Not really a plant thing but just had to share these....
Yesterday morning, on hands and knees weeding when heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet bounding across my black plastic weed suppressing sheets. I looked up and there was a fox, not ten feet away from me. Never seen a live one before so was quite gobsmacked. The plots each side of mine are unused and overgrown so the fox was runnig through the long grass and came out into the open for a few seconds while crossing mine.
Also yesterday, checked last year's compost bin more in hope than expectation of anything as last time I checked it, nothing seemed to be happening but was delighted to find that I've got half a dalek full of compost. Whoo-hoo!
Not very exciting I know but these little things all add up to the great allotment experience. Further good news from the weekend was that both of the overgrown plots on either side of me are 'nearly' rented out. So hopefully less weeds blowing in.
Thanks for reading this far.
How fantastic Sprout! Even though a lot of places class them as vermin, there is something very majestic about a fox! I have only ever seen them in London. Having an allotment gives you a new dimension of things that give you pleasure. Mine yesterday was a baby thrush coming right up to me, while I was weeding. :) busy_lizzie
Yes, great aren't they? Where my allotments are, they roam quite freely, I have seen cubs playing on my plot some mornings ...
That's great Sprout :) We have foxes at our allotment site but I've never seen one there, they are all very shy because the neighbouring farmer shoots them. :'(
My friend at the allotment is a fat little robin, that I have called Geoff, he sits on my shoulder while I dig, and then flaps down to eat uncovered grub. First time he did it, it blew me away.
Fantastic Sprout. We used to have an old fox that wandered around out site, but I haven't seen him for at least 18 monthes so I fear he has jumped off this mortal coil.
One of my 'moments' was when I unearthed a couple of slow worms, grass snake and adder all in the same visit!
Once, standing under my cherry tree and just looking at my allotment a bird flew down and took up position on my head - we both stood there just looking at things!
;D
We have lots of foxes here, once I drove onto my drive, late at night, only to stop suddenly cos a fox was stood there! I stopped, he/she stopped and we stared at each other for a bit then it ran off! Two weeks ago I took my Mum to view the new plot and, as we were surveying my estate at approx 3.30pm, a fox dashed across from the next plot and made its escape through the fence at the bottom... Mum (85 years old) said it was the closest she had been to one since she was 5!!!
;D
There are at least seven on our site, preferable to rabbits, we had an open day with 124 visitors yesterday and at least ten mentioned seeing a fox!
;D
I have Wildebeest roaming majestically across mine
Had a similar experience at my plot during half term. Cat shoots out followed by a fox - not at full pace, seeing it off the patch. Followed the fox who went to lay on a neighbours fleece - She was very relaxed as we were only 20 feet away. Once she was used to us being there, she had a wash and a scratch on the post. In fact it was me who had to leave first.
What a fantastic experience Sprout.....especially as you've never seen a live one before!....I also think they're magnificent creatures and majestic in spite of all the trouble they cause for certain people.
When I first moved into this block of flats about 18 months ago, which is in the heart of a sprawling village/small town - on my very first early morning - was standing looking out of my lovely new window/french door when this beautiful creature suddenly came thru a large laurel hedge that runs all down one side of the communal gardens here....he/she gently had a mooch around, took to the pathway and walked all around the garden and passed right by my window within feet of me.....so peaceful and unhurried...he then went back the way he came - which would have been into gardens of houses that back onto this place....have never seen one in these gardens since but do quite often see them in travelling around.
:D @ Merry Tiller!
My daughter, who was six at the time and fairly newly arrived in the UK, once came running after me as we walked round the site. 'Dad, there is wolf!' So I went back to have a look at this wolf, and it turned out to be a fox, just sitting there looking at us.
i have a cheeky fox who goes in my rubbish bags if i dint put them in my bin also i have a hedgehog living in my garden I'm trying to make him a nesting box come home so he can be safe
Is it only me who doesn't like foxes? ??? I have too many memories of them killing our animals when i was younger for "fun" they never took them to eat (mum even left some chickens once to see if the fox did return but no he didn't; just kills more...
though I do have to admit, they could do with keeping the rabbit numbers down at our allotment...
mat
aww Sprout, what a lovely moment ! We get foxes on our site quite a bit - during the winter I had a similar experience, she watched me very steadily and confidently as she moved down the lottie towards me and then popped through the hedge - realised very quickly what the many holes in the hedges were.
I uncovered a nest of baby mice last week, they were absolutely gorgeous - there are some pictures of the cuties on my blog
MT - wildebeast huh, you must have a very fertile site ;)
Only joking ;D
Or am I? 8)
Had a hedgehog outside on the patio once, but not for years we are trying to reintroduce them onto the allotment site!
Who'se going to give Merry tiller the bad Gnu's....
;D
I love foxes - despite the fact that one chomped my chicken the Colin the pet rabbit ::)
They're really cheeky on our allotments and sit in the middle of the plots as though they haven't a care in the world.
And they're always nicking stuff! Gloves, shoes etc. One nicked the Treasurer's bag last year - she had ham sandwiches in it! Unfortunately she also had the cheque book and accounts for the Association bank account in it and the petty cash box! Never to be found ;D
Trixie, maybe they just wanted to che'que out the position but got distracted by the ham sandwiches :D
One ran off with a mobile phone once but the plot holder 's OH had it on speed dial and it was on so she rang it, the fox dropped it and looked very bemused!
8)