Hagg Leys Farm

Category: Gardening (Page 6 of 9)

All things to do with gardening

New vegetable patch

March 27, 2014 /

At the weekend, we converted a bit of the bottom field nearest to the house into a vegetable patch.  It is only 6ft x 6ft, but more than big enough to grow some spuds – the first lot are already in.  However, it did take some time to tidy up this piece of land and move a couple of tons of top soil into place.

Since we had an 8 ton excavator on site to relay the top soil in the top field, it seemed like a great opportunity to increase the size of the vegetable plot.  Well, it is now 6ft x 40ft!

The original vegetable patch was 6ft x 6ft and at the far end. Since we had an 8 ton excavator onsite to relay the top soil in the top field, it seemed like a good idea to make it a bit bigger. It is now about 6ft x 40ft!

The original vegetable patch was 6ft x 6ft and at the far end. Since we had an 8 ton excavator onsite to relay the top soil in the top field, it seemed like a good idea to make it a bit bigger. It is now about 6ft x 40ft!

Replacing the topsoil

March 27, 2014 /

Now all the building work is complete, it is time to replace the top soil on the top field.  This was removed when we put the pipework in for the ground loops.  While we replace the subsoil, we left the top soil in a pile.  Otherwise, it would have got everywhere.

We are going to have the local farmer re-seed this field for us, but first we need to get the soil back down.

The time has come for us to put the top soil back down. It was taken up when we installed the ground source heat pump. We haven't put it back down until all the building work was finished, otherwise it just sticks to everything and gets everywhere. There was probably a few hundred tons of topsoil here.

The time has come for us to put the top soil back down. It was taken up when we installed the ground source heat pump. We haven’t put it back down until all the building work was finished, otherwise it just sticks to everything and gets everywhere. There was probably a few hundred tons of topsoil here.

Replacing the top soil

The topsoil is deposited in to heaps across the field. We then used the digger to level these heaps out.

The topsoil is deposited in to heaps across the field. We then used the digger to level these heaps out.

Replacing the top soil

The front wall finished

February 10, 2014 /

The front wall and the flagstones were finished on Saturday morning.  All of the materials used (except the sand and cement) had been salvaged from elsewhere on site.  Most of the flagstones were from the kitchen in number 10.  It is good to see them being reused and not one bit out of place.

We have already laid the conduit and a set of cables for the lights that will light up the front of the house at night.  We should get around to this later this week, depending on the weather.

There are two steps up to a set of flagstones. All of the flagstones were had salvaged when renovating the property.

There are two steps up to a set of flagstones. All of the flagstones were had salvaged when renovating the property.

We had to remove the shoe off the bottom of the drain pipe to accommodate the new flagstones. We will cut the drainpipe and refit the shoe now that the flagstones are in place.

We had to remove the shoe off the bottom of the drain pipe to accommodate the new flagstones. We will cut the drainpipe and refit the shoe now that the flagstones are in place.

This old stone drain (and cast iron grate) was still in use when we bought the property. It was however elsewhere and we have relocated into the new flagstones in the front of the property.

This old stone drain (and cast iron grate) was still in use when we bought the property. It was however elsewhere and we have relocated into the new flagstones in the front of the property.

Front wall

February 6, 2014 /

The front wall outside the property is now complete and we are focussing on getting the flagstones down behind it.  All of the flagstones used here were recovered when we renovated the old part of the property.  Some were on the kitchen floor, some were in the barn.

We have laid cables underneath the flagstones so that we can install some external uplighters into the flagstones.  We have marked where they need to be installed and will cut holes in the flagstones once the mortar has set.

About half of the flagstones have been laid at the front of the property. The white conduit carries the cables for the external lights. The black corrugated plastic pipe is poking up through the original stone drain that we found when we demolished the barn. We are reusing it together with the cast iron grate that fits it.

About half of the flagstones have been laid at the front of the property. The white conduit carries the cables for the external lights. The black corrugated plastic pipe is poking up through the original stone drain that we found when we demolished the barn. We are reusing it together with the cast iron grate that fits it.

The flagstones have only just be laid and no one should be standing on them. However, this doesn't apply to Lurchers (apparently!). The tarpaulins are to protect the wet mortar from the impeding rain. It arrived about 30 mins after this photo was taken.

The flagstones have only just be laid and no one should be standing on them. However, this doesn’t apply to Lurchers (apparently!). The tarpaulins are to protect the wet mortar from the impeding rain. It arrived about 30 mins after this photo was taken.

External lights

February 4, 2014 /

While we have been sorting out the small wall at the front of the property, we are also sorting out the uplighters that will light up the front wall at night.  This has been a little more involved that I first imagined.

There seems little point in shining light onto the wall directly underneath a window – it isn’t going to show any texture on the wall and it is only going to shine light inside. So we have decided to place the lights evenly under the parts of the wall without windows.  I think this should work, but I am worried that the lights are not evenly spaced.

The next concern was how far do the uplighters have to be from the wall to illuminate the wall.  This obviously depends on a number of factors – type of light, type of lamp, distance between the wall and the lamp etc.  The only really way of finding out what it might look like is to try it!  With that in mind, we put a plug on one of the lights and experimented with how far away it should be from the wall.

This shows the effect of one external light positioned about 50cms from the base of the way. This is using a 5W LED lamp with a 45 degree spread. We will position 5 lights along this wall to show up the texture of the stone. We are using Robus uplighters.

This shows the effect of one external light positioned about 50cms from the base of the way. This is using a 5W LED lamp with a 45 degree spread. We will position 5 lights along this wall to show up the texture of the stone. We are using Robus uplighters.

Front wall

February 1, 2014 /

Now most of the building work is finished, we are turning our attention to the outside spaces.

We have decided to build a small wall at the front of the property.  While this will provide space for pot plants etc, it also finds a use for some of the left over reclaimed stone that we have acquired during the build.  Much of this stone will have been on site since the property was first built, so it is good to see it being “recycled”.

The weather has been very wet this week, so progress has been slower than we would have liked.  However, this should be finished by next week.

With the outside work nearing completion, we are attempting to finish off some of the outside elements. This is the front wall at the front of the property. Unfortunately, the weather has not been very kind to us this week!

With the outside work nearing completion, we are attempting to finish off some of the outside elements. This is the front wall at the front of the property. Unfortunately, the weather has not been very kind to us this week!

Spring has arrived early

January 16, 2014 /

It has been very mild (and wet) over the past month or so.

The result?  Some of the plants think that it is spring already!

Spring seems to have arrived early this year. Jo planted this last year after we had finished this section of dry stone wall.

Spring seems to have arrived early this year. Jo planted this last year after we had finished this section of dry stone wall.

Progress on the extension

December 6, 2013 /

We have taken down the scaffolding at the front of the extension.  This will allow the bi-folding doors to be fitted.  This is planned for first thing tomorrow morning. 

The sunken garden could also do with a bit of a tidy-up!

We have taken down the scaffolding at the front of the extension. Two sets of bi-folding doors are due to be installed tomorrow morning.

We have taken down the scaffolding at the front of the extension. Two sets of bi-folding doors are due to be installed tomorrow morning.

The sunken garden needs a bit of tidying up and the garden wall needs finishing off, but it is starting to take shape.

The sunken garden needs a bit of tidying up and the garden wall needs finishing off, but it is starting to take shape.

Upper terrace wall

November 26, 2013 /

I have just about finished the wall in the upper terrace in the sunken garden.  There are just the coping stones to go on.  These are being produced in a local quarry and with any luck should arrive this week.  It will be good to get this wall finished.  I still have the lower wall to complete and there is probably 2-3 days left on it before the coping stones can go on that too.

With the weather closing in, it will be good to get on with the next task (insulating the rafters in the extension) which is an indoor job!

Despite some pretty wet and muddy conditions, the upper terrace wall is now ready for coping stones.

Despite some pretty wet and muddy conditions, the upper terrace wall is now ready for coping stones.

Walls in the sunken garden

November 25, 2013 /

We are making good progress on the walls in the sunken garden.  There are terraces on two different levels, so there are plenty of walls here.  The walls are built using reclaimed stone that we purchased.  It is relatively flat and uniform so it makes pretty good walling stone.

We have almost finished the wall on the upper terrace.  The coping stones are due to be delivered later this week, so it won’t be long before we get to see what the finished wall will look like.

The top wall in the sunken garden is directly outside the master bedroom. This will be the view through the bi-folding doors (once they are fitted).

The top wall in the sunken garden is directly outside the master bedroom. This will be the view through the bi-folding doors (once they are fitted).

The top wall in the sunken garden is nearing completion. We are expecting the coping stones sometime this week, so it will be good to see them go on.

The top wall in the sunken garden is nearing completion. We are expecting the coping stones sometime this week, so it will be good to see them go on.

It was cold and wet and I was doing the best I could to put a brave face on the situation! In the other photos, I looked like Benny Hill!

It was cold and wet and I was doing the best I could to put a brave face on the situation! In the other photos, I looked like Benny Hill!

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