A sad tale and sorry tail

We had two young squirrels that frequent our garden and provide my father with a challenge in preventing them from eating the birdseed. He's called them Boris and Ken.

On Friday morning we woke up to find a squirrel tangled on the strawberry netting. At first we thought he was just looking for a way in, but he kept thrashing about and we were eating breakfast we realised he was definitely stuck.


At first we decided to wait and see if he could free himself. I needed to nip outside and as I did, realised that he was well and truly tangle by his rear paw. Mum and I decided to don some heavy duty garden gloves. The plan was that I would hold him and mum could cut him free with some scissors.

No chance, all the little fellow wanted to do was try and take my arm off and growl. He was understandably upset. he had trashed around so much the netting had cut deep into his foot. In the end, I let him bite my glove while mum cut around the tangle foot (he wouldn't let her cut the netting clean off). He scampered off across the lawn to hide under the shed - chased by our cat, Merlin, who had come to see what the fuss was about.

I went to work thinking that we had done all we could, even if he did get munched by a fox. But on my return, bad news. Ken, or Boris, had been last sighted dangling in the top branches of a silver birch at the bottom of our garden. He had exhausted himself trying to untangle the netting on his foot which had by now become loose and re-tangled in the tree. By the time I got home it was all over.


He's still swinging there now, but it hasn't stopped his partner in crime from pinching what was left of the strawberries. Dad found him in the fruit cage today but he managed not to get tangled and made his escape before we could catch him.


I'm not sure what to think - they're pests but it's not nice to see an animal die like the first one did. Perhaps wouldn't have been so bad if we could reach him for the bbq...

Midsummer midweek bliss

Have been going down the allotment to water and weed some evenings this week and last, while the days are long. I don't get back from work till well past 7 most nights, so it's not long but it is relaxing to get completely away from the office!

Father's Day at RHS Wisley

Had our first strawberries this week. Dad's made his own frame to net them off against the birds.



We went to RHS Wisley for Father's Day. Took lots of photos of the incredible flowers and went to have a look at the model vegetable plots. I went down the plot to water things afterwards.

RHS Model plot


My Plot

Moving Marigolds and Weed Excavations

Despite the weather forecast was a nice day to go down the plot. Took some pics to start with. The runner beans coming along well and the spinach and lettuce have really recovered since the rabbit proof fencing went up!



First job of the day was to weed around the spinach and beetroot. Then I decided to excavate my carrots before they went the way of my parsnips and got throttled by weeds. Took a long time of careful plucking to clear the patch but they look satisfyingly good now (see below).


Next major operation was to continue clearing weeds in order to extend my broccoli bird net. Separated out the rogue marigolds from the weeds and moved them into a spot by the fennel. They look stunning at the moment! I finally cleared enough space to move the posts and re-tie the netting.


Henry came down at lunchtime and dug out another patch of weeds and couch grass to plant out his courgettes. Then he went for a BBQ with Steph and I shot off for a party in Guildford.

Making cages - to keep da wabbits out!

Hard work in the scorching sun today. The plot has really come to life. Happy to see a lot of plants that have been struggling looking good. Tomatoes are still alive but something is still chomping through the beetroot and even my broccoli which has been under netting.


The answer appeared in a flash of grey fur when I approached the compost heap - a rabbit! He shot off down the other end of the plot to hide in the weeds.


I spent most of the day pulling out grass and other weeds that are going to seed. Cut back a lot of the overgrown areas. Was pleased to see a lot of Marigolds, Poppies and Comfrey in amongst the weeds. Have pretty much given up hope for my parsnips though - they were swamped by weeds before they'd even got started.


I ended up making a cage for the beetroot and spinach with chicken wire - easier than fixing the whole fence.


By the time I got round to the main order of the day - building a net frame to keep the birds (and rabbits) off my broccoli, it was almost dark. Dad came down to give me a hand watering everything, which was nice of him. As we were packing up I found an altogether more welcome visitor to the compost heap - a small toad. Must be having a field day with all the slugs!

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