More manure around the trees

I have added more manure to about 15 trees today that leaves only another 20 or so remaining. It was hard work. Today I started on the trees the furthest away from the manure and am now coming closer to the manure pile. I would estimate it can take up to 20 minutes to put the manure on 1 tree. The walk from one end of the orchard to the other is more than 250 meters. It was cold and as usual I was getting the work done on my own.

I started with wax jacket on and by the end of the day I was in a tee shirt piling manure into the wheelbarrow with a fork and then pushing the wheel barrow to the other end and then spreading it out around the tree. The manure still smells and its still steaming, much of the straw has detoriorated. 

 I must have reduced the pile by more than half and I have enough to complete the remain trees and will later this week try and complete the task, as I'll have  some volunteers, as long as the weather is permitting.

The original manure than I had put around the trees near the entrance is being drawn into the soil but it will probably take a couple more months, I hope. I have also added rabbit and chicken manure to the pile, with some extra straw and hay.

I haven't checked the bee's this week as it been a little too cold.

Trees are asleep and the buds are visible

When I walk around the orchard I can see that all the trees are dormant. Very few trees now have leaves and if they do they have very few. I can see some ladybirds around and the number of birds pottering around is also diminishing.

In truth I don't even see many rabbits at the moment, but the last couple of weeks have been cold and wet. I haven't managed the get all the manure around all the trees and it looks like it will have to be done over the next couple of weeks. I will get it done and now that I have the Christmas break I will spend one of the days to get the job done.

I can see that buds are ready for next year, as the picture shows. The picture is a but blurry but it shows the buds on a cherry tree.