Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn - Ernest Hemingway
Everything in the garden was looking lovely during May as the weather was very conducive to luxuriant growth. The first 20 days or so had enough sunshine and rain for rapid growth and temperatures were reasonable with no overnight frosts. Everything changed two-thirds of the way through the month when the weather suddenly became much hotter, sunnier and drier. This month's garden photo was taken on the last day of May; plenty of luxuriant green growth, the first flush of roses and the purple-leaved elder in full bloom (Photo 1). May was also notable for the first heatwave of 2026 and the highest May temperature on record for the UK.
Photo 1: Garden View (31st May 2026)
Daily garden photos for May 2026 are collated in Video 1.
Video 1: Daily Photos of the Rear Garden - May 2026
Table 1 summarises some routine weather stats for our garden collected by our Davis Weather Station. The mercury hit 35 ℃ on two consecutive days (25/26th); smashing the previous record (27 ℃) for our back garden in May!! We saw more hot May days (i.e. > 25 ℃) in 2020 but, again, nowhere near as hot as those in May 2026.
Daily minimum & maximum temperatures for May 2026 are shown in Figure 1 (click to see a larger image). No frosty nights and a big surge in temperatures during the final 10 days of the month. From the 22nd to 30th (9 days) the daily maximum was 26 ℃ or higher. Our first heatwave of 2026 and a long one at that.
Figure 1: Daily Min/Max Temperatures (May 2026)
Daily rainfall and solar radiation values - a proxy for sunshine hours - are shown in Figure 2 below (click to enlarge). We enjoyed pleasant springtime warmth & sunshine, with enough rain to negate the need for extra irrigation, for the first 20 days of the month. The final 10 days were brutally hot, sunny and dry during our first 2026 heatwave.
With seven years of May weather data, we might just be able to see some indication of trends; although we probably need double this before we can confirm such trends. Normally, 30 years of data are required before one can identify climate trends. Unfortunately, we are changing the climate so rapidly nowadays that we will be able to see trends over much shorter time periods.
In Figure 3, I have graphed the last seven years of temperature data for the month of May. 2020 was an unusual year (start of COVID-19) in the UK. Reduced atmospheric pollution may have boosted local temperatures a little but the main effect was meteorological as the jet stream buckled and placed a persistent block of high pressure weather directly over the UK. Consequently, May 2020 had lots of clear blue skies (due, in part, to an absence of condensation trails as air traffic took a nosedive) and unusually high temperatures. [Note: an absence of condensation trails would have a cooling effect of global temperatures - see here for some basic details)
If we treat the May 2020 data a 'anomalous', then there seems to be an upward trend in mean daily temperatures and maximum daily temperatures. The trend is less visible in the average daily temperatures because the Davis Weather Station only reports average values to the nearest degree (when changes from year to year would be measured in tenths of a ℃). Somewhat disturbingly, the increases in maximum daily temperatures are on an upward trend.
Figure 3: Time Series (2020-2026) for May Temperature Data (Hereford City)
In Figure 4, there appears to be an overall decline in May rainfall levels, albeit with a good deal of scatter. No clear trend in sunshine levels.
Figure 4: Time Series for May Rain, Sun and Wind Data (2020-2026)
The next three figures are taken from the UK Met Office's monthly report for May 2026. May's mean temperature anomalies for the UK are shown in Figure 5. Apart from NW Scotland, average temperatures were 0.5 ℃ to 2.5 ℃ higher than the 1991-2020 reference period. This is hot!! Herefordshire fell within the higher bracket (1.5 ℃ to 2.5 ℃). Our nearby Met Office weather station at Credenhill, records a typical May average daily temperature at 12 ℃. The mean monthly temperature recorded by our garden weather station was 15 ℃; i.e. 3 ℃ higher than the long-term average in good agreement with Figure 5.
Figure 5: UK Mean Temperature Anomalies (May 2026)
As Figure 6 illustrates, with just a few exceptions, May rainfall was average or below average in May. Herefordshire, including Hereford City, experienced mainly below average rainfall. With reference to the nearby weather station at Credenhill, we would usually expect between 53-54 mm of rain in May. Hence the 39 mm of rain recorded by our garden weather station (Table 1) equates to about 70% of the expected value for May. In good agreement with Figure 6.
Figure 6: Relative UK Rainfall (May 2026)
Figure 7 shows that Herefordshire received only average sunshine levels in May. Table 1 recorded 213 sunshine hours this month, slightly above the average for the English Midlands (192 hours). Once again, in good agreement with the Met Office data.
Figure 7: Relative UK Sunshine Hours (May 2026)
Jobs in the Garden
Mainly transplanting, potting on, etc of cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, celery, celeriac, French Beans,
Sowing beet, parsnip, turnip
Finish cutting down field beans for hot composting.
Harvesting asparagus
Flora & Fauna in the Garden
Blackbird (x2, M&F)
Blue Tit (x1)
Collared Dove (x3)
Dunnock (x1)
Great Tit (x1)
House Sparrow (x6)
Jackdaw (x1)
Gulls (numerous overhead)
Robin (x2, adult & young)
Swift (x4, first seen 3rd May)
Starling (x8)
Wood Pigeon (x2)
Wren (x1)
And finally, a few photos of the garden ...
Photo 2: A Corner of the Paradise Garden (1st May 2026)
Photo 3: The Secret Garden (1st May 2026)
Photo 4: Mountain Ash/Rowanberry in Bloom (1st May 2026)
Photo 5: Bog Garden with Flowering Pitcher Plant (12th May 2026)
Photo 6: Gladioli (21st May 2026)
Photo 7: Sweet Pea (21st May 2026)
Photo 8: Raised Bed Mixture (21st May 2026)
Photo 9: A Single Allium in the Red Acer Bed (21st May 2026)
Photo 10: Looking into the Secret Garden from the Kitchen Garden (30th May 2026)
To forget how to dig the earth and tend to the soil is to forget ourselves - Mahatma Gandhi
In this post, I suggested the possibility of saving a few pounds on fertlizer costs (Nutrigold) by using a more dilute solution; i.e. half-strength soluble fertilizer solution. Part of the logic behind such a move is that with the Quadgrow system, the plants are grown in a medium (in my case, coir but other options are available) that will soak up and store nutrients not used immediately by the plants.
I added an update to my previous post, noting that while the aubergines, bell peppers and tomatoes were doing just fine on the 50% nutrient solution, the cucumbers appeared to be under some stress. By way of demonstration, here is an aubergine fruit picked yesterday (21/8/26) - Photo 1 - that weighed in at 666 grams. Typically, my home-grown aubergine fruits come in around the 200 - 350 g weight.
Photo 1: 666 g Aubergine (21/8/26) vs Satsuma!
The important question is whether the cucumbers have 'suffered' from a reduced nutrient regime. In past years, it has been normal for the cucumber plants to 'burn themselves out' early as each plant produces 40+ cucumbers. The summer of 2026 will probably be the hottest on record, comfortably beating the previous record in 2025! Temperatures in the polytunnel regularly exceeded 40 ℃ which puts added stress on the plants. Fortunately, the Quadgrow system maintains a constant and sufficient water supply to the plants which certainly helps. However, large-leaved plants such as cucumbers have greater rates of transpiration so tend to be stressed somewhat easier.
In Figures 1-3, I have plotted the daily mean, low and high humidities for the past three summers (June, July, August) in descending time order (i,e, 2026 - 2024). Highest humidities occur overnight as the temperature drops (often reaching amaximum around dawn) whereas lowest humidities are found during the late afternoon when temperatures are hottest.
Summer 2024 (Figure 3) was a 'normal' summer followed by a very hot summer (2025, Figure 2) and an even hotter summer (2026, Figure 1). It can be observed that the number of low humidity/high transpiration events (i.e. high plant stress situations) is greatest in 2026, followed by 2025 then 2024. Note that these humidity values were measured close to, but outside, the polytunnel. Low humidity extremes should be greater and more numerous in the polytunnel itself.
Figure 1: Mean, High & Low Daily Humidities (Summer 2026)
Figure 2: Mean, High & Low Daily Humidities (Summer 2025)
Figure 3: Mean, High & Low Daily Humidities (Summer 2024)
Consequently, in hindsight, this year was not the best time to start an experiment on reducing nutrient supply to the plants! Which is why I recommend a more prudent approach to reducing nutrient costs in the future; alternate between full and half doses to start with (25% cost savings) and, if everything goes well, reduce nutrient loading further.
I first wrote about the Quadgrow system, a product of Greenhouse Sensation, in June 2022 (see here & here). although I had been using this system since 2015. More recent blog posts on this topic can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Even our miniature bog garden is housed in a Veg/Salad Planter although the current version of Greenhouse Sensation no longer produces this product.
Greenhouse Sensation also sell prepared nutrients (Nutrigold) for use in all their Self-Watering Planters. These come in two forms, A and B, each bag containing 250g nutrient mix. The contents of each bag are emptied into separate 2.5 L bottles and filled up with water. I use warm water to encourage dissolution.
Photo 1: Nutrigold A (250g Bag)
Photo 2: Nutrigold B (250g Bag)
6 ml of each solution (add B after A) is added to one litre of water for the final dilution that is a used to fill up the self-watering planters. I normally add 60 ml of A & B to a 10L watering can and fill up with tap water.
After many years using the recommended nutrient concentration, I decided to see if lower concentrations could be used as this would save money. At the time of writing (August 2026), a pack of both nutrients costs about £12.
This year I am trying a 50% dilution of the recommended nutrient concentrations; i.e. 30 ml from each bottle made up to 10L in a watering can. In Photo 3, you can see my two 60 ml plastic syringes being used to extract 30 ml from each concentrate (A & B).
Photo 3: Prepared Nutrients A & B (concentrate) with Measuring Syringes
So far the results have been good especially considering the very hot summer we are having. The cucumbers (Photo 4) have been very productive (about 40 cukes per plant) as have the late-planted tomatoes (Photo 4, now harvesting). Bell (or Sweet) Peppers have also grown well (Photo 5), flowered profusely and we have been eating the fruits of our labour for about a month now. The aubergines (Photo 6) are floriferous though we haven't had any produce off them yet.
Photo 4: Cucumber and Tomato in Quadgrows (August 6th 2026)
Photo 5: Bell Peppers in Veg Planters (August 6th 2026)
Photo 6: Aubergines in Veg Planters (August 6th 2026)
Cautionary note: I have just spent 3 days in hospital having a bladder tumour removed and no one has been looking after my polytunnel. Everything has survived well (thanks to the self-watering planters) but the cucumbers are suddenly looking a bit tired. This may be simply that they are coming to the end of their productive life after the hottest summer in UK history. It could mean they are not getting enough nutrients to maintain their large structure; cucumbers are much bigger plants then tomatoes, peppers and aubergines and require copious volumes of water and, possibly, nutrients.
I need to keep an eye on the cucumbers but the tomatoes, peppers and aubergines seem to be doing just fine.
So there you have it. If you can get away with half the concentration of fertilizer/nutrient, then you will save 50% of the costs.
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving - Albert Einstein
For medical reasons, I decided a few weeks ago that I would have to give up my Brompton folding bike and upgrade to an electric bike. The Brompton has served me well for fifteen or more years: initially, carrying me between the railway station and home/work when I used to commute betwixt Hereford & London. More recently it has been my mobile laboratory for citizen science water testing ...
Photo 1: Mobile Water Testing Laboratory
There are a number of cycle shops in Hereford and I was keen to buy local - supports the local economy and, hopefully, provides better customer service. I was keen to avoid cheap imports that compromise on battery safety and are therefore a fire & safety risk.
A few features were essential. Step-through frame making it suitable for both Mary and I. Mudguards, pannier rack, built-in front and rear lights and suspension on front forks and seat post for a more comfortable ride. The battery can be charged in situ or removed and charged elsewhere. Security is also important: Volt bikes come with integrated frame lock (standard in Holland) with incorporated chain lock (an extra £30) for securing to bike stands, etc plus a special fob to activate the electric motor.
Importantly, I needed the bike to be able to carry my water testing kit. To be honest, the Burlington is not as convenient as the Brompton for this purpose. I now carry my testing kit in a rucksack and affix my sampling pole to the pannier rack with bungee cords. Not perfect but manageable if I slide the sampling pole backwards to mount the cycle and then slide it forward when I'm ready to push off ...
Photo 3: Electric Bike with Sampling Pole Attached
The Burlington has a typical range of around 60 miles (or 95 kilometres). Currently, my water testing requires only about 14 miles (26 kilometres) travel per week. During the summer months I'm charging the bike off my single 185W solar panel located on the bike shed. This was installed in 2021 and includes an inverter to provide a single 240V standard UK plug socket. The solar panel charges a 12V wet lead acid battery and the power is drawn off this battery.
Photo 4: 185W Solar Panel on the Bike Shed
When the Burlington battery gets down to about 60% capacity, it takes about 2 hours to recharge the battery up to 100%. How well this charging system will work in the winter months is uncertain; I may have to plug the bike battery into a conventional house socket.
Electric bikes are one of the most efficient low carbon means of getting around. Even better than a normal pedal-powered bicycle if the electricity you use to charge your battery is zero carbon. This is predominantly down to the carbon intensiveness of agriculture, especially if you get most of your calories from eating meat and dairy products.
It is quite a complicated calculation to work out which form of transport has the lowest carbon footprint. Some studies will just include the manufacture of the bike itself (pedal cycle lower than electric bike) but this misses the biggest factor over the lifetime of the bike which is the energy needed to power the bike. Whether it is bananas or beefburgers (the latter far worse than the former), growing and transporting food has a high carbon intensity. Solar PV panels are much more efficient (15-26%) than photosynthesis (0.1-2%) which makes electric bikes the lower carbon option when used with renewable energy sources.
There are a number of other issues which are important; it is not just about the carbon footprint! This YouTube video addresses some of these issues and, hopefully, puts your mind at rest ...
Video 1: How Bad are Electric Bikes for the Environment - Simon Clark
Most of all, riding an electric bike is fun even when travelling uphill or into a head wind. Give it a try - most bike shops offer a try before you buy option. The only downside I have found is that the e-bikes are heavier than conventional cycles so you don't want to be picking them up very often.
Update: Recently saw this video which puts some numbers on the efficiency of electric bikes.
Video 2: Environmental, Social and Financial Impacts of e-Bikes
I sometimes feel as if I have nothing to say and I want to communicate this - Damien Hirst
On an otherwise unremarkable industrial building in Hereford, an artwork is taking shape. Just round the corner from us is the Heineken Brewery/Cider Plant in Plough Lane. Originally the home of Bulmers Cider since the 1930s, it was taken over by Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) in 2003 before becoming part of the Heineken Group in 2008 when S&N was divided up between Carlsberg and Heineken.
Photo 1: Part of the Heineken Plant in Hereford (h/t Google Street View)
I first noticed the painted mural (Photo 2) at the beginning of June when I was on my way to one of my citizen science water testing sites. A few weeks later, I stopped to talk to the artist, Mark Stewart.
Photo 2: Mural in early June 2006
Mark used to work at the Heineken site in Hereford and the mural was commissioned by them. Acrylic paints are used and the painting is built up in layers. It is a challenging surface to work; not only because of the uneven surface (mortared brick) but also due to the two angles of the brick surface. For this reason, some of the animals (e.g. hare, kingfisher) are composites of different pictures. The scenes all depict flora and fauna associated with Herefordshire. Mark expects to finish in August and the mural will need a final protective coat to weatherproof it.
Here is a photo of one of the panels showing a reflection of Hereford Cathedral in the River Wye. The mallard details have yet to be added at this point (June 6th).
Photo 3: Mallards and Hereford Cathedral Reflection (June 6th 2026)
Herefordshire is known as a cider county and the original site was owned/built by Bulmers. Unsurprisingly, apples feature in a number of the panels.
Photo 4: Apple Trees & Holly (June 6th 2026)
Photo 5: Fallen Apples and Deer (June 6th 2026)
A month later (3rd July) and the work is progressing nicely ...
Photo 6: Apple Blossom, Green Woodpecker and Pearl-bordered Fritillary (July 3rd 2026)
Photo 7: River Wye, Kingfisher and Orchards (7th July 2026)
As soon as the artwork is completed, I'll post new photos
Never memorize something that you can look up - Albert Einstein
One of my citizen science test sites is in a small steep sided wooded area within the city limits of Hereford. The site is regularly flooded during the winter season when the River Wye is in full spate. It has the feel of a temperate rainforest and is popular with the dog-walking fraternity. Being close to housing estates, shops, etc., it is also a favourite spot for the younger generation (Gen Z??) who like to drink beer and smoke cannabis and, for some unfathomable reason, scatter their litter around & dump supermarket trolleys in the brook.
Figure 1: Test Site U033 on Newton Brook (h/t Google Maps)
Figure 1 shows the approximate position of my test site (X) on the Newton Brook which follows the treeline towards the River Wye. As you can see, it is a short narrow stretch of woodland, about 200 metres in length.
I took this short panoramic video on 29th July 2026 just after I had finished testing. You can see the brook itself in the first six seconds, followed by the path heading north to the River Wye (at 7 seconds), the main wooded area and the path heading south (at 20 seconds) from whence I came and will return.
Video 1: Panoramic View of Surrounding Woodland at Site U033 (Newton Brook)
The brook is currently at historically low levels but is still flowing (just about). The woodland becomes a lake when the River Wye level exceeds 3 metres at Hereford Bridge, the nearest hydrology monitoring station. This can be quite often during the wet season (October to March) as Figure 2 shows.
Figure 2: River Wye Level at Hereford Bridge (h/t Environmental Agency)
If you watched the short video above, you will have noticed that some of the trees are at a funny angle - presumably as a result of the regular flooding. The brook itself is polluted and there is very little evidence of aquatic life apart from the odd minnow and freshwater shrimp. We are hoping Newton Brook will be adopted as part of the Hereford River City Project and upgraded to a 'living' river to be enjoyed by everyone.
I started writing this blog post so I could put up a picture of a wonderful bracket fungus spotted during my last two testing visits. Possibly an example of Dryad's Saddle (aka Pheasants Back)? I have uploaded to the iNaturalist app to see if it can be identified by a more knowledgeable mycologist (fungi expert). First spotted on the 26th July (Photo 1 & Photo 2) when the main 'saddle' was at least two-feet wide.
Photo 1: Bracket Fungi (26th July 2026)
Photo 2: Bracket Fungi Close-up (26th July 2026)
And again, three days later ...
Photo 3: Bracket Fungi (29th July 2026)
Photo 4: Bracket Fungi Close-up (26th July 2026)
I'm surprised it has lasted this long as i had expected some kids would have smashed it to pieces by now.
On the earlier visit (26th July), I also spotted the remains of a pigeon ...
Photo 5: Dinner Leftovers?
Who or what was the predator? Bird of prey (e.g. sparrowhawk), mammal (e.g. fox or badger) or a domestic cat? I'm not sure a domestic cat would eat a pigeon and a fox/badger would be more likely to drag the prey off to a safer place before eating. My money would be on a sparrowhawk - they are seen in the area and, in my experience, often eat where they make the kill.
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