Its about 6 weeks since the hazel whips were planted in the newly formed hazel coupe. the weather when they went in was spring like but since then we have had a weird mixture of lovely warm and then seasonally cool/cold windy days.
Still the hazel seem to be coping and most appear to be settling into their new locations and are putting on growth.
I had a good look around the coupe a couple of weeks ago and noticed that there is a rogue plant in the mix, in amongst all the hazel there is a red leaved hazel! I think that this is a mistake and am not quite sure how the nursery would have mixed up the two varieties.
I think that it could be Corylus avellane red majestic. This is an ornamental tree and doesn’t really belong in a woodland setting. I will see how this particular sapling develops during the growing season but will almost certainly uproot it in the autumn and bring it back to the garden for replanting in a more appropriate context.
Early April 
Early May
The pictures above demonstrate how the bare coupe has developed in the 4 weeks or so between them being taken. The sun is now reaching the woodland floor having opened up the canopy and the wild flowers have started to flourish, particularly as they are no longer subject to the ravages of deer grazing.
Hazel saplings getting established
Not easy to see but the picture above shows one of the hazel whips getting established and bursting to leaf. there is also an further one shown in the immediate foreground. Hopefully these will continue to thrive and start to dominate the surrounding undergrowth.
Elsewhere in the wood the wild garlic has now gone to flower (but still very tasty). the flowers can be broken down into their individual florets and make a very attractive addition and potent flavour kick to a bowl of salad leaves. this picture also shows a blue haze of bluebells in the background. These flowers seem to thrive no matter what is thrown at them.
More next time…………………
Tim Burr 