It’s officially autumn, the days are now drawing shorter, colours are changing on the forest and the temperatures have started to reach down to freezing. We have also had some very strong winds resulting in a lot of leaf and debris clearing. Thankfully, no significant damage has been done to our trees on the estate.
In the gardens, we have started to change over the bedding plants from summer to winter/spring plants. I always feel a bit guilty at composting the faded plants as they have provided us with so much joy and colour throughout the summer months.
With the change in season, we have completed the annual ‘top dressing’ on the golf course. This is an important part of the course's maintenance to keep it in optimum playing condition through the autumn and winter months. We have also done the same treatment on the putting green and croquet lawn too.
Our next main task will be splitting logs for the open fires; it feels like only last week the team and I were doing this ahead of winter 2017.
Although the weather may not be as warm, I encourage you to visit Ashdown Park and explore the estate. It’s such a great time of year to see the autumnal colours of our trees.
If you love the outdoors be sure you book your place at our Foraging weekend, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st. You can either stay the whole weekend and enjoy everything that makes autumn great or just get involved in the Mushroom foraging and following Sunday foraging luncheon.
I would like to take a moment to mention our Christmas decoration workshop & afternoon tea, which is always very popular, we are really excited to run this fully booked event once again!
Finally, we have something new and shiny coming to Ashdown Park! If you’ve been here recently you may have spotted some activity on the lawn in front of the hotel, we have a very exciting new talking point coming…full story next month.
Wildlife at the Park
With the evenings drawing in and the cooling days we start to see more of the wild deer grazing on grassy areas close to the hotel. It’s reassuring to see this years fawn getting a bit more independent and braver ahead of winter.
It’s also been wonderful to see fresh soil on most mornings around a badger set, which indicates it is being actively used. This set is well away from any of our buildings so causes no problems.
On my travels around the estate I have spotted A LOT of wild mushrooms, mainly in the woods but also some field mushrooms in our top paddocks (perfect ahead of the foraging weekend later this month!)
Garden Tips for October
1. If dry keep the grass cut, raise the height of cut.
2. Cut back any herbaceous plants and clean up borders
3. Plant up containers with winter/spring bedding plants and add spring bulbs.
4. Get ready for the leaf fall, make or buy a composter
5. Trim up hedges and topiary.
Happy Gardening
Kevin Sweet