Nuts about Hazels

Although we are growing thousands of hazel trees in our new woodland eco project, as well as oak, holly, rowan, beech and many more trees it was the hazel trees we were originally determined to plant. Whilst I appreciate that tree growing isn’t a short term hobby and many of the trees we have planted will take more than our lifetimes to look like the forests I had romantically envisaged before planting, I appreciate that some of our trees are looking rather more interesting these days rather than just a few leaves on a stalk inside the protective biodegradable tubing . This clear tubing is used to protect and nurture the baby trees from the elements, and hopefully speed up their growth.
Chris planted some hazel trees in some spare rough ground near our house many years ago but these were eaten by deer and died sadly but he had also planted some trees in another spot and we walked past these on our way to visit the pumpkin patch and the new woodland and pond last night. Well these trees have surpassed themselves this year and are looking rather impressive with their lovely hazelnuts, as pictured, and hopefully if all goes well with the Autumn weather, we will have a small crop of hazelnuts for our resident red squirrels throughout the Winter. Sadly, I don’t think there will be enough for us to be able to sell any in our shop but who knows how well the harvest will go and if the trees are anything to go by we will at least have something to show for that experimental planting all those years ago.
Our resident red squirrel hasn’t posed for any more photos for me, but Chris has seen it climbing up a tree in the garden so at least he/she is around and hopefully fit and healthy. The bird feeders have been busy again this week visited by blue tits, sparrows, a black cap as well as Mr Woodpecker, although getting a picture of him is proving to be the bane of my life,( note to self, I need a video camera fixed on my bird feeders) and I have also seen a hedgehog visiting the shallow water tray I have in the undergrowth near the bird feeder where our resident pheasants visit every evening.
I hope you all have a lovely August and please wish us luck with our Harvest, the way 2020 has gone we will probably have snow!Although we are harvesting we are still making all of our bird foods which are available in our shop and on our website too so please don't panic about supplies.

www.laverockhallfarm.co.uk