The Hawthorn

The Hawthorn

 The Hawthorn By Alison Brooke       “You might say that the Hawthorn bush, plus old John Spiers ancient craft, is responsible for much of the character and individuality of the English scene.” – (John Moore, “The Countryman’s England”, 1939)...
Bees

Bees

Bees By Philip Burrows     What are bees?: Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are from a...
The Water Vole (aka “Ratty”)

The Water Vole (aka “Ratty”)

The Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris) (Aka “Ratty”)   By Angela Dunsby   There are so many wonderful and diverse creatures living in and around the British Isles, many unseen but nevertheless there, for now at least. One of the lesser seen of our...
Who is the pest?

Who is the pest?

Who is the pest? By Angela Dunsby   There’s a rat in my garden that my brain tells me I should kill. Filthy, disgusting creature that climbs the tree to try and reach the bird feeder. Dirty ratty feet scrabbling at the bark, perilously balanced on a weathered...