the house can wait to be filled.
I will just look for ideas and advice for now and maybe start planting these borders in the autumn / spring next year?