Springtime Blog

Springtime blog

I very much hope everyone is doing well.

Springtime has well and truly kicked into gear here at the Towans, much to the joy of everyone onsite, guests new and old, and chalet owners alike. A long, hard winter has given way to what can only be described as one of the better starts to the spring and season in recent memory.

Spring has sprung as they say!. a look back at what's happened on site

The site is waking up

The site really has come alive in the last few weeks, everywhere you look, spring's resurgence of life really is undeniable. All of our overwintered trees of the successional planting scheme from a few years ago are now really starting to come to life. For a minute there they were touch and go due to such changeable, and ultimately arid conditions, but I am glad to report that we have a near 90% success rate which I can only be happy about.

The hedgerows we have are full of life once again, with the gorse and buddleia doing most of the heavy lifting. The open expanses of clearing myself and Alan had done some 6 years prior are also in full flourish now. All of the wildflower seeds and species that had laid dormant for so many years underneath the sea buckthorn are now coming into their own, only adding to the vast array of biodiversity upon our site. Fantastic for the bees, butterflies and insects alike. It's fantastic to see nature doing its thing when given half a chance to do so. A true nature lover's dream.

Embrace the outdoors

Embracing the outdoors is a big part of health and well being. With a cracking start to the spring season there has been no better time to get out and enjoy what nature has to offer on the Towans. The beach has its obvious draws but don't forget about the inland dunes themselves. Have an explore of the maintained pathways through the rear of the site and enjoy an abundance of dune land wildlife such as: the golden finch, robins, painted lady butterflies, the distinctive red and black cinnabar moth, pink campions, arrays of ferns and if you're lucky, one of a few birds of prey that call the Towans home.

With such a good start to spring, certain plant species are out early as well and not to be missed. Wild rose (rose rugosa) is out particularly early this season which, on a hot sunny day, you can normally smell before you see them. Great to have on the site. Pyramid orchids have also been spotted as early as the second week in May in the right locations. A sign of the times? Or just a good spring? I will let you decide that one.

Ongoing maintenance

As for my role, well, to say I have been inundated with grass and hedge management is an understatement. The particularly wet winter leading into a fantastic spring has only really meant one thing for myself, grass cutting! Fantastic growing conditions for all species of flora, in particular the grass here. With such arid landscape, the winter rain was a much needed boost for the grass on site, replenishing the albeit small water table. With this comes an almost round the clock mowing job for the already established areas of kept grass.

With everything now seemingly into the full growing season, there is not a lot to do other than keep on top of everything here that is already established. Nature projects however do have their way of popping up unexpectedly, so please keep and eye out for some new (albeit transplanted) additions around the site in the not too distant future.

In conclusion, a fantastic start to the season from an ecological perspective. Long may the decent weather continue into the summer months ahead (though I am writing this in a 40mph wind and driving rain!.

Please remember, if you have any questions about what I have been up to on site, stop me for a chat, I am more than happy to talk nature!

All the best

Simon