LATEST NEWS UPDATED 11th November 2005

In 2005 we again opened up new areas for planting and created new paths. Over three hundred new plants; a mixture of trees, shrubs and Rhododendrons with a focus on bulbs and perennials to enhance the natural feel of the gardens were added.

2005 was a highly successful year with everyone really enjoying the gardens. Also the plant sales were very successful particularly with the refunded entry fee. The new upper Patio paved area was a hit with the visitors giving a panoramic view across the gardens as they enjoyed a cup of tea.

We now have our full stock of the 2006 Season's Rhododendrons in with many outstanding plants. We also have got some grafted plants of some of the highly sort after hybrids and species in short supply such as R. Fabia with its beautiful orange bell shaped flowers and species such as R. bureavii with its thick brown indumentum and R. taliense and its exquisitely scented foliage.

In 2003 David travelled on three different treks in Arunachal Pradesh; one to the west, on the Bhutan border and the other two in the Lohit region to the far East of Arunachal Pradesh. It was wonderful to see a prolific quantity of Rhododendrons most of which he had never seen before in the wild. There should be some nice Rhododendrons species becoming available this year with R. flinckii, R. bhutanense, R. griffithianum, R. ? Yes many of them are proving difficult to identify and we might even have a new species.

Pheasants have again been a problem this year as these birds compete directly with the wild bird population and often displace them. Our Grey Partridges have now gone. We have now transferred a lot of the Pheasants off site and it is noticeable that the over wintering birds are already more apparent without the competition.  The local gamekeeper responsible for the release of the hundreds of Pheasants into the Goyt Valley offered to release Grey Partridges back into our conservation area this year but of course it didn't happen, just a lot of hot air to try to compensate for the loss of the wild birds. There ought be a law against putting reared birds into direct competition with the indigenous wild population all seeking a similar limited food supply in the winter.

We have seen Nuthatches, Greenfinch and a Woodpecker at the peanuts. The three ponds excavated in 2000 and expanded again in 2002 have proved a real delight for wildlife with Coot, Canada Geese and Tufted Duck bringing their young up successfully each year. Whilst enlarging the ponds Water Voles were seen. Increasing numbers of Lapwing and Curlew return in March each year and regularly nest in the area with Snipe seeming to over winter. A new but sad first here was a Crossbill but this was found dead by the conservatory, a real pity, but it means they are in the area. Visit our BIRDS page to see the varieties we get at Dunge Valley. We welcome RSPB members and anyone interested in wildlife to walk our rambling 125 acres taking you from the high area of the Windgather Rocks down into the big flat marshy fields were Curlew, Snipe and Lapwing can be seen in increasing abundance.

Invasion of Pheasants behind the House..

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Our visiting stoat in January to February 2006..

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The Dunge Valley Tea Room is open when the Gardens are open, serving lunches and light refreshments throughout the day. The delicious home made soups and cakes are always in great demand.

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