First Signs of Spring

Newly boarded Betley Court

Betley Court came through the arrival of Storm Brendan unscathed this week. Pleased to report that all our chimneys, well the ones we have left, held firm. I do like this Met Office habit of naming individual weather events. It makes them feel like an overbearing relative sweeping into town for a visit and then whisking off, leaving you to tot up the damage when they’ve gone.

Boarded front door, and yet more skips arrive!

The biggest change this week has been at the front of the Court. Our two handymen, Melvyn and Shane have boarded up the ground floor doors and windows. In some ways, it’s a sad sight, but we need to keep the curious out – not that there’s anything other than ash and debris in there. Its simply not safe for people to go clambering about in there if they’re unfamiliar with the place, and where the weak places are in the floors. Its not worth it for taking a sneaky photo!

The tree surgeons arrive!

David Griffiths, our tree surgeon arrived yesterday morning to fell the trees that currently occupy the area where the new visitor hub will be built. The weather was vile for him, soaking his climbing ropes, making them very fast when he descended from the top boughs!

Getting to work clearing smaller clumps of trees

His team’s hard labour is making a difference. It’s incredible how felling the trees is opening the area up. It’s taking right back to how I remember it looking when I first started working at Betley Court nearly 25 years ago.

Scrubby trees felled

We’ll need to move Bluebell, our Roma caravan, before they can tackle one multi-stemmed sycamore. It doesn't seem to matter where we park that thing, it's always in someone's way! Once the area is cleared, contractors will arrive at the end of the month to start digging holes for the concrete foundation pads.

Bluebell, our Roma wagon. Doesn't seem to matter where we park it, it's always in the way!

We’ve had word that the panels for our building have left Lithuania and arrived at our supplier’s workshops for the next phase of fitting. Its really exciting to see all the different pieces of this project starting to fit together. Its been in our dreams for such a long time!

The services have popped up from the mains at the house. Just waiting to be connected.

The lengthening daylight is making everything look better. Buds on branches are swelling and will burst into leaf in a matter of weeks. The snowdrops, asleep under the earth when the fire happened in August, are starting to pop up as spring approaches. They’ll make a beautiful carpet soon. Roll on the spring!

All best wishes

Ladybird Su

PS. Our heartfelt best wishes go out to everyone at Tilston House, Near Tarpoley, Cheshire, about 15 miles from Betley Court Gardens. They, like us experienced a catastrophic fire on Sunday night which has destroyed a large part of this 18^th century mansion. Thankfully no one was hurt.