Hiley Website

With our family leaving to return to their own homes and activities, we settle ourselves but enjoy loads of visitors of a different kind.

To match the delight of the first time appearance of hedgehogs

we notice the return of a long lost species to the garden ... the red squirrel is back.

Obviously a different squirrel from the one last seen a year ago, but a welcome visitor nevertheless.

After an initial wet period when the hot summer weather broke,

we've settled back into a more "normal" English summer of changeable weather, much more suited to the garden and countryside.

Our flower bed has gained new blooms as the plants recover.

Sue and Mike from the Tyne and Wear area were over in Loweswater.

We've chatted by email and it was really nice to meet them and be able to entertain them too.

- - - o o o - - -

What about this for a " turn up for the books ".



A red squirrel returns to the garden . . .	. . . for the first time in nearly a year !

Obviously not the same animal that used to call . . . but perhaps a new season youngster looking for available territory.

He seemed to enjoy the seeds dropped from the bird table.

In subsequent days more of the hazel nuts seem to have gone from the top of the table but we've not actually spotted him again . . . so far.

	- - - o o o - - - Another visitor we've told you about seems to be turning out to be a resident. In the window of the greenhouse, bold as brass, is our frog. He's got access to the outside by squeezing under the door but it seems he chooses to stay in the warm damp environment inside. - - - o o o - - -

The recent rains have allowed the rest of the garden to flourish.



The pond in the paddock is over flowing once again . . .	. . . and these primulas have grown an extra blossom.

The pond weed has grown to hide the incoming stream.

I should think of trimming it back . . . but I'm rather leaving it to see what happens first.

Rain drops on the water . . . no . . . the circles made by "Water boatmen" insects that walk across the water's surface.

[ Sorry about the poor focus . . . the camera picked up the foreground not the subject !]

The fresh growth of grass has brought other, unexpected problems.

The local sheep are escaping the fields in search of better pasture and managed to get in and nibble our grass, and unfortunately the new trees.

Still no great damage done but I have had to build up the defences where they entered from the lane.



New growth directly attributable to the rain.	A few of the trees have apples even in this first summer.



What goes with apples . . .	. . . but blackberries of course.

It looks like this year is going to be a bumper one for blackberries

as the rain and warmth has come just at the right time to swell the fruit.

A pack of "38 Degrees" bee friendly seeds have grown into reasonable wild flowers.

The two larger ones appear to be Borage.

Other wild flower seeds have brought us poppies and cornflowers.

This commercial packet has brought more of the colourful poppies.

The paddock has grown lots of natural insect friendly nettles . . . but we don't want too many . . . again it's wait and see for now.

A close up of the various poppy flowers . . . note the seed heads of many that have already bloomed.

A 'hover fly' settles on the white petals . . .

. . . then returns to the pink as the camera captures the close focus of the bloom.

Our friend Pat calls over for an afternoon chat and a walk.

Pat and Ann have been friends since college . . . that's even longer than I've known her !

She's here while we had a beautiful, colourful sunset.

Sitting and relaxing on the warm evening with the best of views.

A slight chill sets in as the sun finally sets in the west . . . or rather the north west at this time of year.

More wildlife success with the return of one of the earlier hedgehogs . . . eating the 'hedgehog mix' of food we placed on the stones.

The mix appears to be bird seeds but with extra fat granules and dried mealworms.

Reading since, it would appear that successful hedgehog food is:

•A saucer of cat/dog meat – chicken in jelly is a favourite but not meat in gravy.
•Cat biscuits •Hedgehog biscuits found in garden centres and pet shops.
•A bowl of water is really important.
•Please no bread or milk.

Information courtesy of Prickles Hedgehog Rescue

Many thanks to Catherine Whatmough for the link . . . RmH

- - - o o o - - -

Some days later another regular visitor arrives . . . no portrait yet so I'll keep you guessing . . .

With the sun up but the cloud down three of us take a stroll across to Scale Hill from Lanthwaite Green.

The major fell is Grasmoor of course with the Gasgale Valley emerging behind the houses.

Into Lanthwaite Woods and an old tree stump provides a base for this fine new season fungus.

There we are . . . the small party group on Scale Hill . . . Jo, Ann and the dogs.

The view across to the Loweswater hamlet and Carling Knott in the background.

We learn of plans to have our own mobile phone mast in the village this week . . . progress . . . but scary in this lovely valley location.

The plans are out and letters have also been lodged with the National Park Planning Authority to try and ensure

that it will be as discrete, suitably coloured and as environmentally friendly as possible.

Back down now through Lanthwaite Woods . . . our passing has been noted.

" I wonder why these people are walking away and not eating . . . considering all this nice new grass close at hand "

- - - o o o - - -


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