Bio diversity - harmony with nature

The project is well under way.   We have new organically grown apple, cherry, damson and plum trees planted.  We have also planted some windbreak trees and a feature liquid amber.  See below for photographs of our friends and neighbours helping.

Next we are planning a forest garden, a native woodland, ponds and natural beekeeping.  Community vegetable planting has begun - well Dick, our neighbour, has put some spuds in!

For the native woodland we are thinking commercially while also being in tune with nature, we hope.  We have in mind to grow hazel to create hurdles.  Some other wood could be harvested for firewood.  Other, slower growing wood, would be a long term investment, realised at a much later date.  We are looking at the following species:

Willow, alder, hazel, oak, ash, mountain ash, sweet chestnut, field maple, hornbeam, small leafed lime and for shrubs along the edge, dogwood, spindle, gelder rose, wild privet and dog rose.  We have already planted a walnut and sweet chestnuts.

Here we are planting.  Peter Salmon, an organic gardener is leading the orchard planting.  If you need an organic gardener in North Dorset, we are happy to refer Peter to you.