The garden

When we first moved in, the garden around us was just a series of tussocks and lumps. However, a friend who lives here assured us that the place would be transformed after a few mowings (and some moving of small granite lumps) and he was right...

Towards the back gate, we have let some of the area grow longer and this we know this makes good grazing for horses or goats. The back gate leads onto the little path, which goes directly up onto the 'voie verte'.

There are around 50 fruit trees in the garden here. Don't get too excited though...nearly all are cider apples and these are too dry and sharp to be edible, even when cooked. There are also a couple of pear trees, a couple of cherry trees, and some fruit bushes.
Some local people collect their own cider apples and these can be sold locally at varying prices depending on how abundant the crop is that year. We have preferred to let a local farmer come and pick the apple crop at harvest time, and in return we've had an annual supply of calvados...

The garden area totals 9,075 m2, and surrounds the house and outbuildings, with beautiful views across to the local town of Sourdeval and, on the other side, up into the forest area.