67 At the grand age of 82, he successfully manages Fast
Rabbit Farm virtually single-handedly, but admits to being slightly envious of the National Trust’s army of gardeners. He pays Lorna to work in the poly-tunnel during
the week and retired Dartmouth Community College headmaster, Keith Grey, volunteers on Sundays. “Unfortunately, we don’t make enough money to
pay wages for a number of people. “Keith has taken to spending an hour every morning cutting out brambles, which is a godsend. There is one little old gent who, when he visits, brings secateurs with him and does a bit of brambling every time, which is also a godsend. “I would like some help, volunteers would be very much appreciated. If somebody just came and
“Last year we had a really big magnolia down by the lake that was just beginning to come out when we had a really severe frost and everything got killed off on it, even the young growth. “I really thought the tree wasn’t going to survive but thankfully it did and this year it’s been absolutely beautiful.” Another unforeseen moment left Alan flummoxed. “A change of name for the farm was the result of
providing enthusiasm for an ageing collie dog. “The dog was an eager rabbiter but was puzzled by
the cry of “Look there’s a hare!”. But if we said “Look it’s a fast rabbit!” both the puzzlement and the collie vanished. “The kids dared us to change the name of the farm
to Fast Rabbit so we did and it stuck.” “Periodically I’m asked if I keep rabbits - one time I had a mini bus full of children turn up and the driver leant out and said in a foreign accent: “Excuse me, ve vould
deadheaded that would be wonderful.” Alan describes his
evolving garden a “continual challenge” but says he loves working on it every day. “It’s a case of doing what
“I would like some help, volunteers would be
very much
you can and accepting you can’t go beyond that. “People do seem to like the wildness of the garden, and it certainly allows for butterflies and the myriad of different bees. “I’m usually too tired in the evenings when I come in so I don’t bother going out again but I have no need, I love what I’m doing.” Disasters do occur of course, and they are usually
appreciated. If somebody just came and deadheaded that would be wonderful.”
weather related. “Three years ago we had a huge Monterey pine that in the gales snapped off at ground level. It fell on a cypress which it uprooted, which then fell on another pine which again snapped off at the base. It covered a huge area and was a horrific job to clear.
like to see the fast rabbits.” I was so confused seeing the faces peering out all keen for this event, that I couldn’t begin to explain and they drove off.” Alan’s regular jobs include mowing the grass on the miles of pathways and strimming everything else from late September through to the end of March. In between, he tends the trees, plants and shrubs,
develops areas of the gardens and carries out planting duties. His favourite season is spring but says the garden is
lovely in all seasons. “Spring really starts in January because that’s
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