Top 5 things to look out for in the garden this month
with Simon the gardener
- Berries, seed heads and skeletal trees – sculptural in their stark winter beauty.
- Huge ripe, yellow quince fruits hanging from leafless branches in Dickens garden with their fuzzy winter coats. Perfect for Christmas chutneys and cheeses
- Old fashioned medlars full of curious fruit in the Dickens seating area. Medlars have been cultivated since Roman times, and are unusual in that they ripen in winter.
- Our sparkly RIC Christmas tree all lit up and festive on Star Hill
- The building of the new ‘fox-proof’ chicken coop and chicken house next to the Maths Shed. Simon says: ‘We’re building a new, safe and fox-proof chicken coop for RIC with a 6ft wire fence around and net over the top. We will start with 4 very fluffy chickens perfect for students to cuddle. It is proved that cuddling chickens is calming and excellent for health and well-being. Hopefully they will lay eggs too – not so much in the winter but when the light gets better we could get 4 a day! Sally is going to look after them and especially make sure they go on holiday too when there is no-one at college.”
Teasels in the RIC gardens Quince fruits in Dickens Garden A Medlar Christmas Tree on Star Hill the new ‘fox-proof’ chicken coop and chicken house
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