Elizabeth

The first real frosts arrived at Birch Farm this week. That bright, icy glaze that settles over everything in the early morning always feels like a quiet turning point in the season. Frost changes the way the farm looks, the textures, the colours, even the sound of your boots on the ground. It’s a reminder that winter is very much on its way. It also reminded me, rather sharply, that I’d forgotten to cover my trays of seedlings. Every grower makes this mistake at some point, but it still...

A gentle couple of hours amongst the flowers There’s something special about wandering through a flower field with a pair of snips in hand, choosing the stems that speak to you. Our Pick Your Own sessions at Birch Farm are designed to be unhurried, peaceful, and open to anyone who simply wants a couple of quiet hours surrounded by flowers. We’re just a short drive from Manchester and Salford, but once you step into the fields it feels a world away. The air is different here, softer, calmer,...

Winter in the garden used to be a season I rushed through. I’d tidy everything away, cut everything back, and clear the beds until they looked neat and bare. It felt productive. It felt like the right thing to do. But over the years, and especially since moving to Birch Farm, I’ve learned that the garden benefits far more when I soften the tidy-up and let winter unfold in its own quiet, natural way. These days, my winter routine is slower, more considered, and rooted in supporting the...