Driest June on Record. Impacts upon our Orchard spaces

​June’s the driest ever recorded in England (since 1883). The pond at Puttenham started to dry, with Hampton Estate, coming to the rescue by the end of the month. Despite this spell the trees at Puttenham seem to be surviving and establishing, with some ready for new slim-line fencing.

​Competition from other plants can be more harmful than lack of water, with the 8 saplings at Swan Barn potting-on beds suffering - spot the potted saplings below, before the strim commenced... This weather has been good for wasps with a huge wasp nest, making our Orchard House ‘Out of Action’!