The hedge we planted alongside the cow drive is now looking more like a proper hedge and was cut last winter.

The trees we have planted were protected from cattle damage by these "tree guards" but they are now tall enough and are protected at the base by the hedge.

Besides this the guards now that the trees are above them are damaging the trunks as this photograph shows.

This happens due to their movement in the wind rubbing them against the guards.

Time to remove them as this picture shows. The trees will soon recover and should now grow straight and strong.

Dave Dewsbury a friend of ours is moving house and knows his garden pond will be filled in as the house and land is to be developed.

This would leave the pond's newt population homeless so he has caught the newts and brought them to us as he knew our pond should be ideal as we already have some in residence and some more should be an improvement.

These were common newts and here is one as it was released. It is breeding season for newts and hopefully we will get more next year

Webbies Note: Actually Phil there are also some crested newts amongst them as this slightly enhanced photo shows

 

 

 

Finally this is a picture of the emerging flower of an ash tree.

Many trees do flower and next month we will be featuring some of them together with a nest in the farmhouse front porch.

 

More next month PHIL

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