We've had no snowfall yet at The Priory but we have had plenty of the next best thing: hard frosts under bright, blue skies. On one of those sharp, sunny mornings last week, I grabbed my camera and strolled about the garden. Here are a handful of images which might show why The Priory is … Continue reading January Ice
Wildlife
Wordless Wednesday: Life and Death in the Greenhouse
Save Save
Strimming A Wasp Nest …
... is foolhardy and best avoided. (I could end this post now, I suppose ... but let's press on for now). Over the summer, I've been fascinated by wasp nests in the grounds of The Priory. One is visible enough to avoid treading on by mistake. The nest, like most in the garden, is in … Continue reading Strimming A Wasp Nest …
The Rhine Cycle Route: Mainz to Cologne
In 1979, with my best friend Colin, I cycled from Hook of Holland across the Netherlands and into Germany. We carried on pedalling to the Rhine near Koblenz and continued south along the river, past Mainz to Worms; where we camped for one night before heading for home via Luxembourg, Brussels and the port of Zeebrugge. In … Continue reading The Rhine Cycle Route: Mainz to Cologne
The Bedraggled Kestrel
Old, dilapidated and long overdue for renovation, The Priory garage and workshop is a magnet to birds seeking a home. Robins, blackbirds and wrens hop through holes in the rotten doors or missing window panes, to build a nest and raise chicks. A family of robins left in the past few days and I miss … Continue reading The Bedraggled Kestrel
Birdsong And What To Do About It
In a previous post, I mentioned how the midday hoot of a tawny owl - and my thwarted attempts to see him - had driven me nuts. But that was nothing ... nothing ... compared to the song of a certain bird which has sent me doolally. This unidentified bird sings a simple refrain, over and … Continue reading Birdsong And What To Do About It
The South Downs Way: Winchester to Eastbourne
Of all England's long-distance footpaths, I know the South Downs Way best. For twenty years I've lived almost within sight of it; walked many stretches countless times and all of it at least twice. But I had never completed the entire 100 mile trek from Winchester to Eastbourne in one continuous, sweaty effort. Until now. On … Continue reading The South Downs Way: Winchester to Eastbourne
The Anxious Gardener 