Fruit & Veg

When Tony and Tricia were bringing up their children, Matt, Ben and Vicki, they grew their own vegetables, so they knew where they came from and what was making them grow!

Since then the kitchen garden has taken on a new lease of life with a full time green fingered person coming along - Bruce. With help from Heather and  WWOOFERS (Workers on an organic farm) throughout the year, we now produce on average £800 worth of veg. per month, all grown organically.

Here's a list of what we grow

Salads

Mizuna, Giant red mustard, Golden streaks mustard, Greek cress, French sorrel, Giant Italian parsley, Olive leaf rocket, Tatsoi, Little gem lettuce, Frecklers lettuce, Salad bowl lettuce, Lolla rossa lettuce, Amorina lettuce, Winter density lettuce, Red amaranth, Rainbow chard, Nasturtium, Pea shoots.

Herbs

Basil "Genovese", Basil "Purple", Coriander, Salad burnet, Wild thyme, marjoram, Mint, Sage, Rosemary, Cocarde lettuce, Red fire lettuce.

Vegetables

Asparagus, Aubergine, Beetroot, Russian kale, Broad bean, White sprouting broccoli, purple sprouting broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Spring cabbage, 'Derby Day' summer cabbage, 'Holland winter' winter cabbage, 'Tundra' winter cabbage, 'January King' winter cabbage, Red cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Courgette, Cucumber, Fennel, French beans, Garlic, Horseradish, Leeks, 'Sunburst' squash, Butternut squash, Pumpkin, 'Turks Turban' squash, Onion, Japanese onion, Red onion, Spring onion, Shallots, Parsnip, Mange Tout, Sugar snap, Sweet pepper, Chilli pepper, Potato, Radish, Runner bean, Spinach, Sweetcorn, Tomato, Turnip.

Fruit

Apples, Pears, Plums, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, Grapes.

Flower Gardens

Trendle Farm became part of Mill on the Brue in 1982 having earlier been a dairy farm with many cider apple trees and from the 1970's a 9-hole golf course. The whole area had been made into fairways and greens with very few trees (elm disease had struck a few years previously).

The first flowerbed was created in 1991 at the end of the entrance lawn, and in the mid 1990's it was decided that the entrance to the activity centre should have an attractive 'first impression' as people arrived.

Subsequently the climbing roses on the right of the drive and the oval rose bed in the lawn were planted and then Mill on the Brue's recycling policy was put to best use when old canoes were converted into flowerbeds.

The First Green used to be just below what is now the Longhouse and a large herbaceous border was planted (a sand bunker had to be dug out for this purpose!) As the grass here heavily sloped away, a ha-ha was constructed with willow stumps which created a hedge,and  made an attractive barrier. The vineyard was also planted in 1996.

Since the construction of the Longhouse a rainwater harvesting tank holding 26,000 litres supplying the lavatories in the Longhouse, was buried under part of the First Green and the herbaceous border was extended over this.  The most recent flowerbed was constructed in 2005/6 opposite the Clubhouse.