What a day for a Community Mission at Stephens House and Gardens.

Under blue skies and warm spring sunshine, I joined Helen and Noah to plant a Eucalyptus debeuzevillei – the Snow Gum, bought in memory of my mum after the previous tree sadly died.

This one should be a tougher customer apparently hardy and happy in a wide range of conditions — so here’s hoping it thrives. Compared with the redwood we planted a few weeks ago, this was a lighter job, but we still gave it the full treatment: compost down, soil mixed in, tree planted, and a guard grid fitted around it.

With that done, we moved on to some weeding around the pond, making the most of a truly beautiful spring day with flowers and fresh growth everywhere.

Best of all, we finished in traditional style: tea and biscuits in the Bothy garden.

A lovely afternoon, a meaningful planting, and a little bit more life added to a very special place.