The Heart of England Forest (former the Forest of Dennis)

The Heart of England Forest Project is a partnership initiative between Warwickshire landowner, Felix Dennis (who died recently), and The Heart of England Forest Ltd., a registered charity.

The aim of the partnership is to plant and preserve a large native broadleaf forest in the heart of England.

Their avowed aim is to create a large forest that is contiguous. One that is joined up, not only for the benefit of those who will walk in it, work in it and enjoy it, but to provide corridors for native wildlife of every sort. 

This was Felix Dennis’s original vision, one that has been described as ‘nigh on impossible’ by some experts.

With patience, with sufficient will, with the right funding and by taking a long view, we are convinced it can be done, and done right here in the heart of England.

Who is Felix Dennis?

In 1995 he planted his first small wood near Dorsington, Warwickshire. Subsequently, he conceived the idea of establishing a large native forest and founded The Forest of Dennis Ltd., a registered charity, to fulfill his mission. 

The charity changed its name to The Heart of England Forest Ltd. in 2011.  

Felix pledged to leave 80% of his estimated £400million fortune to the Heart of England Forest.

http://www.felixdennis.com/
http://www.felixdennis.com/content/wp-content/files_mf/fd_times_30_9_12_2.pdf
http://www.heartofenglandforest.com/
http://www.felixdennis.com/featured/the-heart-of-england-forest/
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/20/felix-dennis-million-trees

A few tips for growing great roses

We had trouble growing roses in our last garden, probably due to the type of soil, so didn't particularly try.  


But now I would like to perhaps have a rose bed somewhere in the garden.  I'd love not just roses with bare earth, so it would be nice to also have some sort of under planting - see note below re companion planting.

Here are a few tips:

• Always buy strong, well-grown plants in big pots from a reputable nursery.
• Make sure your plants are properly labelled so you can prune accordingly.
• Plant in a properly prepared site, well dug, with plenty of compost.
• Plant deep, covering the stock union.
• Plant climbers at least 18" from the wall.
• Water newly planted roses during dry spells - rain water doesn't reach their roots.
• Fee din spring and after the first flush of flowers.
• Intersperse roses in the border with companion plants to avoid disease, the right plants can enhance growth and protect from harm (see link below).
• Give roses plenty of space to allow for good air flow.
• Deadhead regularly.
• Apply a handful of poultry manure at the beginning of April, end of May and again in September.
• A suggestion for black spot is Armillatox soap wash (see: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/10959413/Growing-roses-expert-Rosebie-Morton-shares-her-top-tips.html).

Companion planting

Members of the allium family (onions) deter aphids and other pests by their strong scent. Also parsley, thyme and scented geraniums, lavender, yarrow (attracts ladybirds, who eat aphids) and marigolds (encourage strong plant growth).  For companion plants see: http://gardening.about.com/od/rose1/a/Rose_Companions.htm and http://homeguides.sfgate.com/companion-plants-really-keep-aphids-away-roses-31294.html

Rose-growing courses

• For a range of morning and whole day courses during summer and early autumn, see rosebiemorton.com 
• For courses with Peter Beales and David Austin, see classroses.co.uk and davidaustinroses.co.uk.

Surprising uses for banana peel

A banana is one of the original fast foods, they even come in their own wrapping.  But once we've eaten that banana then what to do with the skins, apart from throwing them into the bin?

My father used to have a banana every day with his breakfast and always spread the banana peel around his roses, saying that this was good for them.  Something to do with the potassium ensuring bigger blooms apparently (see: http://gardening.knoji.com/potassium-roses-bigger-blooms-with-banana-peels/).  

And there are a few more uses for unwanted banana peel: insect bites, bruises, teeth whitening, aphid deterrent and even helps with wrinkles (see: 
http://www.wisebread.com/curing-warts-removing-splinters-and-19-other-bizarre-uses-for-banana-peels)

I bought a 3 kg bag of fusilli today - well it was half price, so am now looking for suitable recipes.  Here are a few we've now tried and rather like:

15th July: 
Pasta Carbonara
(serves 2)

200 g Fusilli
1 grated clove of Garlic
chopped Pancetta
olive oil
a splosh of White Wine
2 Eggs
60 ml Creme Fraiche
75 g grated Cheddar Cheese
25 g grated Parmesan
a pinch Nutmeg

1. Cook the fusilli in a large pan of boiling water.
2. Gently fry the garlic and pancetta in the oil.
3. Add the wine and continue cooking.
4. In a bowl mix together eggs, creme fraiche, cheeses and the nutmeg
5. Drain the pasta and add to the pan
6. Pour over the egg and cheese mixture cook for a minute.
7. Serve with a green salad.

16th: tonight we ate 
Pasta with Salmon

180g Fusilli
150g Salmon, cut into cubes
1 clove grated garlic
1 red Onion, finely chopped
1 large Mushroom
150g double cream
1 bay leaf
chopped parsley
(serves 2)

1. Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling water
2. Heat oil in pan add onion, chopped mushroom and garlic (if used) and cook gently
3. Add salmon a cook a couple of minutes
4. Add the cream and the bay leaf and cook the mixture a couple of minutes
5. Just before serving drain a little of the pasta water onto the salmon mixture
6. Serve with something green (we had broccoli, although a salad would be nice too)

17/18/19/20/21 July we had a rest from pasta as I'd bought an enormous sack of potatoes.

22nd July: Fusilli Bolognese

400 g Fusilli
500 g minced Beef
2 slices Bacon
1 Onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
Vegetables, such as celery, mushrooms, peppers, carrots - chopped finely
Tomato puree
Mixed herbs
a splash of wine
grated Parmesan
(serves 4)

1. Fry mince, remove from pan, draining any fat.
2. Fry onion and garlic gently, and bacon if used.
3. Add other vegetables.
4. Return meat to the pan and add some tomato puree, wine, herbs and some beef stock.
5. Cook gently, preferably in a slow cooker.
6. Serve with the Fusilli and some Parmesan (or other cheese) on top.

This is an excellent mixture which I also use for Cottage Pie or Lasagne.

Do you remember the 'I'm backing Britain' campaign in the late 1960s?

I'm Backing Britain was a brief patriotic campaign aimed at boosting the British economy.  It flourished in early 1968 when economically the country was in quite a bad way, in fact so bad that the pound had been devalued the previous year in an effort to make exports from this country more viable.
The I'm Backing Britain campaign started spontaneously when five Surbiton secretaries volunteered to work an extra half an hour each day without pay in order to boost productivity, and urged others to do the same. 
This invitation received an enormous response and a campaign took off spectacularly, becoming a nationwide movement within a week.  

Unfortunately, when the good times returned people's resolution to back Britain waned somewhat.  
Instead of eating local seasonal food, we became accustomed to enjoying all foods all year round.  
Often these foods were imported from many thousands of miles away, when we could have enjoyed locally grown food, but only in season.  
I think that if we eat something all year round then we don't appreciate it so much as if we only are able to enjoy something for a short spell each year.  
And somehow following the seasons brings a rhythm to the year, which is more comfortable, and keeps us in tune with nature.  
More importantly, local foods in season taste so much better.

To bring the idea of I'm Backing Britain more up to date, here are the top four reasons to buy British food ...

1. Buying food and drink that has been produced in the UK not only adds to the overall growth of the nation's economy, it also keeps smaller, more local businesses alive.
2. Farmers help maintain the beautiful countryside: from protecting wildlife to repairing fencing and hedgerows, the scenery we enjoy is crafted largely by them.
3. Supermarkets that use British farms are able to build up personal relationships with their suppliers and visit their farms on a regular basis to ensure top quality.
4. Many people think locally produced food tastes better.  Crops are picked at their peak and there's no time wasted having produce flown or shipping in from overseas.

Also see: 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15551818
and
http://britishfamily.co.uk/im-backing-britain/

This is a table of when to buy home-grown food:

Top Tips for Fuschias

Fuschias are beautiful plants, ones which reward us by flowering profusely year after year with very little maintenance.  This plant originated in South America and there are now over 100 varieties, ranging from small and insignificant varieties to large blowy ones like those in this picture.  There are varieties which are hardy and can be left outside all year, whereas others need to be looked after more closely and sheltered during winter months.


Fuschias are mainly affected by:

• Whitefly, which thrives in sheltered airless conditions.
• Red spider mite: a population explosion may occur when weather is hot and dry.  Spraying with water when the plant is in the shade is a good deterrent.



rust on fuschias

• Rust: this fungus disease is found during cold damp spells as orange coloured spores on the undersides of the leaves.  Remove and burn all infected leaves.

This recipe for a 'green' spray for Fuschias encourages root growth, enhances leaf appearance and for helps with general plant conditioning.  General plant conditioning is very important as looking after plants discourages pests and diseases such as the ones mentioned above.

5 litres water
1 tsp Sunlight dishwashing liquid
2 tsp seaweed type fertilizer
1 tsp Scrubbs Ammonia
1 tsp Epsom salts (dissolve first)
1 tsp Jeyes Fluid


RHS: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=579
Bob Flowerdew says: http://www.hartley-botanic.co.uk/featured-blogs/bob-flowerdew/caring-for-fuschias-2