This is the ideal time of year to lay turf. Cultivate the soil thoroughly down to a fine tilth. Rake it meticulously to a level or an even gradient, picking out stones as you go. Tread it firm in one direction, then again at a right angle. Lightly rake out your footprints and make good any humps or hollows. Now, lay your turf, placing it carefully and tucking the edges snugly together, but eschewing the desire to whack it, which simply moves it about. Dress the edges with fine soil, brushing it in as you go. Then, leave it alone.
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A well-connected rural playground with 23 acres on the edge of the South Downs National ParkOld House Farm is an impressive family home with a wealth of amenities that would inspire any rural passion.
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The UK gets its first ‘European stork village’ — and it's in West SussexAlthough the mortality rate among white storks can be up to 90%, the future looks rosy for breeding pairs in southern England.
