Reflecting on the summer and the New Forest in the autumn:

This summer we have been busy at Fernwood Glamping and I am sure the good weather has helped. I am glad we didn’t go abroad ourselves to even hotter places this summer. Those of you who have visited before will know I also like to keep an eye on my vegetables and the courgettes, cucumbers, French beans and tomatoes have grown well with the extra sunshine. I just wish I had planted some aubergines and peppers this year!

Although all our gardens have scorched grass and it has been hard work watering the flowers, it is quite amazing when you go out on to the forest. There are places where you can see bright green fresh grass shoots and some of the ponds still have water in. On a cycle ride last week, we passed a large pond, which I was expecting to see surrounded by ponies and cows but not one in sight! Clearly, they know the forest and where to find running water. Luckily the New Forest is home to 80% of the UK’s lowland bogs and mires so they are holding a lot of water which can feed into the streams.

Many of you will have heard about the fires in the New Forest. It actually was only a few miles from Fernwood, but over the 10 days, we only smelt the smoke a couple of times. Quite bizarre as it was far more noticeable at the bottom of the hill, in Portsmouth and even on the Isle of Wight at times where people needed to shut their windows. Sadly, the media headlines about the fire did not help and many local businesses had a massive loss in trade as holidays were cancelled fearing they would not be safe or there would be nothing to do which was not true at all . Thanks to the fire services hard work, it was a large area burnt of about 1.6km squared but it left over 560 km squared undamaged! Although heathland was burnt, this is routinely done every year in controlled burning and does help to maintain the New Forest landscape as we know it. Fortunately, the ancient woodland nearby was saved. One of the main problems was that the A31 was shut, putting pressure on local roads. Despite this, a Facebook post from New Forest Road Awareness at the end of August was very positive as road traffic collisions were actually down from last year even though all the cars were redirected on to the minor roads!  We pleased to be getting  back to normal.

September is a lovely time to visit (my second favourite month here at Fernwood!) The roads are often quieter as schools have gone back. Usually, we have some lovely warm days and we still have some beautiful flowers in the garden. My husband Jonathan loves to grow dahlias in the mixed border, and they are looking fabulous. Visitors this month have also been really enjoying seeing the deer in the field behind us. Generally fallow deer, some with antlers and in late August, quite a few jeuveniles in the herd.