Those naughty rodents have been at it again causing havoc in the orchard. This winter they are chewing the bark from the trunks of the apple trees. I have put some plastic guards around them but the plastic is old and brittle and they don’t fit too well. I did retrieve some from the busway hedgerow the other side of the fence that we empty and lying on the ground but they are harder to fit. Sustainability is a good principle but it does often mean making do with things not being ‘quite right’.

This year perhaps I really will get the orchard fenced off and then I can also grow other herbs and flowers beneath the trees and make the orchard into a sort of mini garden itself.   I could also grow berries against the fences – although keeping the birds off them may be another thing.

I do enjoy all the wildlife in our garden and welcome them all, but I wish they weren’t so hungry ! According to Su next door she has seen many many badgers and also Roe deer and these may be to blame for the missing pears…