It’s almost impossible to realise that this time a year ago forest fires were rampant. Without any rain over the winter months the land was tinder dry and most days palls of smoke rose up over the hills, somewhere something was burning. My gardening diary for the month has a list of jobs to do, last year this included watering the veg patch!

Today yet another day with rain forecast, temperatures remain quite low at night and it all feels damp. Nevertheless, the polytunnel is slowly filling up with seedlings. Good use is being made of toilet rolls, yoghurt pots, crème fraîche tubs, meat trays and, I’m pleased to discover, the clear plastic pão de chocolate boxes make perfect mini propagators (we’ll have to buy more of those).

I’m also pleased to say that the polytunnel is still standing. We’ve had incredible winds, one morning the back had flown off but, newly patched, it’s coping with the recent gusts. Whether or not the latest structure in the veg patch will last long is another thing. Having cut down the willow and made a few baskets I was left with some very large, long poles. It’s amazing how much grows in a year. So, always willing to try something new, I’ve made a kind of tunnel come bean support:

The idea is that the beans grow up and over and are much easier to pick than the wigwam efforts of previous years. I may make a smaller one for the cucumbers. Meanwhile one of our chickens became very lethargic, not wanting to eat, drink or move around much. As a precaution she was separated from the other two but we soon realised that my goodwill to provide lots of grass cuttings from Richard’s strimming was the cause. Doses of Eno, activia mashed with powdered pellets and the world’s longest grass poo later (Richard pulled it out!) she was much better.

At least someone is still enjoying the wet weather.