Woodland garden

Oh Bernard lol I thought was a real deer!!! I was just thinking it looks so natural and its been inhabited already by the wildlife ha ha. what a lovely garden.. sorry woodland. I bet your chuffed I would be. Wonderful

Wow what a beautiful woodland garden, the deer really finishes it off, lovely :-)

That looks absolutely beautiful bernard, how lucky you are to have such space to do these things. I am sure it will look even more lovely as the weeks go on. Please keep us updated.

Your 100 hours on hands and knees has certainly paid off, it is stunning.

Very good pics, Bernard, lovely looking area - I'm glad you spent the money on a knowledgeable person, and I'm very pleased they have issued you with after care instructions - that's one of the things I've always done (though I have to say, most clients don't follow them, lol).

Looks fantastic. I'm going to be really cheeky Bernard - please can you let us know the names of some of the woodland plants you are using. I have a woodland area and I'm a little lost right now.

What a dream of a garden. Gorgeous. I'm envious!

Those pictures are beautiful, and show just how satisfying a "wild" garden can be. The deer is a great addition, because it also looks so natural. I bet many visitor's are fooled by it!

Your hard work has really paid off Bernard, its looks fantastic. SussexSarah beat me to it, if you could share with us the plants you've set it would be much appreciated by me. Well done you.

It's looking great, Bernard. I'm so glad it's all coming together so well. Thanks for your message about it - and keep the photos coming!

One or two of the shade loving plants I found this week might interest you....

I'm so jealous of your woodland garden Bernard, It's lovely. Have you thought about having a boggy area???

Gail x

That is truly an awesome accomplishment!! It reeks of peace and quiet.

Thanks everyone for your interest and comments, much appreciated. I've now prepared a blog listing all the plants (existing and new ones trying to establish themselves). I'll try and keep this up to date with info about successes and failures and any comments I think might be useful. If anyone has any comments, please publish them.
The garden soil is lovely, slightly clayey, humus-rich soil after many years of leaf fall and is apparently in an area that was a river bed and eventually becomes gravelly. It is therefore well drained and it would be a struggle to establish a bog garden which I instinctively associate with a pond or stream and since we are on a water meter, it isn't a goer.

I have just read your woodland garden blog two and looked at these wonderful photos. What a magical place you have created. Have you thought of planting any Erythroniums? They also die right away and appear again like genies every year. Mine are in a shady border but would look wonderful in your woodlands.

What a credit to all who have worked on it. But especially to you. a true labour of love.
I too love the deer. You have a good designer, he is worth his weight in quality compost :o)
I have some lovely erythroniums under the beech tree which at this time of year is still in bud. I will post another photo of them in the next day or so.

Thanks for the suggestion about Erythroniums Songthrush and Seaburngirl. I'm sure you'll both be gratified to learn that the designer is female, she usually only does the designing and her male partner does most of the physical work, but she has got so emotionally involved in this project that she has done most of the planting herself.

ah a woman's touch. nothing agianst male designers but it is nice when we make our way in the footfalls of Gertrude Jeykle and Miss Willmot :o)

I noted that from your blog (you missed that one, Seaburn, can't believe you did, lol)

Looking beautiful Bernard! A great credit to both you and your gardener, and that little deer makes such a gentle and peaceful focal point. Erythroniums are on my wish list too for my shady side....the garden that is..:o))

Your garden looks smashing Bernard A lovely woodland effect. Atmospheric photos too. I bought the wildflower seeds at Ongar garden centre last year, for shade and dappled shade. I naively thought the wildflower seeds would take. The seed packs were a well known firm and took a bit of seeing amongst all the other flower packets. These now hunky plants were tiny a short time back, they crept up on me. Quite a shock to find the spiny backs. I wonder if you have seen Beth Chatto's woodland garden near Colchester?

Really lovely, Bernard. Well done. Now we can all take a little stroll through your woodland. Especially nice with the changing seasons - it will be quite lovely in winter with a fall of snow too. Keep taking photos!!

Talking of deer. We were coming home,last night, from a club we go to, at about 10pm. We got inside the 30 mile speed limit in a built up area. A small white van went hurtling past us, seconds later 4 deer crossed the road. The last one was tiny. He stood and stared at us then wandered off into the vegetation. There are deer signs all the way from the little village hall we go to. Some choose to ignore them.

glad I found your profile bernard wonderful work keep it up, give us so much pleasure. x

It's a beautiful sight, Bernard.....I only have a very small area that I'd like to plant in a woodland theme and your exhaustive list of plants on your other blog will be very useful for reference. Thank you for going to the trouble of compiling it :)