At the bottom of the garden....

At the bottom of the garden is a tree, a very old tree ..

So who's going to pick this lot up?

Behind the tree is a wall. A much older wall...

Over the wall is a field, an ancient field..

That field marks time...

The Romans must have walked this way down to settle by the river. The Normans too, signs of their harsh overlordship are all around. All gone now but the field remains.

Can you spot the tractor?

During the harvest the farmer toiled. Working late into the evening.

Now the field looks like this. But wait. What's this? Now, the animals and the birds that live there are exposed.

The foxes trot behind the wall. The same route back and forth, hunting the rabbits, chasing the pheasants. Making unearthly screeches into the night. Muntjac graze their way across to the fields beyond.

Tawny owls hang out in the trees that line the field boundary and the wall. Busy, chatting and calling to their owl friends every evening now.

Hares bound along great ears flopping. Fascinating creatures.

The year turns ......

Autumn is such a beautiful time but alas the winter follows too quickly behind.

But, every autumn is the same once the harvest is in - the spiders, HUGE spiders with hobnail boots look for somewhere warm. Yikes!

Then there's mice. They too seek out somewhere warm to hang out for a while. "Husband dear have you , got your lunch, your bag? and have you got the trap!?"

What should a true country person do? Do they turn the little mice into kebabs and hang their little pelts over the fire place? Not much eating on a mouse is there?

So, the dear little critters get forcibly re-located over to the next county to build new lives for themselves.

They don't need a passport, they don't need a work permit. (Will there be a border dispute with Bedfordshire?)

We've tried releasing them over the wall...... but I'm convinced that they 'home'. Now, they get a car journey and a new field to explore, a second chance, they can't stay here.

What terror lurks at the bottom of your garden ?

Comments

[Andrea]

Lovely photos! I love the country and Cornwall is an ideal place to live.

[Natalie]

What a lovely place to live! You need a good mouser! I was told recently by a country dwelling relative that you need a female who has been brought up my it's mother. It works because whilst we were staying with them in the summer we saw their little kitty in action!

(you should be able to find my blog via this comment or the forum btw, as I have updated my signature on there)

[x vInTaGe VioLeT x]

ha ha - mice definately do "home" you have to take them at least a mile away to be safe!!
great post - what a great place to live - so much history!

[Wild Rose]

I had to smile at the idea of locating those mice by car! They obviously like it at your place!

Marie x