Although very wet it has been mild so my comment about sleeping squirrels was wrong as this picture taken by Andy on the 23rd proves and I have seen one myself today 30th.

The trees now are bare and the only thing left on the hedges are berries as this picture of a hawthorn hedge shows.

The red colour is due to all the berries.

The apple tree in the garden has been trimmed and will have to be felled as it is unsafe after last months gales here I am chainsaw in hand.

We are now at the darkest time of year and the foxes are once again beginning to howl at night.

Rabbits are scarce at present due to the disease but our badger population seem active.

This picture is of one killed by a car but someone must have called the police who had cordoned the body off with cones and a "police accident " sign.

This seemed strange as the position in the road made it a hazard to other road users as Paul and Andy our paramedics soon pointed out. The badger was not moved by the police straight away because it first has to be tested for the disease Tuberculosis, which they are known to be carriers of.

Finally, most of you will have heard of the material "VELCRO" Well this is one of natures examples, the Burdock.

As you can see from the picture the many tiny hooks will stick to almost anything. in the wild this is most likely to be animal fur the seeds of the plant are then distributed courtesy of the unwitting animal.

In this case it is Andy's finger.

Next month we will try to picture some of our winter visitors

More next month PHIL

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