Enjoying nature & sewing during lockdown:

Owl hitting window March 2020

(M Hughes)

Owl on nearby hedge

(M Hughes)

Tortoiseshell butterfly

(M Hughes)

Peacock butterfly

(M Hughes)

Hares in the garden

(M Hughes)

A hare on the patio

(M Hughes)

Rainbow over my garden

(M Hughes)

Deer in garden

(M Hughes)

Deer at end of garden

(M Hughes)

Tapestry sewing project

(M Hughes)

Lockdown started end March 2020

Government advice: stay at home unless absolutely essential, wash your hands regularly, no socialising. The effect of this was the countryside became much quieter, very little traffic etc. Consequently, it was noticeable that the wildlife became bolder and were seen more often in gardens and open spaces but also I believe we had more leisure time to watch and enjoy their company. Below are a few examples of this.

Wildlife became bolder

End March. This unfortunate long- eared owl collided with my conservatory window and was stunned and motionless for about 10-15 minutes. It then started to move a little so I intended to put it in a cardboard box out of the cold wind but when I approached it, it flew a little way to the nearby hedge. It stayed there for several minutes to recover.

Note to self: don’t bother to clean your windows!

Butterflies

This year I noticed an abundance of Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies in June and July. They seemed to love the hot sunny weather we were experiencing and I often saw 10-15 at any one time feeding on my marjoram and stachys (lamb’s ears).

Hares

The hares this year are very frequent visitors to my garden and although I enjoy watching them, my garden is suffering from their attention.

Rainbow

We had a very hot dry summer but also a few heavy thunderstorms. Gardeners were pleased to see the rain just when it seemed their veg and flowers were dying from the drought.

Muntjac deer

This year I often see deer at the end of my garden. This one I took in July while we were both eating our breakfasts one sunny morning. Socially distancing, of course – rather more than 2m! He had one eye on me all the time. I don’t know who the culprits are for eating my dahlias and other plants. Both the hares and deer leave their droppings on the parched grass, so probably both, but I still appreciate their presence.

Needlework project

I also include a bit of needlework I occupied myself with at the beginning of lockdown. I finally round to sewing a tapestry and making a new cushion to attach to the box I made at a carpentry class about 50 years ago. I miss doing it as I found it quite relaxing in the evening watching TV. I must find another similar project.