Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wishing you all A Lovely Christmas time and a very happy and healthy New Year !

Wow it is windy and rainy and cold today! In all the hectic ness of getting ready for Christmas it is important to spare a thought for the wildlife for whom this time of year  can be rough.  We try to keep our bird feeders topped up and the water in the Birdbath and other water trays clean and free of debris. 

If you have log piles  stacked in your garden in a quiet spot they will already be great winter habitats for  small insects and other creatures.

We have just had the winter solstice and the shortest day and although  we are truly in winter now the hours of daylight are very slowly starting to lengthen. A long way off spring yet and yes colder weather to come but we start the upturn in daylight hours now :) 
   
There is not much for us to do in the garden anymore so now is the time I love to settle in with a nice mug of tea or mulled wine,  some gardening books and magazines and dream away about the plants and plans for the garden year ahead:)

If you are celebrating it Enjoy a wonderful Christmas :)

Time To Put Up Nest Boxes For Birds

Now is the time, if you haven't already done it to put up your bird next boxes.

Although most birds won't be nesting until Springtime they do start looking for sites soon.

There are essentially a couple of types of nest boxes, one for small birds like blue tits which have a small hole at the front of the box and one for birds like robins who need a larger more open entrance. 

There are also specialist boxes for birds like owls. Ideally, you would have a variety of types of nest boxes.

 

 It is important to site the boxes in areas where there will not be too much full sun for too long.

Sadly baby birds can get overheated and die in a box that is exposed to too much sun so shade or semi-shade is best.

 

 Next, if it is a box for bluetits it may be wise to buy a protector for the hole that simply fits over it to prevent woodpeckers from pecking at the hole to get at the baby birds.

Of course, ideally, site the next box where cats cannot easily gain access.

There are many different types of next box available. All the birds need is a simple structure that is well made, dry and large enough.

However, you can also buy simply beautiful next boxes that are decorated, look like houses or castles, have gardens everything! It all depends on how you want your garden to look.

The sooner you get your boxes up the more chance there is that the birds will be used enough to them to consider them as a nest site.

A Stillness In The Garden

Taking a break from writing and housework I went out into our garden. I pottered around a bit tidying here and there and noticed the bird feeders were nearly empty so filled them. Then I stood still with the sun on my face and noticed how very quiet it was.

Such a delicious, peaceful quietness. The odd quiet short song of a bird, a flapping of wings, a twig snapped, but essentially quiet. 

My little robin friend came down to see me. He arrives on the scene usually within five minutes of me going outside these days. He is taking an educated guess that I may be digging! 

Not today my little friend. but he hopped over and ate the seeds that had dropped from the feeder instead so I did not disappoint him.

Then although the sun was shining beautifully on my face and head I turned and noticed huge dark clouds. Then I felt the first splat of rain on my skin, heavy, slow, can't be bothered type of rain.

I looked around and yes there it was a full arc of a gorgeous rainbow! So pretty with all its colours. It was a stunning yet fleeting sight and the dark clouds rolled over it to obscure it within a minute but I saw it. 

Rain increasing I headed inside. I was so glad I didn't miss all that. It's amazing what you can experience with just a short venture into your own garden :)  

  

Home-Our Garden, Our Countryside, Our Crafts

In this blog I would like to by way of a diary, share my love of our garden and the wildlife within it. I would also like to share the country crafts and countryside around us that make this place home and special to us. 

This blog is set in a small country town in the north of England. Upon first glance into any garden, we may not be aware of the life and sheer numbers of wildlife that visit every day. The antics they get up to is an endless source of fascination. I hope to tell you about the birds and the hedgehogs, the squirrels and the insects that are our companions here.   

The changeable British weather is always going to have an impact on wildlife too so you will undoubtedly find me reflecting upon that as most Brits are born to do! 

The sort of crafts that we love and like to decorate our homes with is indeed a reflection of our countryside right outside our door and while not the most "crafty" person myself, I do adore our countryside crafts. 

I hope you enjoy exploring our garden and countryside and country crafts with me :)