Umm, fresh strawberries..

Yes, the fleece covering appears to have worked at keeping the birds at bay and we have tasted the first fresh strawberries of the season – lovely..

Paid a visit to the allotment today (my day off!) and caught up with a number of routine tasks, such as weeding and strimming long grass…. Also managed to light a fire to get rid of some old dry material that’s been hanging around too long. I’m always conscious of when I light fires and try to avoid lighting them when there are other allotment holders around. It can be very unpleasant being down wind of another plot holder’s fire.

Overall, due to lack of water the vegetables are growing slowly this year. I just haven’t the time to keeping visiting and watering everything. Hopefully the recent showers will help.

Lynne and I spent a lovely afternoon yesterday visiting gardens in the village of Ashley near Tetbury; a rare open gardens event in aid of charity and the local church. The gardens were superb, with some very inspiring planting combinations and vistas and gave me some food for thought, especially with regard to replacing our old, dying hebe hedge.

With some late donations appearing in support of my local bike ride, the total raised to date for the British Heart Foundation stands at £206.79.