An August Review

For once I am not wishing away summer but enjoying every moment of it out in the garden with Tedley. There was one particular moment I won’t forget, a simple little joy that warmed me right the way through. I couldn’t give you a date but me and Ted sat and watched 3 or 4 Goldfinches at our garden feeders, Ted sat in rapture watching them and I in complete rapture watching him. Also in the garden our Allotment is having a makeover to make it smaller, more manageable and perfect for toddlers and little people, so Ted and me can spend the next 10 years whiling away the hours with the birds and the bees and eating the veg we grow. It’s hard going moving all the soil and creating the new beds but my body and mind need it. The Airfield is also becoming my favourite haunt, as Ted grows up he’s becoming too big for the carrier but still too little to walk on our busy Fraisthorpe road so a drive to the airfield (Part of the farm is situated on an old airfield) means the dogs and Ted are free to roam safely. Right at the back of the land is a road leading to the last turbine and it’s flanked either side by a small wood, which I’ve named The Forgotten Wood, this is where my August has been spent, walking the dogs and enjoying the butterflies.

Nature Notes

1st August - The Airfield is scattered with golden bales, harvest is early this year and we're already nearly two weeks in. Buzzards seem to perch on the bales, they must make great small mammal viewing.

3rd August - Two owls (I think Barn) hunting the newly combined field in late morning.

12th August - The Blackberries are just ripening here so me and Ted went for a venture down the road to collect some. A blackberry crumble was made.

13th August - Finally made it to the pea field, they were a little tough and definitely on the turn but Ted absolutely loved eating them straight from the pod.

15th August - a faded veteran red admiral with dog eared wings boldly joined me and Ted at the garden table.

20th August - noticed the swallows gathering on the telegraph wires. They are getting ready to leave.

21st August - The sand martins are still haunting the sandy clay cliffs on the beach and the garden today was teaming with life after a very quiet week or two. Our new flower bed seems to be a hit with the butterflies, we had small tortoiseshell, red admirals and whites (small or large I couldn’t say) all visiting along with some very very large bumble bees.

25th August - Spotted a common blue butterfly on the airfield

30th August - Walked down by the Billabong, (a wide dyke at the bottom of the airfield covered in comfrey, thistles and chicory. I’ve named lots of parts of the farm with dramatic names.) Saw a red demoiselle fly and lots of small whites.