The secret garden

To be honest I wouldn`t bother for now. Leave it as it is BUT ask your campers their opinion. I would say fresh water and toilet facilities would be more important. Also, maybe, a small camp shop.

 

You're right, willow is not evergreen, but will that really be a problem? How much recreational use will the land get in winter?

There are also two sides to a coin. While evergreens stay full all year round, they also cast shade all year round. Deciduous shrubs give the spring flowers a chance, by letting the limited winter sunshine through where evergreens wouldn't.

Lets not forget also that deciduous stuff is where nature gets much of its seasonal variation from. Evergreen may look nice, but apart from any berries, they tend to look pretty much the same all the time.

Dai made a good point about toilet facilities. How eco are your plans? And perhaps more importantly how eco are your campers? I ask this because you could consider solving two problems at once. Nice greenery, and a toilet, with an eco bog

Steward Community Woodland - How to build a treebog
Tree bog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

thanks for the replies guys.

Have been away in Malawi doing some work, now back 100% for creating this campsite

An update:

We have created a willow fedge along some one the hedge by the large ash tree
We will be filling any further large gaps with willow fedges (we have several established goat willow trees on the farm)
We have purchased 15 bareroot 5-6ft dwarf fruit trees, waiting for them to arrive
We have (today) purchased some wild privet and beech to provide a shield from the neighboring farm sheds etc
Plus some wild roses and honeysuckle as climbers
Planning permission is still in the pipeline!
Portable eco toilet and shower block currently being made!

Would love any advice on transplanting young trees like hazel, ash, holly, gorse from our farm and putting it in this site- which of these are hardy enough to cope with it?

Also, would love to plant reliable flowers and shrubs to add colour etc, what would you recommend on that front

 

any thoughts on the best flowers to plant this week?

Was thinking pansies, primroses, forget me nots and wild strawberries

Suggestions very welcome, please...

 

Hi

I would love some advice:

I purchased mail order fruit trees, these-
http://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductID=2183

for £30 on groupon!

However they have arrived and are rather scrawny!

I have another area that I can plant these. But think I may be best to plant more established 2-3yr old fruit trees at the front of the campsite(so it doesnt look so new ie with stakes etc everywhere and baby baby trees)

My concern is that I do not want huge trees, but just want them to look a bit more mature. I've also heard that if 3 years old that they are less likely to survive when re-homed...is that right?

I would love some advice as to what 'rootstock' I need, what is the difference between MM106 and MM109?

Also, what combinations of fruiting tree types would you recommend to go together in terms of those that are self fertile and cross pollinating etc

Many thanks for any feedback

Joe

 

What about Rhododendron. Obviously avoid the dwarf varieties
There are Spring and Summer flowering varieties and many of them are Evergreen, giving year round lush foliage.
Over time they can grow quite large, but can be controlled.