On Saturday we were treated to a rare sight Grass Snakes emerging from hibernation to breed,the pregnant females will lay their eggs in surrounding compost heaps in late May or June, don’t worry if you are scared of snakes as we have provided plenty of nesting places on the pond site.
Yesterday spring had finally arrived on the wildlife plot, we had thought rabbits had eaten our early wildflowers but it seems they were just waiting for a little warmth and sunshine. I am especially pleased to see the Snakes Head Frittlaries among the long grass . Any one is welcome to visit the plot but please mind where you tread.
Has anyone noticed the pair of Kestrels that are hovering over the allotments this week, I managed to get one quick photo from a distance whilst strimming the paths on Tuesday. I placed a nest box in our Walnut tree two years ago and the female was showing interest in it but I think a pair of squirrels have taken up residence already. On a sadder note our little blind Hedgehog died over the weekend.
As I was leaving the wildlife garden yesterday I noticed a little brown ball in the grass,it was still broad daylight and I was surprised to discover another Hedgehog out at this time of day. It was busy searching for food after hibernation and did not seem perturbed by my presence, it was only when I moved wind side he stopped and began sniffing the air and remained totally motionless until I quietly moved to his other side. It became evident that he had an extremely keen sense of smell ,I had some meal worms on me so realizing he must be hungry I dropped a few in front of him. Meal worms would be a new smell for a wild Hedgehog and he passed them by, he did not recognize their scent as being a natural food but I thought he must have seen them, it was only on closer inspection I noticed he had no eyes at all. When Barry Adams first found our other Hedgehog Nelson, he had to clear both his eyes of parasites and one eye stayed closed for a few days hence the name Nelson. We bathed his eye with warm water and cotton-buds and fed him from a syringe and he made a total recovery. Unfortunately our new little friend has lived at least a year in the wild with no eyesight but has adapted well, I will keep him at home for while until we can get his weight up and then release him back on to our wildlife area, which I am in the process of fencing to keep rabbits out but it seems now to keep orphan Hedgehogs in.
Remember our little orphan hedgehog found on Barry the Bee’s plot named Nelson as he was blind in one eye. He finally emerged from hibernation yesterday after going to sleep at the end of October last year, that’s nearly six months. Hedgehogs normally emerge in March but this years unusually cold spring has prevented them from waking up.
Parking , we might need an overflow car park on sunny Sundays if railway works continue.
The groundwork for our community shelter got underway on Saturday ,we took advantage of Mick Stuanton’s offer to utilize the use of a digger he had acquired for the weekend .This work was carried out at very short notice so special thanks to all those who helped out after turning up to work on their own plots.
Now to level it ready for the base
Technical team moves in
Piece of cake
Mick sets about his task
Three tree stumps and one large rose bush to remove
What a mess
Tredegar Allotments 