Did the earth move for you?

This morning, I woke just before 1 am to the sound of my bedroom door rattling, and shelves and a filing cabinet shaking. I opened my eyes and felt the whole room wobbling!

Even 90 miles away, some of us felt vibrations from the tremors that struck Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, though we were lucky enough not to suffer any damage.

A friend of mine who lives in Peterborough, closer to the epicentre, was already wide-awake, playing on his computer. He likened the sound to 'the low rumble of a truck pulling up outside followed by at least 50 cats bouncing up and down on the conservatory roof', but when he stepped outside, the air was full of blackbird and robin song.

Some birds do sing at night at this time of year, notably the two species mentioned, but not in the same numbers as my friend heard. Birds must be used to roosting in trees which wobble about in the wind, so what caused them to wake up and start singing?

It's been thought for centuries that animals are sensitive to earthquakes and other natural phenomena. In 373 BC, contemporary historians recorded that small animals deserted the Greek city of Helice before an earthquake razed it.

Having canvassed friends and colleagues who live nearer The Lodge, the majority slept through this momentous event and were bemused by the headlines on the television and radio when they finally woke.

I like the idea that the 'quake might make people think a bit more about the natural world and what goes on in it. You have to marvel at the power of nature when something like this happens, and it's all down to some large rocks shifting around underneath us...

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