hiya bucks in Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Marlow, Wycombe, Wooburn April 2016 | Page 34

The diary of a BUCKINGHAMSHIRE VINEYARD aged 7¾ APRIL... TODAY IS THE 14TH MARCH AND IT IS WITH CONSIDERABLE RELIEF THAT I CAN WRITE MY DIARY PIECE ON WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN DROPMORE VINEYARD OVER THE PAST MONTH. DESPITE THE VERY DIFFICULT WET WEATHER, AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN “UNDER THE WEATHER” MEDICALLY, ALL 2,500 VINES HAVE BEEN GIVEN THEIR WINTER PRUNING. Fortunately my very reliable vineyard worker has been available between rain storms and all cuttings are now piled up ready for burning once they have dried out. The old canes selected for carrying in the new crop in 2016 are standing proud waiting to be tied down to the trellis wires when we judge that the sap is rising enough to allow the canes to be tied down in place, usually in April. Again this is very much a manual job requiring some skill and patience. Meantime we have annual maintenance to do, this year just one very large end post to replace. There is also the matter of weed removal underneath the vines themselves. And finally we have the problem of deer, so fencing has to be attended too. So much to do by the time the new buds start appearing. 01628 664376 [email protected] www.dropmorewines.co.uk 34 To advertise in Hiya Bucks text or call 07947 349134