2020-2021 Covid sets us back

 2021, looking towards the seating area.

 

 Following the upbeat declarations in the 2019 blog entry about a breakthrough, Covid 19 intervened and stopped everything. I was locked down in France from March 2020 and was unable to visit at all until September 2021. By then the nettles had resumed control, the paths were overgrown, and a huge buddleia had grown on the edge of the fountain, threatening the structure itself. At first sight it appeared that all was lost, but I knew that the weed-resistant coverings were still in place, and that it should be possible to recover lost ground.

In many ways the project had slipped back three years

but in the course of two visits in September and 

The undergrowth as it was in sept 2021

  The same area after clearing in November 2021

November 2021 the main paths were again cleared, the buddleia cut down (though the roots remain a danger) and areas which had been covered in black plastic were levelled, covered in bark chippings and prepared for planting next year.

One very positive development has been that the new owners of houses in the "Walled Garden" development have been reading this blog and are taking an interest in getting involved in the project. They include an archaeologist and a garden historian so it would be wonderful to get some real expertise to help bring the area back to something close to its former glory. I have again cleared a path which leads from the fountain to the bridge over the lake (starting from the 4th wellingtonia sapling from the bridge) which will make access easier for walled garden residents.

It will be evident to those who have read this blog that I am not easily disheartened and I will do my utmost to hold a drinks party around the fountain next summer as long as Covid does not intervene once more. Meanwhile if you visit the area please bring a pair of gloves with you and remove any weeds which reappear on the main paths.