My plan was when I got back from my holiday I would finish taking down the remaining trees which would have blocked out more light ( I have left any dead ones to rot down naturally) and then get started on the new butterfly garden.

I know its going to take years to mature but I have to start somewhere, So last week I ordered 25 Rhamnus frangula (Alder Buckthorn) which I  know to be the food plant of the Brimstone butterfly, each year or when I have the money, I can add new native plants and shrubs in certain areas and try and grow them on for the Butterflies and insects, if they survive great if not try something else, the wood has never been sprayed with any chemicals and is classed as PAWS,  plantation on ancient woodland, so with it never seeing the sun for years there could be anything in the seed bank ready to pop up. ( Any botanist out there please feel free and come for a walk around and see what you can find, I,ll make the tea)
I do have a splendid show of Bluebells which is amazing in April and May.
I would also like to say a big thank you to Dawne Davis from the Horsham camera club who was redoing her garden borders at home and gave me bags of native perennials she was about to throw out in the compost, just like to say here that I am not proud and if anybody has any plants/trees going spare please think of me before throwing them in the compost, I can collect if local.

If you have read my site from the start you will know I have already planted Dogwood, Spindle, Elderberry, Blackthorn, Hawthorne, Guelder rose,Field maple, Wayfarer tree, and many more but only in small numbers and mostly in the top south east corner, but as time goes on I will coppice more chestnut ( 80% of the wood is chestnut ) and replant with different varieties.

Here is a selection from what I have planted, bear in mind these are 2 year old plants but only over a pound each but should grow into nice butterfly filled bushes.

This is how they will hopefully look in years to come with plenty of berries for the birds too.

ALDER BUCKTHORN

Oh and one last think does anyone know how I can take cutting from buddleia as these I know are non native but excellent for a dozen species of butterfly and easily manageable to prune back.

Any comments welcome

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Well that’s it for now and don’t forget I am still running the bird photography lessons

and hide rental for any level of experience.