Leighton Moss

I joined the RSPB a few weeks ago so was keen to visit one of their reserves in our area. Leighton Moss is not exactly in our area it's about an hour's drive up the M6 but I'd always wanted to visit.  As it was school holidays and we were looking after the grandchildren we thought it would be a good day out.

On arrival at the visitor centre we were made very welcome and as we had never been before were shown a map of the reserve on a computer screen and told which birds or animals we might see in different places.

There were a lot of professional looking birdwatchers about with big expensive looking binoculars and cameras. I kept my tiny binoculars well hidden and only took photographs when there was no one else about.  The 8 year old was given a children's backpack to look after which he appeared to take quite seriously. He had better binoculars in the backpack than I had. He didn't take a lot of interest in the rest of the contents of the backpack except when I suggested we tried to catch something in the bug catcher.  He found a spider in one of the bird hides but my attempt to catch it resulted in it being squashed.  He lost interest after that and I was not very popular.

The 11 year old was put in charge of doing the 'love birds trail' which was the children's activity for that day. We had to find the information boards for various birds and find out what their mating activity was ie sound, food, movement. That was easy.

We walked along the reed bed paths which led to the bird hides, followed at first by several pheasants.  We recognised various birds along the way, spotted nest boxes on trees, a hedgehog home and noticed how branches had been piled up in places to provide homes for wildlife.  I've done that at home in the garden and at the allotment so was pleased to see I was doing things right.

After a time walking and checking out the bird hides I could see the children were losing interest.  Hunger was taking over and we needed to get back to the car for our picnic lunch.  There were picnic benches close to the centre but it was not a day to eat outside.  It was cold, damp and the benches were wet so we settled for eating in the car.

After lunch we explored the garden area and all agreed it would look lovely later on in the year when things were growing properly. I liked this area, there was plenty to interest the children. There was a big bird feeding area where we watched the birds and the squirrel on the feeders.  The children walked through a willow tunnel structure and then sat inside a big tepee made out of thick branches under the trees. We thought we could copy that idea in the woodland den back at the allotment. There was a big bug hotel called 'Bugingham Palace' It was much bigger than our bug hotel at the allotment.

After another walk we went into the shop.  The children had some money to spend and each chose a fluffy bird which made a bird noise when pressed and a bird pen.  They had a blue tit and an owl which made very realistic noises.  I was worried that we would have to suffer these bird calls on the journey home but thankfully both children fell asleep. We must have tired them out.

Woodland planting

 The woodland area in our garden tends to get a bit neglected. That's because it's hidden away at the top of the garden through a little gate. I clear it up about two or three times a year. But as it's a bit of a wildlife area it doesn't look too bad for being left to look after itself. Spring is the time when It gets its first tidy up. There are lots of crocuses which start to emerge about now so I like to clear up all the leaves and tree branches which have fallen during the autumn and winter and reveal some colour from these flowers. There's ivy, vinca and honeysuckle scrambling along the fence too which always need cutting back. I noticed this week that the vinca is flowering, I love those little blue flowers at this time of year. There's also a clump of hellebores which is looking lovely.

I started the clear up last week. Once I'd cleared away all the debris and done the cutting back I was able to see what else is coming through and soon to flower. There was a small clump of mini daffodils amongst the crocus. I thought some snowdrops were needed, every woodland garden should have snowdrops. I planted three little pots, but they looked lost--you don't get many snowdrops in a little pot. I shall have to get more. I also bought some trays of tete a tete daffodils for some more instant colour. Holly the cat joined me as I planted and must have thought it was some sort of game as she kept digging up the bulbs--naughty cat!

Planting  so early in the year I had to be careful of not disturbing any other plants which had not started to show through.  The soil is  a bit compacted with roots which can make planting difficult.   Plant labels always seem to disappear through the winter and I often struggle to remember what is in there. What are those tiny leaves just poking through the soil? Ah yes I know--Brunnera!
It's looking much better now, more colourful and very spring like.

Watching and waiting

There's a lot of watching and waiting going on in the garden and the allotment  at the moment. I'm watching the weather each day to see if it's OK to dig or hoe the soil. Can't do that if the soil is frozen. I'm watching the weather reports --waiting for the weather to warm up, planning the week ahead--can we go to the allotment? Is it going to be dry? We 've actually had some really lovely dry days this last week . Cold but not enough to stop us working, and sunny too. There's so much I want to do but it's too early. But there are other things I can do while I'm waiting.

I've been watching for signs of Spring--new shoots emerging . And I've seen them! In the woodland garden at home the crocus are there almost ready to flower, the hellebores are flowering and the daffodils are poking their heads through the soil. So are the bluebells, but that's a few months away yet. At the allotment the primroses are flowering under the big tree and the bulbs pots I planted last year are emerging again--mini daffodils, crocus, snowdrops.

I've been watching the birds. There are lots about in the garden and the allotment. I have put up some bird feeders on the allotments. Plot 8 is just so full of birds it's wonderful to watch them in the hedge and on the feeders. There are sparrows in the privet behind the shed--so much activity there. There are birds in the shed roof too, we can hear them. I joined the RSPB after I'd done the Big Garden Bird Watch and I got a bird nest box as part of my new members pack. Richard fixed it to the big tree so we will be watching for signs of activity in there.

Watching and waiting. The allotments are quiet at the moment but there is a feeling that something will happen soon. The weather will warm up and work will begin. This waiting time is good in a way because it gives us chance to catch up with other jobs which sometimes get neglected when there's a lot of sowing, planting and growing to do. This week I have been cutting back a spirea which grows  against the fence in different places around the plot. In some places it's a bit of a nuisance, it seems to have taken over and gets in the way when we are working. So I've cut it right back and I'm going to plant something like a clematis or honeysuckle which will scramble along the fence between ours and the next door plot. I've also done some work in the woodland garden at home, clearing up debris, cutting back and planting  snowdrops. My next job is to clean out the growhouses.

Soon everything will burst into life and all the hard work will begin, in the meantime I'm enjoying the peace and calm that the watching and waiting brings.

 

New neighbours

There's been a lot of activity behind plot 8 recently. It's always been a bit of a jungle up there beyond our back hedge. We had often peered through the hedge unable to make out how far it extended and whether anyone was using it. We decided that no one was as it looked so overgrown. But before Christmas the council had some trees cut down on our plot and the surrounding ones. Read more about that here.

The tree cutting work revealed a massive plot behind us and to help get the allotment waiting list down the council had decided to divide it into four smaller ones. We have been observing the work with great interest for a few weeks now as workmen cleared away rubbish and put up the boundary fences.  Whoever takes on these plots will have to be determined  and hard working, because they won't be easy plots to start off with. That's true of most allotments on our site, none of them are flat pieces of land which just need to be dug over and weeded. They all seem to have big bumps in them, tons of rubbish and maybe drainage problems. Which is probably why a lot of people give up with their allotments after the first year.

As we've watched the progress of these plots we've wondered who would want to take on a piece of land in such a bad state.  The trees have been cut down but the tree stumps are still there and probably lots of underground roots too. But having taken on and transformed two very difficult plots ourselves in the last three years we know that it is possible with a lot of hard work.

The workmen have gone now and the allotments are ready for new tenants. We've already seen people on the top plot working hard, we wish them well and we're looking forward to seeing more new neighbours soon.

Snowdrops for candlemas

Today is Candlemas Sunday when we celebrate the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of  Mary 40 days after the birth of her son Jesus. We think of Jesus the light of the world.

There is a saying:

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain,
Winter won't come again.

Today has been dry and sunny although very cold, I don't think winter has ended yet.

This time of year candles and snowdrops are quite significant for me as I think of certain family members  who have died around this time.

 Snowdrops are a symbol of hope, so although we may have more bad weather to come they are the first signs of new growth in the garden and a promise of much more good things to look forward to.

 There were snowdrops in church this morning picked from the church garden. I wish I had so many snowdrops in my garden.