Untitled Document

The Garden House
By, and In Memory of... Mrs Pat Hurlston

It does not matter what time of year it is, there is always something interesting happening in our little garden.

This story begins in February when the days are getting just a bit longer and perhaps just a bit warmer and a variety of birds and animals come to visit.

At the bottom of our garden there is a small pond and a stream which has a wooden bridge across it that leads into a large meadow.

The desirable tudor residence (painted black and white) is attached to the garage wall and each year it is advertised in The Bird Gazette:-

TO LET FOR LONG OR SHORT STAY A FAMILY HOME. FITTED CARPETS. GUARD DOG ON REGULAR PATROL. KIND AND LOVING NEIGHBOURS. SHOPS NEARBY.

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Several couples have been to look at the little house, but for the third year Bob and Betty Bluetit arrive and after a quick inspection they decide that this, once again, is perfect for them. Betty tidies the inside and Bob makes sure that the porch and the entrance are clean and polished.

A house-warming party was the first event they planned and all their friends were invited. The Martins, the Wrens, the Chaffinchs, the Robins and the Sparrows all came. The Blackbirds and the Thrushes were asked to provide background music.

Bob and Betty Bluetit had been very busy getting all the food ready and everyone had a marvellous time at the party - dancing, singing and playing games like Pass the Parcel, Musical Chairs and as it was Saint Valentine's Day February 14th they also enjoyed a game of Postman's Knock.

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When everyone had flown home the Bluetits climbed into their little bed and went to sleep and dreamed happy dreams in their nice new home.

The sun shone the next morning and the chirpy little birds were out and about early to re-stock the pantry.

They noticed that a new house had been built in the garden next door and they both thought how nice it would be if Betty's brother Bertie and his wife Babs could move in there, so Betty went to ask Padaruski, the Wood Pidgeon, if he would take a message to them.

Padaruski was pleased to help so off he flew across the fields. Soon he was back to say that Bertie had just moved into a nice little house and that he and Babs would visit in the summer with the children.

Time went by and Betty was very happy and content and Bob kept the pantry well supplied, and then one day in the middle of April Betty had a problem.

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She had got so fat that when she squeezed through the front door and had her dinner she was not able to get back out again and there she was stuck in the house; 'Hey Ho' she said with a smile 'I had better lay some eggs and keep them warm until they hatch and then I shall not be wasting my time'.

Bob was really pleased and kept bringing her tasty titbits and so they settled down to wait happily until their new family arrived.

In the meantime other interesting things were going on. The frogs had been busy, and the little pond in our garden became the home for a lot of lovely tadpole spawn.

Mr and Mrs Jeremy Duck took up residence on the large expanse of water in the middle of the meadow. and it was such a pleasure to see them come waddling up to the gate whenever food was put out for the birds. They were not daunted even by the large seagulls who swooped down to grab a bite to eat.

Fortunately our dog is very tolerant of all the comings and goings and thinks we are all part of one big happy family.

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On the 21st of May there was a lot of excitement in the Bluetit home as the baby birds cracked open the little eggs and popped out one by one. Betty and Bob were very proud and very good parents. They spent every waking hour from dawn to dusk flying in and out and to and fro feeding their hungry brood who soon learnt to shout and scream when the supply of food slowed down.

For two weeks Mum and Dad fed and cared for them and now we could see four little faces looking out into the big wide world and learning to flap their tiny wings. We called them Bill, Bella, Brian and Becky.

On the 6th of June after a tremendous amount of encouragement from their doting parents they flew out of their cosy home and started to forage for themselves - with a lot of help from Mum and Dad and all the garden friends.

One wonders how they can survive when they are so tiny and vulnerable but our good wishes go with them.

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The tadpoles have now matured and turned into little frogs who play about the garden and we have to be very careful where we walk. The lake in the meadow dried up when it became warmer and as in previous years Jeremy Duck and his wife flew off to a new home to raise their family.

We shall enjoy the beauty of the wild flowers in the meadow for a few more weeks until the grass is cut and then in July the "gentle giants" come to stay for two or three months depending on the weather.

Our gentle giants are magnificent Shire Horses, usually there are two or three with their foals who love to frolic around with each other and the only time that Mum can relax is when the little ones fall asleep.

The weeks and months rush by in our small corner of this magical world and soon we shall be looking forward to another year and waiting to welcome Bob and Betty Bluetit once again.

THE END, or is it the Beginning Again.

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