tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32448799735777497212024-03-14T00:46:32.903-07:00My Wild LifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-23151549758582138852014-06-29T13:54:00.001-07:002014-06-29T13:54:48.279-07:00Glorious gardening weather<p dir="ltr">Well the last few weeks have been brilliant for the garden if not necessarily for us. The sunshine, showers and general warmth have made everything grow vigorously and the garden is looking lush.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I now have in the ground :</p>
<p dir="ltr">Runner beans<br>
French beans<br>
Pumpkins<br>
Mixed salad<br>
Carrots - autumn king and chantaney <br>
Courgettes<br>
Brussel sprouts<br>
Maris piper main crop potatoes<br>
Second early potatoes<br>
Cucamelon<br>
Ridge cucumbers<br>
Savoy cabbage<br>
Beetroot<br>
Peas<br>
Mange tout<br>
Sweetcorn<br>
Globe artichoke<br>
Tomatoes - normal and cherry<br>
Bell peppers</p>
<p dir="ltr">I've also been clearing quite a bit of the garden ready for a) the grass seed for the rest of the lawn in September and b) for the cottage garden border. I've planted a few of the seeds already and have included the likes of black eyed susan, delphiniums,  hollyhock,  foxglove, wallflower and sweet williams to go with the aqualegia that are already in there.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The hanging baskets and tubs have also been done  and are starting to fill out.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The clematis we put in to grow over an arch down the bottom of the garden is shooting up and I'm training it to hopefully cover as much of the cheap arch as possible.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also you may remember the nest of blue tits that I had a camera on. Well sadly the nest was abandoned and all of the chicks died. Now I'm not sure what happened but I think the male was either predated or was scared off as my next door neighbours cut down a bush next to the box and the female tried to care for them on her own but she too eventually abandoned the chicks. Sad but this is nature and hopefully there will be success in the box next <u>season</u><br>
</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-78584425554311850542014-05-25T13:30:00.002-07:002014-05-25T13:30:54.278-07:0010/05/14 - 25/05/14 Planting out!<br />
I have done a lot of hardening off over the last couple of weeks ready for a good bit of weather to allow me to plant out. My greenhouse has been full to the brim of seedlings and now it's almost empty.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I didn't want to got and get pea sticks out of the wood so I decided to build a frame so that up the one side I could grow peas and up the other mange tout.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0flIwu19PbRbgH0J8KPBiG7VrgVPPBP8eay__dnSOaF4bq7I7i9zfPrTngoL4bNshDKrx7EevEqSS6RgRvHUuf6RQmsN71G76wuu3tyBzq61FGkIv6eOeoo9UtDR5n4NgKYUekBWjPXP/s1600/20140518_184107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0flIwu19PbRbgH0J8KPBiG7VrgVPPBP8eay__dnSOaF4bq7I7i9zfPrTngoL4bNshDKrx7EevEqSS6RgRvHUuf6RQmsN71G76wuu3tyBzq61FGkIv6eOeoo9UtDR5n4NgKYUekBWjPXP/s1600/20140518_184107.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yfkQDIpYkDl6ZTOyf-gqfG5fcSv38YbJxgSwKGUFRK9Abxoa2AuhLWOfn35Yi8hI57IHoul3iY9C2b3Xn_rYJDCcmaK2v6M0jSq9pgD4Q6nWJvL4YgHR0TqLvZB8-2Rdn8bWrcDI4Nmc/s1600/20140525_201128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yfkQDIpYkDl6ZTOyf-gqfG5fcSv38YbJxgSwKGUFRK9Abxoa2AuhLWOfn35Yi8hI57IHoul3iY9C2b3Xn_rYJDCcmaK2v6M0jSq9pgD4Q6nWJvL4YgHR0TqLvZB8-2Rdn8bWrcDI4Nmc/s1600/20140525_201128.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkOoyPBMWrXuy8lZmMxhb6gjB6kZCiqlc3tN4N4ZtJzsiTXKziV61OwwBu0Llp9SuIjLSZxb7jGmsrNdMxs9PkK0JO-gvxTg8qaGCaeybqFWmJK1Wx7ZO4eyyR-Z1TScq0IUekjn0oGjc/s1600/20140518_184123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkOoyPBMWrXuy8lZmMxhb6gjB6kZCiqlc3tN4N4ZtJzsiTXKziV61OwwBu0Llp9SuIjLSZxb7jGmsrNdMxs9PkK0JO-gvxTg8qaGCaeybqFWmJK1Wx7ZO4eyyR-Z1TScq0IUekjn0oGjc/s1600/20140518_184123.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now I know its not much to look at but I'm quite proud of myself for building it. We will just have to see how long it lasts. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've also planted out my pumpkins in a bed I prepared a few weeks ago but turning it over and adding a lot of well rotted horse manure, as these are hungry plants. I'm hoping for some big ones this year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can just see them through the bean row with runner beans in the foreground and french beans towards the back.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDzKdPfNvuZHBJ8XUo9Hb-wKyqrJbhHUxRkE4lrO6BsjyQKBJNQz5bX75o0O3Kyc0DmkOBKBzxZ5OcUW1ajDQqim3RQME6bKtVs5vxLXhbrtfzRIH57dhfMMnb7PVzJo2pFWX7UqNdwvR/s1600/20140525_201142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDzKdPfNvuZHBJ8XUo9Hb-wKyqrJbhHUxRkE4lrO6BsjyQKBJNQz5bX75o0O3Kyc0DmkOBKBzxZ5OcUW1ajDQqim3RQME6bKtVs5vxLXhbrtfzRIH57dhfMMnb7PVzJo2pFWX7UqNdwvR/s640/20140525_201142.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The main crop of Maris Piper potatoes seems to have shot up over last week or so, I have earthed most up as far as I intend to with about 12 inches of soil over each. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiNHZYOi3kLkNU0zaCQ94-uNy2lSh6M8ekZq8X1JXP5IIU_VJUMmeUjw6KlW11q6PCdKTm80P-xCH75V0d0OMQETauPxr10BwiCC__kNImZY9TbblG5LrtEdFrk9_nH5JEyeB_DEhO-l6/s1600/20140525_201101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiNHZYOi3kLkNU0zaCQ94-uNy2lSh6M8ekZq8X1JXP5IIU_VJUMmeUjw6KlW11q6PCdKTm80P-xCH75V0d0OMQETauPxr10BwiCC__kNImZY9TbblG5LrtEdFrk9_nH5JEyeB_DEhO-l6/s1600/20140525_201101.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Planted out the sweetcorn as well, first time trying this and I have planted it in a block of 9, I have had to sow 2 seeds though as I damaged 2 of the seedlings when planting out. Hopefully they will catch up!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpE7HLmq4L6Gpi3BXFqZovlWBJdhJZyo_D0GSU4peA4G__vy_mTXWjF87nql4iT1Sm0DGsVYSuGwyqu53KXhnAOgDHZbmsjmAEgywgNBTqmzJhQpZY2GqPFZXyTkS02buIk2kQQoura3K/s1600/20140525_201114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpE7HLmq4L6Gpi3BXFqZovlWBJdhJZyo_D0GSU4peA4G__vy_mTXWjF87nql4iT1Sm0DGsVYSuGwyqu53KXhnAOgDHZbmsjmAEgywgNBTqmzJhQpZY2GqPFZXyTkS02buIk2kQQoura3K/s1600/20140525_201114.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have decided to grow Cucamelons for the first time this year and having found an offer on Suttons for 2 free large plug plants I thought this would be the best option as I hadn't grown them before. Though I have also bought seeds and planted 2 which have also germinated, so I better hope the family like them now lol.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KRPbYYhf4Eu438OZqiqv8f_4GNFGIC6Yci_UJPE_eMUAdaHAUpKFXzv_6_QcxPuMK89BOV6P-rPh1vmsXNc3q9x3ENrJHMUV_KkodqRmu2FJ-LOOuM6jgiUM6u17EGEp2VPor50dMnli/s1600/20140525_201227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KRPbYYhf4Eu438OZqiqv8f_4GNFGIC6Yci_UJPE_eMUAdaHAUpKFXzv_6_QcxPuMK89BOV6P-rPh1vmsXNc3q9x3ENrJHMUV_KkodqRmu2FJ-LOOuM6jgiUM6u17EGEp2VPor50dMnli/s1600/20140525_201227.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Tomatoes in the greenhouse are coming along well, having also shot up over the last few weeks. I normally plant in pots or growbags but decided on planting straight into the ground in the greenhouse this year, I will have to see if this makes a difference. As you can see in the pic I have companion planted marigolds as they apparently help to keep aphids at bay, only time will tell. I also seem to have 2 wayward carrot seedlings in there which I have decided to leave and see how they get on lol.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4smRsZjbe_fB8_IxXv3ijqZuJryqOkpaNVnRTL-1CSYlYw1B0JHPg_Yj1tGWVh0K8W79EV_fgai2wd-tVVzG6VQsqbNTVmq-LELhyWq3zmB3_h6Iz48JC5M1ADsxP9aRHpNn4ps2bPudn/s1600/20140525_201250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4smRsZjbe_fB8_IxXv3ijqZuJryqOkpaNVnRTL-1CSYlYw1B0JHPg_Yj1tGWVh0K8W79EV_fgai2wd-tVVzG6VQsqbNTVmq-LELhyWq3zmB3_h6Iz48JC5M1ADsxP9aRHpNn4ps2bPudn/s1600/20140525_201250.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Gooseberry bush has a lot of fruit on it this year, which is not bad for a cheapy plant from Wilko's last year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kZg6iCxVoES6D4DA_VQ-nDlqRaZZ60WdWIHg33240jkE-EHnR1IAvJDaTHjOi-WJ7siRjg1Al-E6xh2nrxV5S46C7gFAjLJa1p7HIDCl3yLxddVw1Q1_t3jqVrGGNtzO8L8MuKKJzMTQ/s1600/20140525_201154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kZg6iCxVoES6D4DA_VQ-nDlqRaZZ60WdWIHg33240jkE-EHnR1IAvJDaTHjOi-WJ7siRjg1Al-E6xh2nrxV5S46C7gFAjLJa1p7HIDCl3yLxddVw1Q1_t3jqVrGGNtzO8L8MuKKJzMTQ/s1600/20140525_201154.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We also did a bit of work on the rest of the garden and have put an arch across the main path down to the greenhouse, in the hopes that it would partition that section of the garden off a bit more. We have planted a clematis Montana Elizabeth over it which seems to be going great guns at the moment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0y5sKKW7hlm6voJwryDbztS895-Kx_NRViAF16jiqo96u4w6HbIXG7CsanZ1dy4FX39Cgw0wfjJAH8B2SIKODqgVRoA_lteLx2qQpGkrE1BL6XT_R2oISotUJSq_ZH9DIVFX9IOofy9wP/s1600/20140525_201315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0y5sKKW7hlm6voJwryDbztS895-Kx_NRViAF16jiqo96u4w6HbIXG7CsanZ1dy4FX39Cgw0wfjJAH8B2SIKODqgVRoA_lteLx2qQpGkrE1BL6XT_R2oISotUJSq_ZH9DIVFX9IOofy9wP/s1600/20140525_201315.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finally there are a few seedlings left in the greenhouse to come out including these Mange tout </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvYjemdARl4mPzNmgFhdCfScFGlL-ifrnqgtZvAeK3ozKoE-aSDe5zYEARIFdkziBKGwBUK2L6bPlt738hRFd5U3lYRRv51uFCeO2mVB6T7PYUyCqM0DO6yuhxpA0i7aaYHM0g3NwGoyD/s1600/20140525_201236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvYjemdARl4mPzNmgFhdCfScFGlL-ifrnqgtZvAeK3ozKoE-aSDe5zYEARIFdkziBKGwBUK2L6bPlt738hRFd5U3lYRRv51uFCeO2mVB6T7PYUyCqM0DO6yuhxpA0i7aaYHM0g3NwGoyD/s1600/20140525_201236.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These courgettes</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVb7w4ocII4sJSN5AEZeydTTvdRiUkptd6m16VSSsS8p-lLwl_xkTy8GxCu4PY4nVnu8AAqoH0o6Qm-iJOpfjogmcO8VKmPyTipxYhuzkcKlOBA6izsi4AM-sUMWp8Kr0nYkAxpipzK3QM/s1600/20140525_201239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVb7w4ocII4sJSN5AEZeydTTvdRiUkptd6m16VSSsS8p-lLwl_xkTy8GxCu4PY4nVnu8AAqoH0o6Qm-iJOpfjogmcO8VKmPyTipxYhuzkcKlOBA6izsi4AM-sUMWp8Kr0nYkAxpipzK3QM/s1600/20140525_201239.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And the globe artichoke as well as cucumbers and the sweet peppers </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX_zFl3lezNiLGdLstRr4eWnftVNW-Y4FKKjYXNkApU0ZbMtE4IHnsRqlXRnidQU4hDvrVJ1AlBdUgWLwCip_pMjRMvyumbRNjdL6nftztJCnInmQ2cTgYDRZWWyv3M4QPDCYs48VI_a5/s1600/20140525_201243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX_zFl3lezNiLGdLstRr4eWnftVNW-Y4FKKjYXNkApU0ZbMtE4IHnsRqlXRnidQU4hDvrVJ1AlBdUgWLwCip_pMjRMvyumbRNjdL6nftztJCnInmQ2cTgYDRZWWyv3M4QPDCYs48VI_a5/s1600/20140525_201243.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-82729037361123887452014-05-05T13:52:00.001-07:002014-05-05T13:52:40.635-07:00Seedlings and babies!Well to say the last two weeks have been hectic is an understatement with my son, Noah being born on the 26th April at 8pm. However, with his birth also came 2 weeks off of work with paternity leave and<br />
the weather has been OK so I have managed to do quite a bit in the garden.<br />
<br />
First off is to give an update on the blue tits I have nesting in the office nest box. She has laid 9 eggs in total and began incubating them on the 3/5/14 so in around 2 weeks we should expect chicks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciT9bPPvbmfBhbgj2l4jUbn1dRa1_jp0N3XbYGyO6jr9z3nHE6xmz1VtP8_x4s6iSbG1FtSM_6QA9Wxk3gcqMoQ9Nw8XEylhQPqWF8M8ixGFJi8xJFe4-7N7sd-TAGoSheuffShl4mb4i/s1600/20140503_104752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciT9bPPvbmfBhbgj2l4jUbn1dRa1_jp0N3XbYGyO6jr9z3nHE6xmz1VtP8_x4s6iSbG1FtSM_6QA9Wxk3gcqMoQ9Nw8XEylhQPqWF8M8ixGFJi8xJFe4-7N7sd-TAGoSheuffShl4mb4i/s1600/20140503_104752.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On the gardening front I have had to replant my sweet pea as although they germinated the seedlings were pale and weak. The new lot have come up really well so fingers crossed I have some good flowers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The veg is all doing well, the runner & french beans have come up really well and are ready for planting out next weekend, so they are currently being hardend off during the day along with the sunflowers and pumpkins.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have done a bit more on the veg patch too with the been row, pea wigwam and cloche all out. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHJglRpX_BDmSRAhrDCpeqPQThnP1dSA36MjOMsrEAr20Scapxq6Dhbz2FXABKkTiudbbbNjw9glCaVej9RXlPoupa-1sH8-yCxkonPsY1Szss8QGTOI83am8zdcePNzsy6tVZ7UMiT-Q/s1600/20140505_141007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHJglRpX_BDmSRAhrDCpeqPQThnP1dSA36MjOMsrEAr20Scapxq6Dhbz2FXABKkTiudbbbNjw9glCaVej9RXlPoupa-1sH8-yCxkonPsY1Szss8QGTOI83am8zdcePNzsy6tVZ7UMiT-Q/s1600/20140505_141007.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_i7rVOpmAifSuLdrkKCFypEBrLGHMWmYUypX-eJpWMZWSVjH0g9AUN7C6pxNTLpqp64MPTR4nEbp_C8s1bMjBhM_qPbMWTRDVyxtMH7hNAF8lOz-qcd0E2PGbX8SbyjNDcqAW1XmY_2R/s1600/20140505_141017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_i7rVOpmAifSuLdrkKCFypEBrLGHMWmYUypX-eJpWMZWSVjH0g9AUN7C6pxNTLpqp64MPTR4nEbp_C8s1bMjBhM_qPbMWTRDVyxtMH7hNAF8lOz-qcd0E2PGbX8SbyjNDcqAW1XmY_2R/s1600/20140505_141017.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The raised bed has the builders fencing around it to stop the local cats from using it as a litter box. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In here I have spring onions and leeks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf1SdxqBAi7uZuMihuYQv47FzA94ycFryHiaV6Ze4JuQVQD2ikSBeiSkGgsY_oU2JebbwvjcT_9e19dIpNw_nkhavU08U5fjVS3qrqMzXB9vhLgT9lTluwfzAC7FGTinbczHePIoP-ShH/s1600/20140504_141355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf1SdxqBAi7uZuMihuYQv47FzA94ycFryHiaV6Ze4JuQVQD2ikSBeiSkGgsY_oU2JebbwvjcT_9e19dIpNw_nkhavU08U5fjVS3qrqMzXB9vhLgT9lTluwfzAC7FGTinbczHePIoP-ShH/s1600/20140504_141355.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Leeks</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ltjp6M5VBS5niaPUxwqvBuWjv_UGNApZngq5FMcqguJSOgLP8T0be4mawDw892KNExmLRzN8SYCGSLRIj0ejWERhrGXDn8N4lKBEHaAeRRtdiLUzGd930p5qTcJiNAUgSTliGNMRhYhK/s1600/20140504_141341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ltjp6M5VBS5niaPUxwqvBuWjv_UGNApZngq5FMcqguJSOgLP8T0be4mawDw892KNExmLRzN8SYCGSLRIj0ejWERhrGXDn8N4lKBEHaAeRRtdiLUzGd930p5qTcJiNAUgSTliGNMRhYhK/s1600/20140504_141341.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Spring onions</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the cloche I've planted out my savoy cabbages and brussel sprouts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1WxRhIEpEAUBvc3aCAd7kAJGY1dcNEYJRXFajj8BOFmEy8LESLdfJeRj84SKF2hTlQaXX2zqqT9ITdEIBVxdHcf4LCkZjkiof_13-Mscsvj_uiS3ABLmkBi7-fB9ydbxDX1NDvRXFlOB/s1600/20140505_135101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1WxRhIEpEAUBvc3aCAd7kAJGY1dcNEYJRXFajj8BOFmEy8LESLdfJeRj84SKF2hTlQaXX2zqqT9ITdEIBVxdHcf4LCkZjkiof_13-Mscsvj_uiS3ABLmkBi7-fB9ydbxDX1NDvRXFlOB/s1600/20140505_135101.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Brussel sprouts</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKbH2R4hvW2tEgt-GH3N94kPC5zNrl7UOvLhaiCtzsKIx56yFc7D1R8nFBYLawZxKB8q_iecwYwweGmwL2_VRGs3jpYx0qbNGjzQXGL8tsny81B1oyMqkJe5LP_Q7C3yR7V6SSutrxJjk/s1600/20140504_133908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKbH2R4hvW2tEgt-GH3N94kPC5zNrl7UOvLhaiCtzsKIx56yFc7D1R8nFBYLawZxKB8q_iecwYwweGmwL2_VRGs3jpYx0qbNGjzQXGL8tsny81B1oyMqkJe5LP_Q7C3yR7V6SSutrxJjk/s1600/20140504_133908.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Savoy cabbages.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally I also had chance to plant my asparagus crowns I started my digging a trench and as my soil is quite clayey I dug in some well rotted manure and some grit. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZx6lX8qbCT-oEIeXuYgGLcj43tN3Sv_sB34PKkQd4zoMqoZwMo1hOk5MdM3nXwLaHmRlL2mdZC4JWnlwDpGYtTRQUaSBddJp5IFs9g8Q33fzcCMTAaMYpsruan8ms1fICKUaA3iGoPnq/s1600/20140430_193442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZx6lX8qbCT-oEIeXuYgGLcj43tN3Sv_sB34PKkQd4zoMqoZwMo1hOk5MdM3nXwLaHmRlL2mdZC4JWnlwDpGYtTRQUaSBddJp5IFs9g8Q33fzcCMTAaMYpsruan8ms1fICKUaA3iGoPnq/s1600/20140430_193442.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I then created 2 ridges within the trench and placed my asparagus crowns along the ridge.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMPwTP1iQ-mq6-vp-YqiEjZ-iCU4E9wyjDYh2MVGzrbWPWLltpa7DDtAUobFX9zrU3zeGGFtoKz2se2FS013DYxHqhtpXK8mr1MOOEWLxn-VQdXvwdqN336O_5Cto6mdeDbAVbY025hQv/s1600/20140430_194122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMPwTP1iQ-mq6-vp-YqiEjZ-iCU4E9wyjDYh2MVGzrbWPWLltpa7DDtAUobFX9zrU3zeGGFtoKz2se2FS013DYxHqhtpXK8mr1MOOEWLxn-VQdXvwdqN336O_5Cto6mdeDbAVbY025hQv/s1600/20140430_194122.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I then back filled the trench and in 2 years I'll be able to harvest my very own asparagus. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-34057249706629950092014-04-20T11:01:00.002-07:002014-04-20T11:01:39.644-07:00Animal roomAs promised this blog would also be about the animals that I keep as pets. When we moved into the bungalow it had a single garage which I decided to convert into an animal room come office where by I could escape from the family and keep the animals secure without them actually being in the house. We split the garage into thirds with the front half being used as a storage shed for bikes etc and the back two 3rds is my office.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBNJ71LGr2a1LzuUhikNl8XhxV7EqJhfw6I0hScd9Vo8TBQVugxQEJkh47HtOrqMxAJ_EbuTHQWOJx3jwnkAeLydlJro_MxjFfa7WJDDl3rrwRXfLpE7L6HGTLj3fnViTXTZ3QdDp_G2q/s1600/20140420_103158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBNJ71LGr2a1LzuUhikNl8XhxV7EqJhfw6I0hScd9Vo8TBQVugxQEJkh47HtOrqMxAJ_EbuTHQWOJx3jwnkAeLydlJro_MxjFfa7WJDDl3rrwRXfLpE7L6HGTLj3fnViTXTZ3QdDp_G2q/s1600/20140420_103158.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the crested gecko tanks - Scully, Salem and Bob live here</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On top of them is my Pacman frog Dexter on the left & my Anery Corn snake Merlin on the right</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqIZFB6jL3zgogQv8_TmsK1RC_Bv2mpaGtSkmpxQyE7uzMkpmJO_uG2NTgmfNXC_KOra6bDpniBa9CO3ypbk_U2pOe4xwMrv-cbc-QWkHJfGAe8-KrrFhXTkzlYsmqW4zIldRUeziOoJj/s1600/20140420_103201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqIZFB6jL3zgogQv8_TmsK1RC_Bv2mpaGtSkmpxQyE7uzMkpmJO_uG2NTgmfNXC_KOra6bDpniBa9CO3ypbk_U2pOe4xwMrv-cbc-QWkHJfGAe8-KrrFhXTkzlYsmqW4zIldRUeziOoJj/s1600/20140420_103201.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Top left: normal leopard gecko Osiris, Top right: Pastel Royal Arwen</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bottom Left: Empty (at the moment), Right: Super snow leopard gecko Angel</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHitHudKb7LNZd2TrfuPsiCg6tCzIlyro6V4gxZ1SzBxGavAViA09F4jNyhj5J8EU8K9Z6PkWDcVkIXokXlOedUttENw6oPk2jD5QzpFXdxGn0IoR7Ut_lqxUVQW2cZWjhxZGoT7o5EDuS/s1600/20140420_103205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHitHudKb7LNZd2TrfuPsiCg6tCzIlyro6V4gxZ1SzBxGavAViA09F4jNyhj5J8EU8K9Z6PkWDcVkIXokXlOedUttENw6oPk2jD5QzpFXdxGn0IoR7Ut_lqxUVQW2cZWjhxZGoT7o5EDuS/s1600/20140420_103205.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The two large vivs house our Bearded Dragons with Blaze on the top and Hermione and Ron in the bottom</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUCttKg0JhkiOer2j57hkuhodRAUXVJUAuqCrCH2O5OWB2V-T88ab1sESZOZ8iJxzqdMNFSqmEKPTgumuaFRyulBAsVRcz1LZQJvHoAo4bAYmePLcIib7ID_IoZBvv4moWUEBwL7NFnPj/s1600/20140420_103209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUCttKg0JhkiOer2j57hkuhodRAUXVJUAuqCrCH2O5OWB2V-T88ab1sESZOZ8iJxzqdMNFSqmEKPTgumuaFRyulBAsVRcz1LZQJvHoAo4bAYmePLcIib7ID_IoZBvv4moWUEBwL7NFnPj/s1600/20140420_103209.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Heres my 3 Rats, Smokey, Bandit and dusty</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnf44SST6119WUajDTnMOOIkgacAnAXKODbS_uoRtaJOaHxSSewQC6oJG_gLUhe7C4DxkfBFZWyYOyGeuNxojupFyHfSKY4617RYeIG6dSM8bulXcHcUHxuuuk89FKfYALzTPvDSkQ-CaW/s1600/20140420_103223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnf44SST6119WUajDTnMOOIkgacAnAXKODbS_uoRtaJOaHxSSewQC6oJG_gLUhe7C4DxkfBFZWyYOyGeuNxojupFyHfSKY4617RYeIG6dSM8bulXcHcUHxuuuk89FKfYALzTPvDSkQ-CaW/s1600/20140420_103223.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The wild bird food and nest box camera monitor along with my telescope.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCmw9M00Hs1zE6xHw__-KNunF3WxDc6pXk-bhZps57lIE-4idDl9nh6f-Zd7Cli3P8ziXIlDWmEGdmh5p08cIIBi_gxNdrbdkxPdDWMooRAvmqJKqcJogg1n_QDJL2WmPPDgOh3xyHeTW/s1600/20140420_103215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCmw9M00Hs1zE6xHw__-KNunF3WxDc6pXk-bhZps57lIE-4idDl9nh6f-Zd7Cli3P8ziXIlDWmEGdmh5p08cIIBi_gxNdrbdkxPdDWMooRAvmqJKqcJogg1n_QDJL2WmPPDgOh3xyHeTW/s1600/20140420_103215.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My desk with all my OU text books and other paraphernalia.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My next blog post about my pets will have some close ups of the menagerie so you can get a sense of what I actually have. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-75474544173999951632014-04-14T11:31:00.000-07:002014-04-14T11:31:21.174-07:00Greenhouse and potatoesAnother lovely day today so decided to do a bit more on the veg patch. So me and my daughter planted the main crop potatoes, which we decided to go with Maris piper this time and Autumn king carrots.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ7UNRk1K5qe9vXvQhkk1VUFLAcHgJpRehtbnPPKq5ZUwUjAk9Dad5IeybXq6E-JC3tnjqvGuaAA6fliPbGSYTLfVj9jIw-wp32_cLTVJKrd8MW7YViRBI9rp3wv9zArD96_7tQnpjwzT/s1600/_DSC1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ7UNRk1K5qe9vXvQhkk1VUFLAcHgJpRehtbnPPKq5ZUwUjAk9Dad5IeybXq6E-JC3tnjqvGuaAA6fliPbGSYTLfVj9jIw-wp32_cLTVJKrd8MW7YViRBI9rp3wv9zArD96_7tQnpjwzT/s1600/_DSC1515.JPG" height="640" width="358" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And as promised the greenhouse tour.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Firstly my seedling stand. Starting at the top down. We have</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Sweet peas</li>
<li>Sweetcorn and pumpkins</li>
<li>French beans and foxgloves</li>
<li>Savoy cabbages and lettuces </li>
<li>The two bottom shelves are marigolds ready for companion planting with my tomatoes.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xQEpymLsbaC2R4Vaccxl5XUYDBIQQCkqBujN_num6wFtRoJ5l8tLKjbT1-swY14mCZ3ejesGg9xp6bYe5QeZ9dtFi12ywYEUuV37fY7ZIgHwJmcwu-C_2fqaKQwAhftPznncqG5U7PK_/s1600/_DSC1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xQEpymLsbaC2R4Vaccxl5XUYDBIQQCkqBujN_num6wFtRoJ5l8tLKjbT1-swY14mCZ3ejesGg9xp6bYe5QeZ9dtFi12ywYEUuV37fY7ZIgHwJmcwu-C_2fqaKQwAhftPznncqG5U7PK_/s1600/_DSC1524.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZo9K4A11u8P753oX86Kjj5o8MmdrKce9Srix68woQfmqhHlYvqkcgVz_tfrzTmCsDA7GTGAYT0_esCbhFfdtDyT4Hy2-_kxV90m59ZkRXZuAP914Mn5vjh4Zwer2XV5w2IoT5F3UbNO_O/s1600/_DSC1525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZo9K4A11u8P753oX86Kjj5o8MmdrKce9Srix68woQfmqhHlYvqkcgVz_tfrzTmCsDA7GTGAYT0_esCbhFfdtDyT4Hy2-_kxV90m59ZkRXZuAP914Mn5vjh4Zwer2XV5w2IoT5F3UbNO_O/s1600/_DSC1525.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP9hcAxZPLBTdHsWruLXHXtsDRLPgGbBqUVe2o-L48b0eHfiqTc1X950L4ZrHnIX9cwy0OyB-0MVA5M4F91dXt2xo5cu6wVGuZipPbD_a260z3xjQ38BBm4B1B2wlqS-UN_fWx6brh8Yp/s1600/_DSC1527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP9hcAxZPLBTdHsWruLXHXtsDRLPgGbBqUVe2o-L48b0eHfiqTc1X950L4ZrHnIX9cwy0OyB-0MVA5M4F91dXt2xo5cu6wVGuZipPbD_a260z3xjQ38BBm4B1B2wlqS-UN_fWx6brh8Yp/s1600/_DSC1527.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoKFQKXpw-DVkaQ3OsvcBQNQt3wW1qijwkGM_Drl2KmvXQ3qH3PKwO9loGA9x65RRlcfhznZ6i3Gj_QOuFc1d1tga-d4qbENcG3f2bdePhndRFbAIZyNCpFZSS80ELoaSOZ_zU0wQY9Rb/s1600/_DSC1526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoKFQKXpw-DVkaQ3OsvcBQNQt3wW1qijwkGM_Drl2KmvXQ3qH3PKwO9loGA9x65RRlcfhznZ6i3Gj_QOuFc1d1tga-d4qbENcG3f2bdePhndRFbAIZyNCpFZSS80ELoaSOZ_zU0wQY9Rb/s1600/_DSC1526.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Next we have the staging on the right hand side. Once again starting on the top</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Runner beans</li>
<li>Leeks and spring onions and tomatoes normal and cherry</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaNP4ZYAYhPKxpJ_KpqMTVhkJsSm9L50Eq0JOqaVN2KICpruXegGLbCyo8xoWk8kRlt2sCWrTAl9HKQjGdB26S0ljQw4Q-XRNqk7Bn_H2saM9n0J6KPRCtlQcWZWTK7JWURyViboim7Qx/s1600/_DSC1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaNP4ZYAYhPKxpJ_KpqMTVhkJsSm9L50Eq0JOqaVN2KICpruXegGLbCyo8xoWk8kRlt2sCWrTAl9HKQjGdB26S0ljQw4Q-XRNqk7Bn_H2saM9n0J6KPRCtlQcWZWTK7JWURyViboim7Qx/s1600/_DSC1516.JPG" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMBxug84QpNGATJPxIie1rxAG-c6mywJlKP_9pOuOB-gPeKs_S7uAyxgqBgtudddmohsefrHT0OUHuiPpJvgq7BO3NkhGnfSSSGHizrpt-riCBxObDmC4EIYESeywkw35GJy1gJghbbHt/s1600/_DSC1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMBxug84QpNGATJPxIie1rxAG-c6mywJlKP_9pOuOB-gPeKs_S7uAyxgqBgtudddmohsefrHT0OUHuiPpJvgq7BO3NkhGnfSSSGHizrpt-riCBxObDmC4EIYESeywkw35GJy1gJghbbHt/s1600/_DSC1521.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1NBxQL8VI8t8lA46oTFA9XJW3PxNbqagJX3UcPD3jTXpMTMw4ZCMaog0WZJ9JcrnOwZjWuxaVPkDhnfNDEmLGD8J7KlWUDs-ub2zduq3PFYuZYZGr7dA3m28yaBtL06nNEGB13pxfUiP/s1600/_DSC1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1NBxQL8VI8t8lA46oTFA9XJW3PxNbqagJX3UcPD3jTXpMTMw4ZCMaog0WZJ9JcrnOwZjWuxaVPkDhnfNDEmLGD8J7KlWUDs-ub2zduq3PFYuZYZGr7dA3m28yaBtL06nNEGB13pxfUiP/s1600/_DSC1522.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaRnFvsXj8tN4oGlDz2VWZtmvRAq4mxwf_KWVeZvx1OZXUwU3q8MohzyBcCR6aY_OGQAuFeNV4zpIOYD6_FnussbNfThXVrPCGZHaL2qMINjAXUMA2-S5RrCXrH92Eyiq5K3PwZqToEN3/s1600/_DSC1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaRnFvsXj8tN4oGlDz2VWZtmvRAq4mxwf_KWVeZvx1OZXUwU3q8MohzyBcCR6aY_OGQAuFeNV4zpIOYD6_FnussbNfThXVrPCGZHaL2qMINjAXUMA2-S5RrCXrH92Eyiq5K3PwZqToEN3/s1600/_DSC1523.JPG" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-73630050538930361052014-04-13T12:38:00.000-07:002014-04-13T12:38:37.753-07:00All dug over!As I finish half day on a Friday, we decided to go and do a bit of shopping at the new The Range store that's opened in Gloucester. It was extremely busy but I did manage to get the chicken wire I wanted so that I could fence off the veg patch from the dog. <div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vpJ3_0w2WRc9Hi8y1YlRFEIeF5oR5-Qx2brHVEtnTtaRhILz49mXinC9RC0pbl-E9zL9i1XaTw2Xj51aNHCuZrWKBAlhP0Un_3qgnFVVLe2Y9vRSoQj0CVxX_63to5FAx3mr4D-zrt_M/s1600/20140411_180422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vpJ3_0w2WRc9Hi8y1YlRFEIeF5oR5-Qx2brHVEtnTtaRhILz49mXinC9RC0pbl-E9zL9i1XaTw2Xj51aNHCuZrWKBAlhP0Un_3qgnFVVLe2Y9vRSoQj0CVxX_63to5FAx3mr4D-zrt_M/s1600/20140411_180422.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So once it was fenced off I dug the patch over and placed a raised bed on there for carrots and potatoes.</div>
<div>
I dug in some well rotted manure which I got from a friends horse, so now its all ready for planting when the seedlings are ready/ the threat of frosts have passed. ( I will do a post of what I have grown soon and give you a tour of my greenhouse)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRsfaeFYwYXGl7ODUepkLm6KrgQ16sVxzZpzddzEwYg0s6djyt01_y1Zide4Yz9SLh37xYyf82kyGMqtvd2ZF_jfUUBN2pGhAl7X7vrgnGpZk0y668_GjFNyzYu2FXJVYdQUyeInQVoHh/s1600/20140413_192640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRsfaeFYwYXGl7ODUepkLm6KrgQ16sVxzZpzddzEwYg0s6djyt01_y1Zide4Yz9SLh37xYyf82kyGMqtvd2ZF_jfUUBN2pGhAl7X7vrgnGpZk0y668_GjFNyzYu2FXJVYdQUyeInQVoHh/s1600/20140413_192640.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you can see the raised bed has orange fencing on it so that the local cats don't use it as a litter box! I am waiting for a crop cage to arrive which will look a little better. Down on the right hand side of the photo you can see the 'spring garden' ( hey if Monty can have one so can I lol) This will stay as the lower part of my veg patch and is full of fritillaries, primroses and what I think is bluebells. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also had my ten hawthorn bushes arrive which I purchased on ebay. I wanted a wildlife friendly hedge down the bottom of the garden so that a) it gave us a bit more privacy and b) stopped the dog jumping the low fence. I They came all wrapped in paper and cellophane, so I unwrapped them and soaked the roots for a few hours before planting them. Not a very good photo but you get the idea.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JaIp_l_gMtaUUDriY7AFoRKbjgGK7k-IOpRZFSlhCN_kejN6yu7EHFcrFDwn5LF3gAMqedIvhq4ZN_JAjoX1QwD7AUPPTrVjyLjj8vtV4LDXzniC9RT611LqpetydMflbOqrIHIJcNx4/s1600/20140413_192714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JaIp_l_gMtaUUDriY7AFoRKbjgGK7k-IOpRZFSlhCN_kejN6yu7EHFcrFDwn5LF3gAMqedIvhq4ZN_JAjoX1QwD7AUPPTrVjyLjj8vtV4LDXzniC9RT611LqpetydMflbOqrIHIJcNx4/s1600/20140413_192714.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And finally for my birthday at the end of March I was bought a nest box camera, we put it up on the side of my office but thought that it was too late for any takers this year. However, within 5 mins it was being checked out by a pair of blue tits, but they then seemed to disappear for a few weeks until this weekend when I turned the tv on to find that they had started to build a nest.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75vBqyUKI3Bl4XUEnrTLfWf4TgwCeiHOssDa_EJqU8u719ZaDwxzFGD4U19sgodNKPNu94mKrv6bP57NjKsHFy_D8Hq2PvOYOrBOk_akPzqzWWvio4iYOdAMMRgyhBrYpXEMFs5_VkDxQ/s1600/20140413_193016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75vBqyUKI3Bl4XUEnrTLfWf4TgwCeiHOssDa_EJqU8u719ZaDwxzFGD4U19sgodNKPNu94mKrv6bP57NjKsHFy_D8Hq2PvOYOrBOk_akPzqzWWvio4iYOdAMMRgyhBrYpXEMFs5_VkDxQ/s1600/20140413_193016.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKua1hl0iX9NJAlQ0Ahyphenhyphen1M7WGErhczYWcvM1fHnDA3wJED80j_m22ib57Ey0xs0Ihgf6XEfKwfJFGz4tEoUylOgAkxoukQBKg_ISu1jLtGqbKDzR3K-p9Ai4Fqm2zGpQXdy6r-JpcD6k7K/s1600/20140412_094811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKua1hl0iX9NJAlQ0Ahyphenhyphen1M7WGErhczYWcvM1fHnDA3wJED80j_m22ib57Ey0xs0Ihgf6XEfKwfJFGz4tEoUylOgAkxoukQBKg_ISu1jLtGqbKDzR3K-p9Ai4Fqm2zGpQXdy6r-JpcD6k7K/s1600/20140412_094811.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-32691644558591724512014-04-05T14:15:00.000-07:002014-04-05T14:15:20.593-07:00Living the good life!I've not written for a while as the last 18 months have been pretty hectic. We have finally moved house into our own bungalow, and have discovered we are having another baby who is due any day now and we have both turned 30!<br />
My priorities have obviously had to change for the time being due to my situation and this blog will now feature posts mainly about my garden and attempts to live as much of a 'good life' as possible,<br />
To start off with I suppose I better show you the garden as it was when we purchased the bungalow.<br />
The lady who had it was elderly and had managed the garden so it needed as little maintenance as poss.<br />
This included a lot of boulders, shrubs, trees and lots and lots of bark chippings. Now although it looked nice it wasn't what we wanted but we could see the potential and began making plans for chickens, a veg patch, a wildlife area and a lawn for the kids and pets to enjoy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCq8Iwa0gRVKeMwuRG-GGvKjHMGj5Xi7vEA1fH6Rn2BBpvBNNx4ZZ35Zr0yD2CJ66UEL2mdE-1EBRirJtMM960LFe4z8UixEGFj-3V9-8J0mtWW2pKEcnFIacbUBND3I3PSpYLAHWIHLf/s1600/5e10b4a2ebc35495e6d5ce24f4a0f7ec829b7cb9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCq8Iwa0gRVKeMwuRG-GGvKjHMGj5Xi7vEA1fH6Rn2BBpvBNNx4ZZ35Zr0yD2CJ66UEL2mdE-1EBRirJtMM960LFe4z8UixEGFj-3V9-8J0mtWW2pKEcnFIacbUBND3I3PSpYLAHWIHLf/s1600/5e10b4a2ebc35495e6d5ce24f4a0f7ec829b7cb9.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is looking from back garage door and as you can see there is a lot of shrubs overgrowing the path, two huge buddleia bushes, loads of primroses and bark. This are is where we plan on having our veg patch.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi3kA0fLU3wjNxSATmuffOpXMRp8yr1JdSmgIVE5sB_ENpD6DOV_MyLyprWjed7u9x4XTOZPVgpdoqxzpEXC_sVPzyZLC-_DM4vCtKJ4V-W9kl8WzWwauT7HzCgTzI3pywHa_DF-TW5iW/s1600/3cc04155bd315c9885d1b8bdd40db0e2e7a80724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi3kA0fLU3wjNxSATmuffOpXMRp8yr1JdSmgIVE5sB_ENpD6DOV_MyLyprWjed7u9x4XTOZPVgpdoqxzpEXC_sVPzyZLC-_DM4vCtKJ4V-W9kl8WzWwauT7HzCgTzI3pywHa_DF-TW5iW/s1600/3cc04155bd315c9885d1b8bdd40db0e2e7a80724.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the same area from the other direction where you can see a small tree in the foreground which was some form of apple tree. The large tree in the background is our boundary and this is where we plan on having a wildlife area with pond.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1qww6ez6yPBFlLK-MBm2tmRTC34MehBZdhotfSxkr5Cg8Et_s7TpSpVefisIQyEskAR8PSZmCXHnRxABJzZ00oI2v-lrTBKQjfSeVn9aUIprE276tXW04nHtUmAOYycXtLKylusVfJr0/s1600/9a80010e1c0f2e3418fd5d36046a646359fef6c0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1qww6ez6yPBFlLK-MBm2tmRTC34MehBZdhotfSxkr5Cg8Et_s7TpSpVefisIQyEskAR8PSZmCXHnRxABJzZ00oI2v-lrTBKQjfSeVn9aUIprE276tXW04nHtUmAOYycXtLKylusVfJr0/s1600/9a80010e1c0f2e3418fd5d36046a646359fef6c0.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is looking down the right hand side of our garden with yet me shrubs and trees. The left hand side of this pic will eventually be where the lawn starts. Towards the back fence is where the greenhouse, compost bins and chicken coop will be.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhhx6JKy78mY2Yqpv3BmxOP_gVP81FloSnnev_A-ncov8TeZhMDq-_uneM1wBJHHVihkJ1QBRbm9cobqRvqyrKfY1-FwJXgRfHOL7kxIy4_A_-b7A1VdowfDp99lohbDoC6GUhsp-ot0V/s1600/444dcefe8cbb46931601597d2972e83720687e9f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhhx6JKy78mY2Yqpv3BmxOP_gVP81FloSnnev_A-ncov8TeZhMDq-_uneM1wBJHHVihkJ1QBRbm9cobqRvqyrKfY1-FwJXgRfHOL7kxIy4_A_-b7A1VdowfDp99lohbDoC6GUhsp-ot0V/s1600/444dcefe8cbb46931601597d2972e83720687e9f.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is looking up from the bottom of the garden you can see from the previous pic. The right hand side of this pic is where the lawn will extend down to.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxL7ywP4oDQrn_afBqpAu8kErpX1SP_gPa1NAnEne4P0owVHWqqQSkPNUjHLhtFjY7aXc-ZiIlbfiROodNTyVmR2cr5QjQLHZMw3HjTc798HeVSXgBzXxFmI3J6qk3oZxFuetg53MMJ3h/s1600/23d9020b3f132855469eba629aa26b0da6c6fe11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxL7ywP4oDQrn_afBqpAu8kErpX1SP_gPa1NAnEne4P0owVHWqqQSkPNUjHLhtFjY7aXc-ZiIlbfiROodNTyVmR2cr5QjQLHZMw3HjTc798HeVSXgBzXxFmI3J6qk3oZxFuetg53MMJ3h/s1600/23d9020b3f132855469eba629aa26b0da6c6fe11.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A closer view of the corner where the greenhouse, chickens and compost bins will be.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY6e3IM_z0UIKoVhOmDO0-k-WJQ8Dg4piFKP0Gc4RIRpAJIln3RiUMStRzArb61F6rJ12TyG5AmB-TC7J9_gk9RAd4aIdxc64SFvZxYSTIGRKu4RM9sZirtW2HyQQNIH_C8dIBVb8J6Ap/s1600/81dfc6e4c88e5afd222d9e2d9073623c0514b3ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY6e3IM_z0UIKoVhOmDO0-k-WJQ8Dg4piFKP0Gc4RIRpAJIln3RiUMStRzArb61F6rJ12TyG5AmB-TC7J9_gk9RAd4aIdxc64SFvZxYSTIGRKu4RM9sZirtW2HyQQNIH_C8dIBVb8J6Ap/s1600/81dfc6e4c88e5afd222d9e2d9073623c0514b3ba.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And finally the view from our back door. The dirt on the left hand side is where the lawn will start. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you can see we have our work cut out for us and we have made a start. Having cleared the area in the above photo we have now laid the seed for the new lawn. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3vapmfeVE0JEm-iWun9GYKOa6tw1YE9iz_ObkR8EQ5AMhyphenhyphen8zzuMZ4HB3CstDXpWkc8jPUL-Y9zfAn7ZiemqF5aEBVff9K00hYUjyQkm8UIHf6nLo9k_WEIY97fBd1dBSGpdTSnGPgs0J/s1600/garden+seeded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3vapmfeVE0JEm-iWun9GYKOa6tw1YE9iz_ObkR8EQ5AMhyphenhyphen8zzuMZ4HB3CstDXpWkc8jPUL-Y9zfAn7ZiemqF5aEBVff9K00hYUjyQkm8UIHf6nLo9k_WEIY97fBd1dBSGpdTSnGPgs0J/s1600/garden+seeded.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can also see we have put the greenhouse up and the compost bins down in the corner.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-88416307636884875252012-11-04T08:08:00.002-08:002012-11-04T08:08:58.390-08:00Disease!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recent news reports have focused on a devastating tree disease, called Ash dieback, being found for the first time in the UK. Having already devastated woodlands in Europe, with scientists estimating upto 90% of ash trees affected in Denmark alone, this is a serious issue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ash dieback <i>(</i><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Chalara fraxinea</i><i style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">)</i> <span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">is a fungal disease first described in 2006, causes lesions on the branches of the tree and leads to the dieback of the branches and the death of the crown in particular. It is deadly to young ash trees and older trees will succumb eventually, though may survive several years with the disease. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Having first arrived in saplings imported form the continent the disease was first spotted in February 2012, with bans on imports taking a further 7 months to be actioned. Further more the Forestry Commissions trade unions warned the government only last year that the 25% cut in its budget would reduce the commissions effectiveness to tackle tree disease. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Fera have done a video of what to look out for and the life cycle of this disease.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/y1GpufLkBto?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Ministers have held a COBRA meeting which is the governments crisis management committee and they have been told to expect most of the UK's 90 million Ash trees to be infected within 10 years, with the disease travelling an average of 20 miles a year.<br />
<br />
Obviously this will dramatically change the look of our countryside with many experts expecting it to be reminiscent of Dutch Elm disease of the 60's and 70's. Not only will this disease kill the tree it will also affect the organisms which live on or around the tree and rely on it for their survival. Tracking the spread of the pathogen has been aided by the development of an app available for iOS and Android devices <a href="http://ashtag.org/">here!</a>.<br />
<br />
The environment secretary has asked people to wash their clothes, dogs & shoes etc to prevent the spread of the disease as the destroying of trees is likely to be unaffective as the pathogen is found in leaf litter.<br />
<br />
We will have to see where this disease goes but with fears now of another pathogen which affects Scots pine, can we expect the government to start looking at and tackling the reasons why diseases are becoming more prevalent and widespread? I doubt it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-20995999422852251382012-10-24T12:04:00.000-07:002012-10-24T12:04:01.748-07:00Rutting, reprieve and repercussions?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Rutting</u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been really busy over the last few weeks with various projects but have managed to get out and about for the Fallow deer rut on a couple of occasions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fallow deer rut begins in September and continues into early November, peaking around the middle of October. Typically a stag will gather a harem of does around a rutting stand where he freely mates with them. He does this by utter a deep guttural belching sound which carries several hundreds of metres.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rutting stands are distinguishable by the abundance of scrapes and pits which can reach a considerable size. Pits are large areas of bare earth located around the stand and is the place most of the rutting activity takes place. Scrapes on the other hand are located throughout the bucks territory. You should also look out for bark scraping and destroyed vegetation as the males shed their velvet in late autumn and to intimidate rivals and spread scent during the rut. All these signs are often located near established deer paths within the forest to ensure the buck meets as many hind's as possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a couple of people out with me on the weekend of 20/21 of October 2012 to a location I have been to several times over the last few years and knew it as a guaranteed location for an abundance of rutting activity. The area is heavily wooded with open spaces between lines of conifers, surrounded by deciduous woodland, perfect deer habitat. However, despite searching for 3 hours we heard not one single buck groaning. We went deep into the forest and all we saw were 5 does, no stags at all. As already mentioned this is a location I know well and know where the rutting grounds are but this time they were empty, in what should have been prime rutting time. Several times I have been to this area and seen up to 10 stags groaning each with between 5-15 females in their harem. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was a little worried by this so when I got back I asked a few photographer friends their experiences of the rut this year. All reported the same. Little to no activity of rutting stags, but with sightings of females. This seems to be happening across the Forest and we seem to think that its due to the Forestry Commission over culling the herds. No of course we cannot be sure but it does have us worried. I will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a very poor picture of a stag in the location described above, it shows the type of area I have tried to describe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3kQmenbZE3pthiDt2c4x80lsx3HTxoIm9f42m0z0v5_KDbW34F7X-1-B-7eHq3mygmlNg_4ZjQXWo1FvWzWee4qjrdye8XtRPEUecwWGR620RezZ4nj36jUB45nyOlTjGCop__riw0Cf/s1600/stag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3kQmenbZE3pthiDt2c4x80lsx3HTxoIm9f42m0z0v5_KDbW34F7X-1-B-7eHq3mygmlNg_4ZjQXWo1FvWzWee4qjrdye8XtRPEUecwWGR620RezZ4nj36jUB45nyOlTjGCop__riw0Cf/s320/stag.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Reprieve</u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a slightly better note the government have decided to postpone the badger cull until next year due to the optimum time for this year having passed. Whilst this is great news the war IS NOT over, we still need to do everything we can to stop this stupid policy. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven't done so yet please sign the <a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257"><span style="color: red;"><b>petition</b></span></a>, every signature really does help.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Repercussions?</u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, the wild boar have been making their presence known closer and closer to Coleford town centre. A few months ago they had gotten as close as the Forest Hills gold club, about a mile out of town. But recently they have actually come within a few hundred metres of the town centre. Having dug up a pensioners grass verge outside his house it made headlines in all the local press. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.forest-and-wye-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=35193&y=2012&searchword=taswell"><b><span style="color: red;">Article can be read here.</span></b></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, despite the moaning of local residents and how hard done by this pensioner was the grass verge has been repaired and barely looks as though any damage was ever done. This unsurprisingly didn't make the local papers. Friends of the Boar argue why the FC will shoot boar in the forests whilst ignoring so called nuisance boar who encroach too far into towns. The FC say that they must put public safety first, despite having dealt with boar close to populated areas before. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is a photo of the damage and a photo after to show how it looks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3nCXTcfvha1XJ4co3iLZ18RstyyUtkNeUlHb9kS7MKmG000vN8ODOp8FCkiMqCHy_Dut_AqjGwhlMt9YrM4P0x7I_cX5ZNvQCiOEdNj1Bs8aHye43YxauKLrxo-heRXLuan-lfYqItTc/s1600/boar+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3nCXTcfvha1XJ4co3iLZ18RstyyUtkNeUlHb9kS7MKmG000vN8ODOp8FCkiMqCHy_Dut_AqjGwhlMt9YrM4P0x7I_cX5ZNvQCiOEdNj1Bs8aHye43YxauKLrxo-heRXLuan-lfYqItTc/s640/boar+damage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends of the Boar took to Coleford town centre this past Tuesday to protest against the boar cull. <a href="http://www.forest-and-wye-today.co.uk/News.cfm?id=36973&headline=Stop%20the%20boar%20war!"><span style="color: red;"><b>Story here</b></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a very worthy cause and again we really need your help and whilst we don't expect the petition to reach the heights of the badger cull every signature will show the FC how many people oppose the cull.</span><br />
<a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38945"><span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Petition</b></span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-79940438849029013112012-09-29T05:40:00.000-07:002012-10-07T14:28:36.256-07:00Culls!<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Badger</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well its been a week or so since my last post and a lot has happened in that time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The petition to the government for people who are opposed to the cull has reached the 100,000 signature milestone meaning it will be discussed in parliament. In fact the petition is now on 136,247 so great going but we still need more signatures to stop this barbaric act going ahead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please take a few minutes to <a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257"><span style="color: blue;">sign</span></a>, it could mean everything for the Badgers survival.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Forest of Dean district council has also banned culling on its own land. A vote was taken at a full council meeting on Thursday 27/09/12. They voted unanimously, 30-1 to prevent the cull taking place on council land. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A statement from the Council reads.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“That this Council recognises that TB in cattle is a terrible disease which needs eradicating. It believes that the government should work in a sustainable way to this end. The Council does not, however, believe that a badger cull will support this objective and will therefore, not allow badgers to be culled on land which the Forest of Dean District Council owns, manages or controls.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Forest of Dean District Council must make public safety and the care of our wildlife a priority and to this end this council must endeavour to make contact with all other land owners within its boundary to request that they refuse any culling of badgers on their land”</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This is fantastic news and a great coup for the cause.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Furthermore it has come to light that the cull will take place when sows are pregnant. This means that they are likely to be shot and left to crawl away into their setts to die a slow painful death. The closed season for free shooting of badgers is to be from the 1st February - 31st May. This means that some sows may already have dependant litters. If they are shot their cubs will also die from starvation. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Please continue to write to your local MP, discussing your concerns for the cull.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><u>Wild Boar</u></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another cull which is due to take place is the cull of Wild Boar in the Forest of Dean.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Between September 2012 and January 2013 the Forestry Commission plan to cull 100 boar. According to their estimates there are between 600-650 present in the forest, however friends of the boar believe the number to be closer to 200. Obviously a cull based on such inaccurate figures is a bad idea. For all the FC know they could be halving the population.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The FC have based their population estimates on 4 peoples observations over the summer, 3 rangers and 1 independent. The FoTB, on the other hand have used over 100 local enthusiasts, including wildlife photographers and naturalists. Now, I'm not saying one is right over the other because of course two groups with opposing views are more than likely to put numbers in favour of their own cause. However, it is my opinion that the Forestry Commission <u>cannot</u> perform an effective cull without knowing true figures. More time needs to be spent on censusing this species in the Forest of Dean.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://friendsoftheboar.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue;">Friends of the Boar blog</span></a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends of the Boar have created a petition of their own and whilst they don't expect it to reach the numbers of the badger petition, we ask you to sign it. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38945"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please sign</span></a></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Culling</u></span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Culling is an essential part of wildlife management. Deer have been culled in the countryside for years. It is important for not only the health of the countryside but also for the deer. When too many deer are present pressures are put onto the land with damage to grasslands, trees and crops. They also pose a potential threat to motorists as people are more likely to come into contact with them. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The land only has so much carrying capacity and since we humans have wiped out most of the deer's natural predators we must interfere and take over their roll in the chain.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst I understand that culling is an essential part of countryside management I do not believe that badgers fall into this category. Scientific evidence has shown that culling works to manage a species so that it doesn't exceed the carrying capacity of the land, this isn't the issue in this case. Scientific evidence has shown that this cull to be ineffective in halting the spread of bTB, with the suggestion of better bio-security and vaccination the way forwards.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Similarly with the boar, the FC plan to carry out a cull of a species it has no idea of the true population figures. This cannot be allowed to go ahead and whilst I agree culling of some boar is necessary, we must first perform a proper census. It is no good culling based on inaccurate figures. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-65905337803764673842012-09-17T10:21:00.002-07:002012-09-17T10:21:34.926-07:00Badger Cull<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>The Badger Trust have failed in their appeal to overturn the proposed cull on badger.</u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well it seems the government have failed to see sense and have decided to go ahead with the cull of Badgers to help control the spread of TB. Despite the protestations of many, petitions and famous names (Brian May) weighing in on the debate the government are ignoring scientific evidence. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19623703">First badger cull licence issued!</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The link above shows the first licence for culling has been issued and it is for Gloucestershire where TB cases are high. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The map below shows the cull zone for Gloucestershire in yellow with potential cull zones highlighted in red.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrALkJeIa2N9NN4yYtHcLsl9SWrCsercUf8ULLFVWC2dzuxZVtFoEFL2E_YZKb3Epk8FBbebwwfkYE_O9wl6a7fFfChOHfMPkHWqBMG9aRU2crQl44uVZ460cp2VkM6gom34QRDvoleuuD/s1600/badgercull+gloucestershire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrALkJeIa2N9NN4yYtHcLsl9SWrCsercUf8ULLFVWC2dzuxZVtFoEFL2E_YZKb3Epk8FBbebwwfkYE_O9wl6a7fFfChOHfMPkHWqBMG9aRU2crQl44uVZ460cp2VkM6gom34QRDvoleuuD/s400/badgercull+gloucestershire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig 1: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another licence is being considered for Somerset.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday the 14th September 2012, a public meeting was held at the Bells hotel Coleford, to discuss the cull. Brian May (of Queen fame) was scheduled to appear and talk on behalf of his organisation <a href="http://www.save-me.org.uk/">Save Me</a>. However, due to a family tragedy he was unable to attend. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other guest speakers in attendance were<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Mark Jones, Executive Director of Humane Society International, Joe Duckworth, Chief Execu</span></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tive of the League Against Cruel Sports, Steve Jones - a herdsman from the Forest of Dean who has looked after dairy cows all his life (including running one of the largest dairy herds in the World) Jeanne Berry from Stroud 100 who spoke on behalf of GABS, Anne Brummer, Chief Executive of Save Me who spoke on behalf of Brian May and Gavin Grant, Chief Executive of the RSPCA.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people attended ( I'm afraid I had to work) and showed their support for the cause.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE FACTS:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">As many as 100,000 badgers are expected to be culled in England of an entire population estimated to be at 300,000.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The government intend to allow upto 70% of badgers to be culled in an area. This has been shown to only stop the spread of bTB only slightly. Anything below 70% may infact INCREASE cases.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It is expected to reduce cases by as little as 16% over a 9 year period.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Lord Krebs one of the governments most respected scientists has said that this route is ludicrous and he would go down the route of vaccination and biosecurity. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/11/badger-culling-ineffective-krebs">A decade long trial proved that culling was ineffective!</a></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Culling has been shown to lead to a phenomenon known as the</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">perturbation effect. Badgers live in social groups of 4-7 in a territory. Culling disrupts the organisation of these groups meaning badgers range further, thus spreading the disease further.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE64xXQGBCWFR0A2GaCi535Q7PXrrnNQ9o3PtDpbKFexWDebVQ6Z42sUViUkxz6dBKrWi2jz0lXHkLFEka-3o-qs5mfOrLUuBx4oXxPI59RUyR7xLPSL8Od8oOl0nvG8XCPw5UP_xN2cG7/s1600/Peturbation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE64xXQGBCWFR0A2GaCi535Q7PXrrnNQ9o3PtDpbKFexWDebVQ6Z42sUViUkxz6dBKrWi2jz0lXHkLFEka-3o-qs5mfOrLUuBx4oXxPI59RUyR7xLPSL8Od8oOl0nvG8XCPw5UP_xN2cG7/s400/Peturbation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fig 2: Perturbation effect diagram. (<a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/badgers-and-bovineTB">Taken from the Wildlife Trusts website</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span>) </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cull will see trained marksmen shooting free roaming badgers in a proposed area, which if this seems highly dangerous to you it is. What's to stop a bullet meant for a badger missing and hitting a late night rambler? </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The alternative to a cull is vaccination of both cattle and badgers, which the government have already spent large sums of money developing. So why are they not following this route? Your guess is as good as mine but we must do what we can to stop the culling of this wonderful species. If you want to help please sign Brian May's <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257">petition</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the luck to visit a badger sett when I was in primary school with the Forest of Dean Badger Patrol and I can say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It would be a shame for future generations to miss out on this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">information taken from:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.glosagainstbadgershooting.org/">http://www.glosagainstbadgershooting.org/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment">http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/">http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/</a>
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-90700260558796711752012-08-29T06:29:00.000-07:002012-08-29T06:37:42.656-07:00Boar targeted by gun gang<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gloucestershire police are searching for a group of men in a 4x4 who were apparently taking pot shots at wild boar at Forest hills golf club last week. Since this incident an 18 month old male boar has been found nearby in woodland having apparently bled to death from a gunshot wound.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Search-gun-gang-wild-boar-shot-dead-Forest-Dean/story-16780369-detail/story.html">Boar story in local paper</a> </span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an horrific act that caused this poor animal who knows what kind of suffering. Sadly incidents like this are set to become more common as more people ignore warnings and continue to feed the boar. This makes them more tame and more likely to approach humans. This danger is two fold in that either people or dogs are more likely to be injured as the boar approach them thinking they have food and also it opens them up to being easy targets.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in May the press were alerted to the poaching of a boar in the Dean. What made this case so press worthy was that the poachers had targeted a sow with dependant piglets in blatant disregard for the piglets lives. Luckily the piglets were fine and have been seen by many since. However, things could of been much worse with them eventually succumbing to starvation. Link to the story on facebook </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/gloucestershire-constabulary/police-warning-as-wild-boar-killed-and-nine-piglets-set-to-starve-in-cannop/10150786791741245"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boar sow killing!</span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few locals have set up a group to help protect the boar and with the intention of educating the public to understand them.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://friendsoftheboar.blogspot.co.uk/">Friends of the boar</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People need to learn that the Boar are not pets they are dangerous wild animals who will leave you alone if you leave them. Feeding them is only asking for trouble so please remember if you visit the Forest:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">DO NOT FEED THE BOAR!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo93jwf5JxlvHDfW9yJwoILT4AN3xAIcnOlj_piO8CzPzJAs_ZAHK0iRV0FtBpIKP4OTCT5PgNsxwJBB8UNfdJz4yKWg6mmQ6qQswCEHr-S_x74RTY6664Ir3qHs7SAQPeiJt1vpIIIKy/s1600/boar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo93jwf5JxlvHDfW9yJwoILT4AN3xAIcnOlj_piO8CzPzJAs_ZAHK0iRV0FtBpIKP4OTCT5PgNsxwJBB8UNfdJz4yKWg6mmQ6qQswCEHr-S_x74RTY6664Ir3qHs7SAQPeiJt1vpIIIKy/s320/boar.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244879973577749721.post-37741564208683486592012-08-29T05:57:00.002-07:002012-08-29T05:57:50.767-07:00Welcome<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My name is Steve Hooton and I was born and raised in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. I have a passion for wildlife and animals in general. I have a large collection of exotic pets and strive to provide the best possible care for them. I am a keen photographer and love nothing better than getting outside with my camera. I am a member of the RSPB, Gloucestershire wildlife trust and <a href="http://www.glosarg.org/Home_Page.php">GlosARG</a>.</span><div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this blog I intend to comment on current wildlife stories of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and to a lesser extent the UK as a whole. I will also provide you insights on the day to day care of a large exotic pet collection. From time to time some of my own photos will make an appearance as well as comments on any relevant TV shows, books and blogs I feel you guys should take a look at. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcERQxckSzuImoncKfHcIoBPI2FUCJ8KurkEe8G1MPRf8gimRCZ3en4UTK9XY1U8Es2C-2FzwJN18jHDyudaNxq9DXgfm4gZTu2rRbxyREBxDIHJhJvU2y9qtlsvo1Ckm2SkUphq3RGSu6/s1600/DSC00461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcERQxckSzuImoncKfHcIoBPI2FUCJ8KurkEe8G1MPRf8gimRCZ3en4UTK9XY1U8Es2C-2FzwJN18jHDyudaNxq9DXgfm4gZTu2rRbxyREBxDIHJhJvU2y9qtlsvo1Ckm2SkUphq3RGSu6/s640/DSC00461.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15420822962437984574noreply@blogger.com0