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January project - the beech hedge

16/1/2019

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There is something really beautiful about a low winter sun and we had a few of those days in January.

January had some cold snaps, heavy frosts and frozen pond. I found some ducks looking a bit lost on the ice.
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But who decides its spring? Of course there is the official calendar view of March 1st or the astronomical view March 20th, but there is also the view of the plants and trees that decide its time to put up shoots and declare, at least for them, its time to grow again.. In the first week of January I spotted the first daffodils and seeds on the hazel tree so at least for them spring has begun.

These signs reminded me that it was time to 'prune' the hedges and shrubs that have been neglected for a long time. So I started with the beech hedge. Two sides of a 40m long by 5m high hedge, overgrown with ivy and in places tangled with brambles and a mass of creepers is a big job by any measure. I chipped away at it a couple of hours a day, most days for the best part of three weeks but by the end of January it was completed and burning what I had cut gave me a lot of satisfaction.

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Dying squirrel

2/1/2019

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I came across a squirrel lying on the grass. At first I thought he was asleep but when I got closer I could see from the involuntary twitching of limbs that this squirrel was close to death. I watched him close his eyes and breathe his last breath. I have no idea why he died but it reminded me of a recent bereavement in my own family. I came across a poem by Michael Prihoda which provides a nice tribute to the little fellow.
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    Garden Notes
    My garden keeps me busy. Although it can inflict pain from time to time it also gives me the exercise I need to keep fit. More than anything else it gives me a lot of pleasure and happiness. It enables me to express myself creatively and draws my attention to the beauty and ecology of life. In this blog  I am telling the story of my garden and my involvement and experiences in it through photos, movies, music, paintings and other artefacts it inspires me to create. I know that one day soon I will not be the custodian of this beautiful landscape we call our home and I must make the most of it now and preserve its memory knowing that it will carry on long after I am gone.

    Picture
    Useful Links
    Wildlife Garden Forum
    Surrey Wildlife Trust 
    Habitat Network
    Plant Identification UK




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