Good question..
We have always liked North Wales, our honeymoon was on the Llyn and Llandudno was many happy holidays when Cara was young. This house was well apart from neighbours - we've had neighbour problems in the past and had a fair bit of land around it, 3 acres plus. The views are incredible.
I didn't realise the effects of altitude and exposure would be as bad as they are here. The soil is poor, thin and stony but, with time and effort, soil can always be improved.
In hindsight, a smaller amount of land lower down may have been better and our second choice area around Cardigan has better climate but money was a factor too. I know a lot of the media gardeners are in the south of England but real gardeners live all over the country.
Besides, we have greenhouses, polytunnel and shelter belts growing now so year on year things become better. We're far more biodiverse than when we got here.
The bottom line is that I must be mad!
