Everything looks absolutely gorgeous at present - all the lanes full of cow parsley and buttercups, and the foxgloves coming out. These look fabulous, too, in any garden border.
The best bird ‘spot’ Roger and I made recently was the pair of kingfishers fishing in the Gowy at the back of Willow Drive. The male dived into the stream and emerged with a fish that he fed to his mate. They were there, on a small overhanging branch, for several minutes.
Not only was this fascinating to watch, it also indicated that the Gowy is CLEAN. So, please, please, take care of this water. Through the summer, many creatures, including frogs, toads, newts and a myriad of insects, will depend on its being free of chemicals and litter. The plant life along the bank might look overgrown and weedy but it will be not only an important source of foodbut also a covered way along which water birds and animals such as the water vole (little “Ratty” in “The Wind in the Willows” is one of these) can move and be protected.
As Christians, we are often referred to as the “Custodians” of our world, so if your garden borders a watercourse and you feel tempted to use weed-killers or fertilizers in a place where the residue could drain into the stream, please think again. There are alternative methods of dealing with unwanted visitors (the non-human kind!) to your garden, and there are plenty of people who can give you the advice you need. We are all here to help each other.
Sue Netherton