Volunteer view: Jane’s notebook

This month we introduce a new blog: ‘Volunteer View’, where volunteers share some of their observations and experiences of volunteering at Furzey Gardens.

Jane Pownall, one of our welcome hosts, shares notes from volunteering during a cold, but sunny day in February, followed by more recent notes from March.

Jane joined the volunteering team in 2022, but is well known to Furzey Gardens having previously written articles and worked with the Furzey Gardens team in her previous role as Head of the Minstead Study Centre. Jane enjoys volunteering as a Welcome Host as it often gives her the opportunity to observe the nature and wildlife around her.

February 2023 – A sunny 5 degrees

There are some essential items of equipment I like to pack in the rucksack before jumping on my bicycle to go volunteering at Furzey Gardens; a pair of binoculars, camera, my merlin bird app and a notebook.

Between greeting visitors to the garden and chatting to the gardening team, there is plenty of opportunity to immerse myself in the impressive range of wildlife and admire the wonderful plants.

It is late February, the garden is waking up and the spring bulbs are in full bloom. Crocuses and daffodils carpet the lawns. The early camellias and azaleas add some welcome accents of colour.

For more information about joining the Furzey Welcome Team please get in touch! Volunteers@MinsteadTrust.org.uk

Throughout the winter months the gardening team have been busy mulching the flower beds with woodchips to improve soil structure, provide nutrition and reduce water loss. Fallen leaves are collected and added to the leaf bins which generate a huge amount of useful leaf litter to use throughout the garden in years to come.

Trees and shrubs have been pruned to take out diseased and dead wood, to promote new, healthy growth in the spring. Large trees have had their crowns reduced to make them safe from falling limbs.

The cottage garden beds have been covered with a membrane to suppress weeds and help warm up the soil in readiness for planting.

A robin keeps me company singing out loud to advertise its territory to fellow robins. A buzzard gradually wheels upward on the meagre winter thermals. A lone goshawk flies overhead.

Meanwhile people with learning disabilities and garden volunteers are busy repotting ferns in the nursery into a homemade mixture of coir and compost, adhering closely to their peat free principles.

Few folk visit the garden at this time of year but those that do are treated to a tranquil meander around the paths with plenty of specimen plants to admire.

Birds spotted;

Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Great tit, Blue tit, Buzzard, Goshawk, Crow, Jay.

March 2023 – Birds, Beasts and Bugs

16 March 2023

A slow trickle of visitors this morning as the sun breaks through the cloud.

The daffodils are a sight to behold. A clarion call that spring is on its way.

The birds are singing their hearts out announcing their territory and aiming to attract a mate.

The seed heads in the beds, left for winter forage look quite magnificent in the sunshine. The silvered magnolia buds look fit to burst and the buttercup witch hazel, is a blaze of yellow flowers, providing some early nectar and pollen for the honeybees.

The tiny “horsehead daffodils” tremble in the breeze and many of the azaleas are cloaked in beautiful lichens which are a sure indication of unpolluted air.

The garden volunteers are busy tidying up the bamboo which has a tendency to spread. The garden team, including people with learning disabilities are lifting some specimen plants in readiness for the Furzey exhibit at the BBC Gardeners World Spring Show, Beaulieu on 28^th to  30^th April. They will be transplanted into the nursery to be coaxed along into perfect condition for the event.

Tim, one of the gardeners, has been on a rescue mission saving the newly laid frogspawn from the heavy frost last night. The clumps were carefully removed and taken to a warmer spot for the night before being returned to the pond in buckets this morning.

Childrens’ voices filter up from the playground. There is no nicer sound than children enjoying their outdoor play. I sometimes close my eyes and drink in the gentle sounds, it’s good to feel a sense of stillness during a busy day. Furzey gardens are such a peaceful sanctuary.

Birds spotted;

Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Great tit, Blue tit, Buzzard, Rook, Crow, wood pigeon, Jay.