Not much to report, there are a few pictures so that you can see how the garden is developing. We have had some great Bat viewing evenings, most nights between about 9-45 and 11-00 we are able to watch and listen to the bats although they only seem to make fleeting visits. We have also been watching the Blue Tits, who have been hanging around the hedge and darting into it but there is no sign of the boxes being inhabited. Plenty of newts in the pond but no tadpoles, not enough cover in the pond I suspect. Plants are doing well, both in the pond and elsewhere. The Lily is about to flower and so is the Honeysuckle. Red Campion is in full bloom and the Ground Ivy is looking very pretty with it's small blue flowers. The area around the 'stream' is beginning to fill up and I guess within the next 2-3 weeks it will look magnificent (well in my eyes!)
Anyway, here we have 5 pictures.
A picture taken from low level, showing off my ability to lay on the ground, mind you it did take me half an hour to get up!
So as you walk up to the wildlife garden this is the view. The hedge (2nd year) is beginning to fill out and the archway is covered with wild honeysuckle.
A bit out of focus ( I really am not a photographer), this is in the middle of the stinging nettle patch and very pretty too.
This is our Red Campion border, it wasn't our original intention but they do take over a little. We don't mind though as it adds a lot of coulour this time of year. In Spring this border is full of Primroses and in June there will be hundreds of Wild Strawberry, that, although very small, are delicious and sweet - not that I know as the children eat them before I get a chance!
This is the view down towards the pond. On the left is the stinging nettle patch (good for Butterflies). On the right is a Bird Cherry tree and in the centre is Guelder Rose surrounded by Red Campion. The hedge on the right is now in full leaf and looking majestic.
So there you have it, the last update of May 2001