This morning the weather was spring-mild, warmed by the yellowest of sunshine so precious of this time of year. I have been out in the garden, pottering around with my secateurs and trowel, happily loosing track of time. As the weather warms invertebrate life becomes active, and I can safely start to gather, cut back …
Love in a box
Theres no place like home. We've all discovered the truth in that saying in the past year! One of the silver linings of us all spending much more time at home was the opportunity to feather our nests - perhaps a deep clean behind the fridge (eeww...), maybe we splashed out on some new soft …
The Tale of Mr. Tod
January is the month of the fox. As we head back to work in the new year, despite the passing of the winter solstice last month days are still short we often find ourselves commuting in the dark. A flash of movement in the headlights, a brief encounter on the evening dog-walk or trip to …
Feeding Garden Birds – from your kitchen to their tables…
The festive season and feasting go hand in hand. Christmas is notorious for triggering over-eating and over-buying. Come January, our winter-vitamin-deficient bodies are craving green, fresh foods - and anyway, more than half of us are on some kind of self-imposed diet! It is estimated that every Christmas, around 270,000 tons of food is wasted …
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Best ever picnic cake
I've always been a fan of the stay-cation. Maybe it's all the Famous Five books I read as a child, or simply my love of my local downland landscapes and magical wealden woods, but there’s few things that get me more excited than packing a picnic of tasty goodies and heading out for a walk …
Wildlife Garden FAQ – Where have all ‘my’ birds gone?
If 2020 has one silver lining it is the resurgence in the popularity and revaluing of our gardens and green spaces. More and more people this year are discovering how wonderful gardens can be for our mental health during difficult times and at the same time, the delights of home grown produce or blooms and …
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Approaching Midsummer – one notebook page away from my favourite time of year.
I was expecting this year to be a momentous one, but never anticipated it would be for the reasons it turned out to be! As we approach midsummer, I’m glad for the opportunity to pause and take a breather, to reach the end of the headlong race that is spring, this year more than most. …
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Poem Inspired by Walking This Morning, at The Trundle West Sussex.
A Drop Spindle: Come Cutters (On climbing a hill fort and encountering swifts, on a windy day in early June) We climbed a hill today in sweet June-lightThat wind thrill, silvered grasses, chalk-bright.Below afield, far and broadTown and city spreads, cathedral hoard,Woollen woods and plastic seas,Skylark peals on quickened breeze.The lark ascending, old soul-kindle,Shelley’s muse, …
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Time to bring back the Countryside Code?
Work place, resource, wild space, home. Recreation, inspiration, mental health and physical therapy. Water storage and food production, fuel and fibre. Heritage, identity, research lab, sustainability. What does the countryside mean to you? I can't imagine living in the city. In fact, I can imagine it, and I know I'd hate it. I'm a native …
June
June is the month of Midsummer, of long evenings and sun, flowers and picnics. It’s also my birthday this month, so of course there will be cake! All of spring builds towards June, the mid point of our calendars, the longest day and shortest night, the pinnacle of growth and canopy. The oak leaves are …
