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Adrian Thomas

As I announced last week, fate has dropped into my lap one of the biggest challenges of my life – a new garden an acre in size and a bit like a mini Lost Gardens of Heligan. Once much-loved, it is now overgrown and effectively abandoned.

As a friend said to me when she visited this week, “I wouldn’t have a clue where to start.” Well, in my view the first step in a new garden is actually the easiest – stop and find out what is there already.

And so the past few weeks have been spent exploring and unearthing its secrets.

So far, I've discovered:

  • three ponds (one made out of a boat, and all three full of leaves), hosting a few sickly Frogs
  • perhaps as many as 75 fruit trees, all affected by fireblight
  • three semi-mature oak trees, plus a Tulip Tree and a Ginkgo
  • Brimstone and Orange-tip butterflies, although no foodplants for their caterpillars
  • Breeding Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Wren, Blackcap and possibly Chiffchaff
  • A Fox without a tail, who has earned the nickname Basil Brushless.

And then you known what I said about unearthing secrets? I realised that Basil has some friends. Oh yes, the giant brash pile at the foot of the garden clearly has hidden depths! This photo was taken on Wednesday.

But as yet, not a single House Sparrow or Starling and no Greenfinches. Why are there no Song Thrushes, or butterfly caterpillars on the nettles. And how come I've only seen one bat once?

What a sign of the times! But a chance to make a real difference for nature.

If you want to drop by my RSPB wildlife gardening blog, it is updated every Friday, and I'd love to see you there - www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hfw

Parents

  • Some lovely surprises there, especially the ponds. It is a shame about the fruit trees. I've never heard of fireblight so looked it up, are the trees badly effected or can they be saved by some hard pruning?

    You are so lucky to have breeding Goldcrests. I have only ever seen them in my garden a few times although a fledgling did get stuck in the greenhouse once so they must be close by.

    Perhaps once the ponds are cleared and healthy they will attract more insects for the bats. I have an area of un-mowed grass, there is always a haze of insects above this so it is a favourite hunting ground for the bats.

    Lovely shot of the fox cub.

    Is the garden urban or rural?

    Build it and they will come.

Comment

  • Some lovely surprises there, especially the ponds. It is a shame about the fruit trees. I've never heard of fireblight so looked it up, are the trees badly effected or can they be saved by some hard pruning?

    You are so lucky to have breeding Goldcrests. I have only ever seen them in my garden a few times although a fledgling did get stuck in the greenhouse once so they must be close by.

    Perhaps once the ponds are cleared and healthy they will attract more insects for the bats. I have an area of un-mowed grass, there is always a haze of insects above this so it is a favourite hunting ground for the bats.

    Lovely shot of the fox cub.

    Is the garden urban or rural?

    Build it and they will come.

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