Despite the bad weather over most of the last 6 weeks, we’ve succeeded in completing a number of smaller jobs, which needed doing after the big work of re-roofing and painting the exterior was completed in March. This has included planting a number of new shrubs and flowers after the cold winter; oiling garden furniture and painting the weather battered railings on the belvedere decking.
For several years we have watched as the coping stones on the top of the left front garden wall have slipped further downhill and earth has dropped into the road. Now the containing wall has been rebuilt by Rob and looks set good for another twenty five years. (See photo above).
One advantage here is that the front of the wall has now been pushed back towards the house about four inches. It may not sound much, but it gives that little bit more to the road width when people are parked outside The Larches. Lorries and waste removal vehicles will find it that much easier to reach the top of the ravine road.
Two years ago I promised myself I would cut back every year the high ferns on the steep bank above the large ground floor back bedroom. I failed last year but this June I managed to avoid the rain to get the work done – and before Midsummer Day. It helps to bring more light into the house and gives a better view of wildlife and birds.
Although we have not seen the red squirrels in the garden for several weeks, there have been recent sightings 100 metres down the road and in the copse opposite the house, where the footpath leads down to Thornthwaite Church.
We’ve committed ourselves to reducing energy usage at The Larches wherever possible as part of 
Instead the chart is based on total energy usage or kilowhat hours (kWh) over the full year divided by the number of occupied days. This gives a higher figure than would be produced if the property was occupied for 365 days, because the energy consumed includes that used during the unoccupied 115-165 days.