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April 2023




April was a month of waiting; for the weather to change, to cut the grass, to plant out the first of the Spring vegetables, to feel the warmth of the sun. But no, April did not deliver, it was cold, wet and very unsettled. Two days of sun mid month was not enough. Endless supplies of mud was traipsed into the house via dogs and wellington boots.


We planted another two rows of hedging plants on the brow of the field in the continual hope that we can re-direct the Westerlies, soften the blows and thwart the ever present wind tunnel ending in our yard and garden. We think it is making a difference but we would say that, wouldn't we? The trees in the copse look much stronger this year and have a sense of being properly established - I no longer have to nurture them through various weather conditions, although some of them still need to be secured to a stake. Those Westerlies don't rest.


My notes for April, reveal the presence of a wide range of wildlife, flora and fauna, many of which I have not seen before. Does that mean they are new to the area or I've not noticed them in previous years? A bit of both I think. A couple of beetles introduced themselves to me; the Bloody - nosed Beetle and the Devil's Coach Horse, (sometimes called a Cocktail Beetle). The first was crawling up my studio door frame, (whilst I was trying to paint it), the Wildlife Trust gives an explanation of the name, 'when threatened, it secretes a distasteful blood-red liquid from its mouth'. How do they know it's distasteful? Just asking. The Devil's Coach Horse was marching across the grass close to the campfire, I attempted to move it out of the way of danger and it put up a bit of a fight and they are not nice, this one was quite big, (obviously I was bigger), and it was raising its tail up in the air. I found out afterwards from my trusty little Usborne 'Spotter's Guide to Insects' book, that they, 'can ooze poisonous liquid from the end of their abdomen'. Like I said, not nice. However, they eat slugs and snails and therefore I need to welcome it into this area.


The wildflowers did not seem to mind the weather, whatever it brought. The Primroses continued to march along the hedgerows, Celandine continued to prosper all over the field. Violets, Buttercups, Speedwells, Cleavers, Alkanet, Borage, Ground Ivy, Chickweed, Thyme-leaved Sandwort, Procumbent Pearlwort, Common-mouse Ear, (yes, I did a lot of looking up in the Wildflower books), a variety of Cranesbills, Wild Garlic and Lady's Smock, all spreading their different colours over the ground. The Lady's Smock has now appeared in 4 different areas of the field, up until this year it only had one home. The Apple blossom in both the wild and cultivated trees appeared at the end of the month as did the Hawthorn bush, both giving out a gentle hint of their scent. More to come I think - and hope. The Navelwort dominated the stone hedges and old walls and of course the Dandelion showed its sunny head, with plenty of leaves to add to the salad bowl.


The last day of April was warm and the wind had gone and all over the field and vegetable garden were flying insects. Swarms of them, this was a new visitor for us. I found out it was the St Mark's Fly, or Hawthorn Fly. The adult fly feeds on nectar and they are considered important pollinators for fruit trees and other plants, yet more welcome visitors. St Mark's Day is on the 25th April, hence the name, as the flies traditionally appear on or near this day in the calendar.


And on that same balmy evening, whilst walking up over the hill, the warmth from the sun still hanging around, the first two Swallows arrived back from their travels. Flying over me and straight into the barn. What incredible joy they bring on their return, 'chittering'in the barn, (Chaucer's description), such a welcome sound. It was a perfect end to the month.

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