I always think of this time of year as the calm before the storm. The relative quiet that has existed over the past few weeks will soon be shattered by the surge of Spring.

As we approach the end of winter and creep our way tentatively into early spring, I say tentatively as last March the heavy snowfall did a lot of damage to the young shoots in many of the exiting plants.

Let's hope that things remain wet and mild rather than snow clad, what a miserable old git I've evolved into.

The community vegetable garden has been a steady hive of activity since Christmas. The major work has been the building of timber edges throughout the garden to firstly hold back the soil in the beds but secondly to allow us to barrow in our theoretical 30 tonnes of gravel to form a solid surface (arriving soon) to walk on rather than relying on random slabs of slate that were less than ideal.

Our aim in the garden this year is to get the public into the site by tapping into the thousands of visitors who walk the coffin route from Grasmere to Ambleside and pass through the Halls grounds (a stones throw from the vegetable garden).

The garden received funding from Cumbria County Council to have some professionally made signs made that will (we're hoping) grab the attention of the many green fingered walkers out in the lakes for the weekend.

Using the garden I'm determined to dispel the myth that you cannot grow vegetables in this part of the world and that vegetables don't look attractive, they can look stunning when planted amongst other flowers contrasting the forms, colours and textures of their leaves, flowers and stems. This effect is enhanced when planting on a slope or terrace. Most of all, this garden gives joy to so many people and I'd like others to catch the bug.

The orchard, home to our 20 different varieties of northern apple trees, 4 resident Marrans and bee-hive has what can only be described as a distressed look. Last week some of the group broke the surface soil up to get out the largest pieces of rhizome from the dreaded Japanese Knotweed. It still amazes me the depth the roots will go to and their sheer size.

Massive food stores that power those aggressive shoots toward the sky all summer long. The uprooted beings are gradually dried and then burnt using a small metal incinerator. The ash at least can go back on the garden.

As gardeners we have a duty to give this unwanted plant a run for its money. Rather than admit defeat, sustained uprooting and knocking back will gradually weaken the most persistent of weeds.

Not only did the chickens gorge themselves on what was worm heaven, it was a chance to spend a day with our feathered friends and witness what must be the lake districts most sexually charged cockerel.