Holidays on hold due to demands of gardening

July is such a busy month in the garden, caring for existing plants and those we've recently introduced.

- BY TOM PATTINSON

They're coming up to the peak of their growth cycle. So many demands for maintenance arise that any thoughts of holidays are on hold!

Hedges of beech, hawthorn, privet and mixed, mark the borders of this quarter acre site, and apart from their invaluable attraction of wildlife they bring a wonderful chi-rich presence.

However, they are capable of rampant growth and need an annual trim which generally comes in June, but this year nesting was delayed, and some birds raised a second brood, causing us to defer until last week.