Work and the passion for all things ‘landscape’ does not stop afterhours with the staff at SG. From gardening to DIY projects, and wildlife spotting to rearing livestock, our colleagues are always busy and improving their practical skills and knowledge.
Liam is always busy carrying out DIY projects at home such as building bug towers, restoring a bird table and his very first attempt of brick laying. He’s also been growing vegetables in his vege garden and in the greenhouse, with spare time to rear chickens too!
Left to right: bug towers, bird table, driveway work in progress, brick laying
Left to right: vege patch, tomatoes, chickens
Simon, on the other hand has been rearing a 6 week old lamb named Billy. Billy is a Soay lamb raised by Fiona and Simon Green after its mother died. Here he is enjoying his morning walk! Unfortunately his horns are growing fast and he is keen to use them at any opportunity so the walks will have to stop!
Simon has also been helping to man the Northumbria Gardens Trust stall at Belsay Hall. www.northumbriagardenstrust.com
Southern Green are proud to the landscape architects for the £6.0m Belsay Awakes project – work has started with tree works, refreshing the planting and the new ramped access to the Lower Terrace. The new visitor hub including café and ‘Wildman’ play area at the Castle and improved parking provision are due to be finished by Summer 2022.
We start our training early at Southern Green, here is Scott's daughter Rachel inspecting the progress on site at South Cliff Gardens... and maybe enjoying a cheeky ice cream as payment for her hard work.
Ros’s main gardening focus is to ensure a strong supply of mint for the all important Friday night Mojito, or indeed anything that can be harvested and chucked into a Pimms!
Winnie has been able to experience and observe nature from her doorstop. From a feeding sparrow hawk to fledgling blackbird chicks there has been lots to see during lockdown. Her family has been growing a small wildflower meadow, where a hedgehog saw fit to hibernate – can you spot the hedgehog? Winnie has also been growing vegetables on a small vege patch – with mixed success!
Left to right: Sparrow Hawk, Blackbird fledgling, Cucumber Green Orb Weaver
Left to right: hibernating hedgehog, Oxeye Daisies, veg
Ed has been exploring his local area with his family. Below are pictures of Eden Valley. The caves are called Lacy Caves and the Bronze Age stone circle is called Long Meg and Her Daughters - beautiful scenery!
What have you been up to during your spare time?