The UPS and DOWNS of a week in the woods at #thehillyfield .

First breath of spring and we were cooking on sunshine.

That feels SO good. Power from the Sun! Hazel in flower and pussy willow blooming.

Here in the woods, each time the seasons turn there is a mounting sense of pressure - almost panic.

Before the spring there is SO much to do. All the unfinished jobs of winter… and the pressure of all that needs prepping for spring.

We’ve taken a couple of contracts on lately, making a #timberframe raised decking from Oak and Douglas Fir, and a small compost toilet… but time management doesn’t come easily when the machinery fails, the rain keeps falling and the pigs need moving.

This week we hosted ‘boys circle’ - a gathering of 6, 10 to 12 year olds sharing around the fire. And the design team from @centreparksuk who came to explore this ancient woodland and make some stunning arts pieces in the forestry workshop nestled in the woods.

We all got busy shaping and pruning the apple trees, invited Ashley from @dartmoorbeekeeping to treat our hives for Varroa, and then nearly cried when we tried to load the #woodmizer with a large Duggy Fir. Ouch! Somehow I managed to rip the entire boom of the forwarder in two (anyone got a spare #botex ?). Deeply depressing. At least the hydraulics didn’t pop & thank goodness for toby at TWB who is coming to the rescue with some heavy duty plant care…

And then the hardest bit. Saying goodbye to Fleur who has been an absolute legend on the team. She’s moving on to new turf - helping plant trees with @plantlife.loveplants and pursuing her passion for nature connection and woodland management.

What a great year this has been with @apricotcentre sharing our adventures in regenerativeagriculture

What’s going to happen next week at @thehillyfield