Battling the Heat: A Scorching Month on the Grounds

Jul 17
3 min read

Well, what a month it's been. If you've stepped outside at all these past few weeks, you'll know exactly what I mean when I say it's been an absolute scorcher. The sun has barely let up, and while that's brought plenty of joy in some corners of the grounds, it's also handed us our biggest challenge of the year so far: keeping everything watered.

When the Water Runs Dry

Water has been the word on everyone's lips. Our pond, which feeds the irrigation system, has run bone dry, and the water butts followed not long after. That left the planters, hanging baskets, flower borders and vegetable beds all crying out for attention. So we've rolled up our sleeves and gone back to basics, watering by hand to keep everything alive through the heat.

The pigs haven't escaped the drought either. The spring that normally keeps their water tank topped up has dried right up, so we've been filling it by hand to make sure they stay healthy, happy and cool. It's been hard graft, but nobody on the grounds minds a bit of extra effort when it means our animals and plants pull through.

The Silver Lining

Now, it's not all been a battle against the dry spell. The sunshine has been an absolute gift for some of our crops. The tomatoes, cucumbers, corn and pumpkins are positively thriving, soaking up those long, hot days and coming along beautifully. There's nothing quite like watching a pumpkin swell in the summer sun.

We've also had a steady stream of produce heading to the kitchen. Lettuce has been coming through in fine form, along with spring onions and turnips. It's a proud moment seeing food we've grown here go straight onto the plate.

The Maintenance Team's Handiwork

The team over in Maintenance, led by our Stress the lads, have been every bit as busy as the rest of us. They've built a set of smart new planters to brighten up a few tired-looking spots around the grounds, and the difference is already showing.

They've also put together some sturdy supports for the peas and beans grown by our Year 11 gardening pupils. It's grand to see the youngsters getting stuck into the growing, and those supports will give their climbers the sturdy footing they need. On top of that, they've built a new step to make it far easier for our younger pupils to reach and use the Ridan composter. Little touches like that make a real difference.

Looking Ahead

With the forecast promising yet more sunshine, there's plenty to look forward to. Next month we'll be harvesting the first of our cucumbers and tomatoes, with celery and peas following close behind. It's the moment all that watering and care has been building towards.

We'll be keeping a close eye on the water situation, of course, hoping the pond and butts get a chance to fill again before too long. And there's one more treat on the horizon: we'll be opening our new compost bins to harvest our very first batch of compost. After all the hard work that's gone in, that first

will feel well earned.

We’re excited to share that Brearley Hall is now home to some very special new residents… our pigs! 🐖✨

They’ll be lovingly looked after by myself, and there’s also a fantastic opportunity for children to get involved, learn new skills, and enjoy hands-on time caring for the animals 💚