Things move quickly at this time of the year! The 25 trees which were planted in the first week of March have all taken really well. There have been displays of blossom in early Spring and things are looking good. The transplanted trees are also settling down, which is a bonus.
We are anxiously looking for signs that the annual and perennial seeds are going to put in an appearance. The very wet Winter and early Spring won't have done them much good. It is now mid-May. There is certainly a lot of growth out there, but rather a lot of it is thistles, which will need to be cut back at some stage. Still early days, and fingers are well and truly crossed.
The benches and picnic tables are starting to be used and there are certainly more people making use of the meadow than before, when it was just a permissive path.
The kestrels, after what seemed to be much consideration, decided that the preferred the larger owl box to the dedicated kestrel box alongside. They are currently sitting on eggs which should hatch soon.
There are also at least four pairs of blue tits occupying next boxes at various locations around the meadow.
A short walk recently produced red kite, marsh harrier, buzzard, kestrel, mistle thrush, whitethroat, blackcap, skylark, linnet, goldfinch, as well as peacock, orange-tip and small heath butterflies. We are making progress!
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