Kevin Sweet's December Gardening Blog

December

The Christmas feeling is coming to Ashdown Park. The trees are going up and the poinsettias are in place. Christmas at Ashdown Park really is a magical time of the year. All the public areas are decorated including the function rooms. The outside lights have been put up onto the trees and topiary. During the last weeks of November we had our annual Christmas table decoration workshops, both days were very well attended and everyone left with a Christmas wooden trug and a centre candle display after their afternoon tea. It’s been such a wet autumn this year and it has been difficult to get on to the ground but we have made good use of the time by carrying out work to the woodlands and roadways.

A New Face

I would like to introduce you to Tim Lower who is my assistant; Tim has been with us for over a year and helps me with the day to day running of the estate and overseeing ongoing and future projects. Hello everybody. My name is Tim Lower and I'm the Assistant Head Gardener here at Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club. I’ve been here for about 18 months and am thoroughly enjoying myself. I previously worked at Herstmonceux Castle in a similar positon for 13 years. I enjoy football (Brighton!!), golf, gardening, reading and listening to music. I’m currently completing the RHS principals of horticulture. I really like propagating plants, collecting and growing seeds, mainly Poppies; much to the team’s amusement...there were only 5000 of them. Now, enough of me and back to the reason you're here!

Garden Tips

1. Prune apple and pear trees to improve fruiting

2. Cut evergreen foliage for indoor festive decoration

3. Plant trees and shrubs if the ground conditions allow

4. Make sure that your plants that're outside and in containers are not standing in water

5. Insure tender garden plants are protected against frost, cover with garden fleece

A very happy and peaceful Christmas from all of us at Ashdown Park

Kevin Sweet