Although the trees looked beautiful with their blossom, these first few years it is wise to pluck the blossom off thus allowing the tree to divert its energy to growth. It takes a lot of effort for a tree to bear fruit and so we walked round to each tree
One of the benefits of coppicing an old hedge ready for planting a new hedge is the huge amount of wood you are left with! Not only did the coppiced trunks spring forth with new life, but there were brash piles a-plenty along with several firewood piles laid out for
Spring seemed to arrive suddenly this week! We wandered around outside slightly bewildered by the launch of the new season. T-shirts on and the feeling of the sun on our skin again, we were delighted to watch everything dry out underfoot after what has been a very wet winter. Life
January 2026 Hurrah for more tree planting at Rhuddin! This year, the start of a boundary hedge that will one day be a haven for wildlife as well as a shelter for the fruit trees! A BIG thank you to STUMP UP for TREES - their aim is to plant
Not long after a little festive break in North Wales, we were back and starting work on the old hedges. Chain saw and loppers in hand, wrapped up in woolly hats and thermals, it felt great to be back outside working on the land. That was the day it started
It has been a while since I last wrote a chapter for Rhuddin! This late autumn and over the winter, we have been facing a fair few challenges. So whenever the opportunity has presented itself, we have embraced hibernating : relaxing in the sauna, curling up by the woodburner and making
After a dark clear night jewelled with stunning stars, we saw the first frost of the season up here, most prominent on the north facing land across the cwm. And we couldn’t have asked for more perfect conditions for the day’s activities. Blessed with a brilliant blue sky,
August 2025 The last day of August rolls in and signs of the autumn are surely approaching up here on the Beacons. The dark nights are cooler now and on clear nights are displaying a dazzling sky full of stars and a bright Milky Way. Berries are out and some
August 2025 Now the calendar has just rolled into August, I find myself with my feet up in the back of the truck, a much needed Friday afternoon rest after moving house. Time for a little summer update for anyone checking in with us here… Around the summer solstice, we
19 May 2025 The fruit trees have been busy pushing their roots down in search for cool water (its been weeks of sunshine here now!) It seems as though they’ve taken the move in their stride and are settling in to their new life at Rhuddin. Some younglings blossomed
April 2025 The season of spring is truly established now. Gorgeous green buds and shoots burst out with new energy. Bright primrose petals and carpets of wild garlic line the winding lanes. Tendrils of honeysuckle weave through the hedges and zingy green leaves unfold boldly from the branches. During these
🙏 🌎 🌞 🌱 March 2025 I ambled over to the newly planted native trees to see how they were getting on. How lovely then to see little green leaves appearing and other younglings earnestly holding up burgeoning colourful buds to the clear March sky. The meadow felt super dry underfoot, it has been