December '09 - March '10

Here we are at the end of March with my first writings for the year.

Having been my first Winter at Lower Coombe Royal it has been interesting to see how the estate changes over the seasons. It has been one of the coldest winters we have had in 30 years with the estate seeing quite a substantial covering of snow early on in January providing us with a very picturesque scene for a couple of days. Although the vast majority of the estate has been in dormancy for the last few months, we have been busy with maintenance and additions such as a newly planted mixed deciduous hedge along one side of the paddock which will in time provide a wonderful habitat and feeding ground for birds and insects. The ponds have been cleaned out and repairs made to a couple of the water falls, and have now attracted a number of Mallard ducks and a pair of Moorhens, so fingers crossed for ducklings and chicks this spring.

February saw a fantastic display of snow drops in the orchard which have now been replaced with an abundant show of daffodils signalling that spring really is on the way. The Camellias are starting to come into their own now giving us some much awaited early colour, and couple of Magnolias are starting to show signs of bursting into life. After such a cold winter it really is wonderful to see everything beginning to come into leaf again.
Richard Giles
Estate Manager