Thank you to everyone who generously donated towards our new Juniper Grove. Yesterday, 30 young saplings arrived—despite a slightly chaotic (and upside-down!) journey, they have now been carefully planted in the Distillery Garden. They sit between three of our more established saplings, which sadly did not go out to the Wiltshire Downs earlier this year.
As we prepared the planting rows, we quickly reached the region’s characteristic chalk bedrock. Fortunately, juniper thrives in these free-draining, alkaline soils, which help prevent water logging and root rot—key to the plant’s long-term health and resilience.
At this stage, we don’t yet know the ratio of male to female plants, as this can only be confirmed next spring when the male saplings begin to produce pollen cones. Over the next 3–4 years, the grove will remain in its nursery setting, allowing the saplings to mature in a sheltered environment enriched by thyme, lavender, and echinacea. These companion plants not only support pollinators and biodiversity but also echo the wild, herbaceous character found in many of our spirits.
Your support plays a vital role in our ongoing efforts to rewild native juniper across the Downs—thank you for being part of this journey.
