In Specialbranchtrees terms this is effectively the beginning of our year. We have been out collecting Wild Cherry, Silver Birch, Hazel and Rowan.
The trees and shrubs we collect from appear to have produced an abundant crop of fruit, seeds, cones and nuts this year.
All these seeds/nuts etc.. need differing forms of processing in order to achieve decent germination rates next year. Luckily the weather has been kind to us on Fridays and we can sit in the sunshine and  happily stratify all day!

To celebrate twenty years of our nursery we have booked a stall at Bentley Wood fair this September. Half of the stall will be devoted to showing members of the public how to grow trees from seed. The other half will show off (and sell) some of our pot grown specimens.
The pot-grown plants have all been fed, watered, pampered and now pruned. They do look in splendid condition for Bentley. 

Very contrasting weather days mean the seedlings have to be protected from the fierce sun, on the odd day the sun is visible.
​The cold winds and rain also have their affect on plant growth, especially at this early stage. Watering, not watering, plus covering up and uncovering. Second guessing an English summer is never easy, but this one is proving especially difficult. 
Luckily we have an excellent group of keen volunteers who are nurturing the seedlings through their early stages of development.
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