"Warfare"

We have had a number of enquiries regarding the success or otherwise of the deer repellent. So far the jury remains out. "Deirdre" obviously continues to visit the back garden as a few things show signs of nibbling but I can live with that. However, her or some of her mates have found the roses in the front garden. Now we are not just dealing with an insurgency here, this is all out war!! I got up one morning and noticed that there were no flowers on the roses in the left hand bed and they had been a picture. Strange! The next day there were none on the right hand bed and my worst fears were confirmed. As an urgent expediant we threw wire netting and twigs over the roses so that we would not lose them all. The trouble is, if they are prevented from eating something they move on to something else. This morning I checked other plants before I looked at the roses but today, no disasters.

We continue to collect copious quantities of manure and the dreams of a grassed courtyard come ever closer.

As John was unloading the last trailer-load of manure for the day, he saw a huge, green catterpillar.

From our searches online we believe that it is a Great Peacock Moth, the largest moth in Europe!