Our first experience of opening the garden in aid of charity under the National Gardens Scheme was a great success we had about 100 visitors. The sun shone and although it was a bit chilly everyone was positive and cheerful. A local nuresery Withleigh Nurseries generously donated lots of plants to sell  – many thanks to them and whats more they have promised to do it again on Wednesday 2 June our next NGS day.

The meadow garden is beginning to take shape but deer are being a pest and have nibbled the bark off three Magnolias….. we have yet to plant up the pond margins but I hope to do that before 2 June!

Away from the garden as usual there is lots of maintenance going on – painting and repairing of windows. The 2 tall  library windows alone took 3 weeks to do – they look fantastic now but maybe only a few of us will notice. You have to take the long view though living in an old house and think of the future…..! I wonder if George Sydenham Fursdon was thrilled when he first had the Library added to the house – in 1815?

The holiday accommodation has also had lots of painting and refurbishment. By popular request the Park Wing kitchen now has a massive fridge – we nearly couldn’t get it upstairs and round the corners….but it’s in  situ and already for keeping those drinks cool in the hot summer we all hope for!