January- We coppiced some of the hazel trees on site and made a dry hedge with the prunings. Dry hedges make great habitat for wildlife.

February- This is the Wildlife Hotel made for Seedy Sunday ’11 from natural materials grown at Breathing Space.

March- we turned the nest/storytelling area into a Yin/yang garden-this is it nearly finished.

April- the Willow Bower greening up

April- we put weed mat and wood chip inside the bower – it’s better for sitting on (especially when the weathers wet)

May- the honeysuckle was glorious this year.

June- Foxglove corner

June- Mint beetle visiting the Oxeye daisies

July – the Spidery Afternoon

July – the Spidery Afternoon

August- the Yin/yang garden growing pumpkins

August – the bees love Echinops which loves growing on the chalky soil.

September- compost revealed

October- the Yin/yang garden yielded some fine pumpkins.

October – on volunteers day we moved the Wildlife Hotel to a new and sunnier site.

October – volunteers making habitat for lacewings.

November – and all is still quite green.

December- the Willow Bower with its winter colour.

Many plants are dying down now in readiness for their Winter rest.

Sculpture by the pond

Willow bower

Willow seat

Entrance to Breathing Space

Fleur told stories on the theme of the Autumn Equinox.

Since there’s a wonderful abundance of berries this year we made a Yin Yang mandala after the story session..

Also some stunning colours as the leaves turn. The last meditation was in this month. The next one will be in April 2011.

Mandala

Spindle berries.

Cosmos and raindrops

In the park on the way to Breathing Space.

August

There was an abundance of Cosmos , Sunflowers and wild flowers. We had a lovely afternoon with stories from Pat Bowen and afterwards made some splendid dragonflies.

1.The willow seat – the Love in the Mist were late blooming but never the less very welcome.

2.Beautiful dragonflies from the storytelling/dragonfly afternoon.

3.The wild carrot has a tiny dark pink flower in the middle to guide pollinating insects into the landing pad

4.Late summer, late afternoon light in the woods near to Breathing Space.

July

Here’s a few photos from the Open Day in July.

They were taken by Irene Mensah. Fleurs’ storytelling attracted many visitors to enjoy her stories in the cool of the bower.

The wedding bower

It’s a bit trickey lighting the Storm kettle sometimes.

Fleur, our storyteller

Lots of folk came by to enjoy the space.

June

June bought forth an abundance of growth on the willow , many oxeye daisies and other wild flowers despite the drought.

1. Entrance to Breathing Space with Oxeye Daisies

2. Oxeye Daisies

3. Inside the bower

4. Here’s a reminder of the glorious sight of the central reservation along the Lewes road in June leading to Stanmer Park.

The leaves on the willow grow rapidly during late Spring and early summer months.
Here’s a friend with the bower to give an idea of scale.

The willow seat started growing so rapidly that I couldn’t find time to keep up with the   weaving. Hence its quite a low seat.

Pond and bower in the background.

There’s been many dragonflies swooping around the pond this May. Here’s a photo of a dragonfly larvae case that’s just been vacated by the adult.

1.  The Willow Bower beginning to green up.

2. Its been a long wait for the blossom this year but certainly worth it.
This blackthorn couldn’t get any more flowers on if it tried.

4. I’ve finished the living willow chair – just waiting for it to sprout now.

3. Welcome back to these lovely little Heartsease. I hope to do some seed gathering from them this year.

After

When I’m pruning I feel that I’m helping to set the scene for the coming event that’s just about to happen – the burgeoning of spring.

Early March, Salix Daphnoides

The Frogs were very active at spring equinox

It was a lovely soft February day with early signs of spring coming thick and fast. It’s time to prune the willow to sell some at Seedy Sunday. The willow is so willing and prolific I always end up with lots of cuttings.