Is it wrong to be thinking about chocolate when you’re out for a walk? The reason I’m saying this is that last night we visited our trees that were planted a few years ago – if you have followed us for a while then you may remember them; we planted hazel trees, oak trees, holly trees, sweet chestnuts and many more. In fact, we planted a few thousand trees and dug a pond and it’s become rather a wildlife haven too. I heard my first skylark there and I’ve shared a few photos of the trees and pond over the years, and how it has developed. Tonight, however, on our visit I noticed a development, much to my delight! The hazel trees are starting to produce fruit, well cobnuts to be precise. I’ve looked it up and cobnuts are commercial hazelnuts, but ones that are grown to be eaten before they...

Although we are growing thousands of hazel trees in our new woodland eco project, as well as oak, holly, rowan, beech and many more trees it was the hazel trees we were originally determined to plant. Whilst I appreciate that tree growing isn’t a short term hobby and many of the trees we have planted will take more than our lifetimes to look like the forests I had romantically envisaged before planting, I appreciate that some of our trees are looking rather more interesting these days rather than just a few leaves on a stalk inside the protective biodegradable tubing . This clear tubing is used to protect and nurture the baby trees from the elements, and hopefully speed up their growth.Chris planted some hazel trees in some spare rough ground near our house many years ago but these were eaten by deer and died sadly but he had also planted...

I swear we haven’t gone nuts! Gardening really does take some patience – the same can be said for farming – however, growing trees does seem to be a slow experience! It was lovely to take the two dogs down with Robyn to see their progress, not only has Walter expanded a lot since the two of us visited that plot, but the trees are really looking healthy as can be. I really am enjoying watching the project progress, a few years ago it was just an idea, then it was a query, and now they’re verging on 2ft tall! It’s so lovely to feel as if Chris and I are setting up this woodland that can be enjoyed not only by the wildlife of the future, but also people of the future! Our own little biosphere continues to grow in all manners, Robyn and the dogs played in the, now...