Wildlife and Gardens Thread

[jgtuk]

30 minutes ago, lcfc278 said:

I'm confused. Did you not know it was there? Has someone dumped a koi in your pond?

😂, we bought the place 18 months ago in a dilapidated condition and the garden was massively overgrown and neglected. Didn’t even know where the pond was.  Once I’d cleared it I realised that we’d bought an absolute gem of a property. The estate agents have been back to see us and are amazed. 

[lcfc278]

33 minutes ago, jgtuk said:

😂, we bought the place 18 months ago in a dilapidated condition and the garden was massively overgrown and neglected. Didn’t even know where the pond was.  Once I’d cleared it I realised that we’d bought an absolute gem of a property. The estate agents have been back to see us and are amazed. 

Wow that sounds like my dream  

 

When I read your post first I had visions of someone breaking in to your garden and dumping a koi in there which sounded mad. 

[Countryfox]

5 hours ago, jgtuk said:

No, I want a native wildlife pond. I don’t want to run a filter system or anything like that. There’s a huge filter system in the trees behind the pond and at least three pumps in the pond, one of which runs a waterfall but I don’t want them. 

I can provide a home for the Koi ..  not sure about the goldfish ..  

[jgtuk]

53 minutes ago, Countryfox said:

I can provide a home for the Koi ..  not sure about the goldfish ..  

Typical, everyone has said the same thing 😂

Nobody wants 100+ goldfish…

[FLAN]

Any recommendations to purchase a shed?  Looked at b&q but wondered if anyone has any other good sites they’ve used 

[Trav Le Bleu]

On 17/05/2024 at 09:18, lcfc278 said:

I'm confused. Did you not know it was there? Has someone dumped a koi in your pond?

Is that a euphemism?

[Trav Le Bleu]

On 17/05/2024 at 14:04, jgtuk said:

Typical, everyone has said the same thing 😂

Nobody wants 100+ goldfish…

@Daggers might. Pretty sure he works the hook-a-duck stall at the travelling fair.

[Trav Le Bleu]

20 hours ago, FLAN said:

Any recommendations to purchase a shed?  Looked at b&q but wondered if anyone has any other good sites they’ve used 

Visit a few local garden centres and get a few ideas. There's a lot of choice depending on budget 

[MPH]

Not sure where is the best place to post this but I went outside last night to feed the chickens and there was an Eastern box turtle laying eggs behind my house!

[Daggers]

23 hours ago, FLAN said:

Any recommendations to purchase a shed?  Looked at b&q but wondered if anyone has any other good sites they’ve used 

We had a marvellous close season thread here once about sheds. I’m all misty eyed just thinking about it. They were good days. 
 

 

3 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

@Daggers might. Pretty sure he works the hook-a-duck stall at the travelling fair.

You’re thinking of @Raj

 

I work on the Wurlitzer, making the chairs spin round really fast for teenage girls for no clear reason - and we wasn’t in your town, if the coppers are reading, that was another crew. We was in, err, Louffbro. Nah mate, it’s that Raj you’re thinking of, he’s a proper wrong’un. He glues those ducks y’knaaa. Glues ‘em and makes the sticks too short like. That’s why we call him Dave the Duc…oh, hang on, no you’re right, that is me. 

[Daggers]

My God! The shed thread about which is the best shed has gone. What complete bastard would delete the shed thread? It must have been something like fifteen years old, it had so much to live for. Now, nothing. 

[MPH]

18 minutes ago, Daggers said:

My God! The shed thread about which is the best shed has gone. What complete bastard would delete the shed thread? It must have been something like fifteen years old, it had so much to live for. Now, nothing. 

 

 

You should look up a youtube channel called " camping with Steve" he likes to do 'stealth camping'.  One video was about him spending the night in one of the B&Q sheds without them knowing. It was very exciting!

 

[FoxesDeb]

3 hours ago, MPH said:

Not sure where is the best place to post this but I went outside last night to feed the chickens and there was an Eastern box turtle laying eggs behind my house!

I'd be more concerned about the venomous looking snake at the bottom of your first pic 

[MPH]

10 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

I'd be more concerned about the venomous looking snake at the bottom of your first pic 

 

haha . It’s one of them weird expanding hose thingies

[Trav Le Bleu]

4 hours ago, MPH said:

Not sure where is the best place to post this but I went outside last night to feed the chickens and there was an Eastern box turtle laying eggs behind my house!

Are you sure it wasn't just "dropping a koi in your pond"?

[worthosoriginals]

On 20/05/2024 at 17:53, FLAN said:

Any recommendations to purchase a shed?  Looked at b&q but wondered if anyone has any other good sites they’ve used 

Can recommend 'sheds r us'

Quality stuff for great prices.

[Bilsthorpe Blue]

All 8 chick's seem to be thriving, mother & father doing a grand job

[Free Falling Foxes]

We have a long driveway which the original owners paved with slabs many, many years ago.

They did a good job too. Still level, none are cracked and looking good.

However, loads of slabs mean lots of potential for weeds to grow in between. We've tried different weed killers and even bought one of those blow torch 'wands' to fry them but with poor results.

I now try to remove manually but difficult to pull the roots up too.

Anyone have a recommended weed killer that works? I try to be organic but will now consider full on chemical warfare on the blighters.

[Parafox]

 

It's not huge but we like it.

[Parafox]

On 28/05/2024 at 14:40, Free Falling Foxes said:

We have a long driveway which the original owners paved with slabs many, many years ago.

They did a good job too. Still level, none are cracked and looking good.

However, loads of slabs mean lots of potential for weeds to grow in between. We've tried different weed killers and even bought one of those blow torch 'wands' to fry them but with poor results.

I now try to remove manually but difficult to pull the roots up too.

Anyone have a recommended weed killer that works? I try to be organic but will now consider full on chemical warfare on the blighters.

 

Weedol and Roundup are poor weed killers. 

 

I've found Resolva to be the most effective, particularly for weeds between slabs and blocks. It seems to do what it says and kills the weed down to the roots. Even established dandelions seem to succumb.

Edited 2 June 2024 by Parafox

[FoyleFox]

On 28/05/2024 at 14:40, Free Falling Foxes said:

We have a long driveway which the original owners paved with slabs many, many years ago.

They did a good job too. Still level, none are cracked and looking good.

However, loads of slabs mean lots of potential for weeds to grow in between. We've tried different weed killers and even bought one of those blow torch 'wands' to fry them but with poor results.

I now try to remove manually but difficult to pull the roots up too.

Anyone have a recommended weed killer that works? I try to be organic but will now consider full on chemical warfare on the blighters.

https://amzn.eu/d/bSGmgHs

Elixir Gardens 360 g/l Glyphosate Commercial Industrial Strength Weed Killer | Treats up to 3332 sq.m | Concentrated Herbicide/Weedkiller | 2 x 1 Litre Bottle + Measuring Cup & Gloves https://amzn.eu/d/bSGmgHs

 

Have been using this and found it very effective. 

[Will1981]

My wildflower garden has gone crazy this year esp the poppies the bee's love it.

[FoyleFox]

5 Litre Concentrate Spray & Leave Cleaner - Patio Fencing Decking - Green Mould & Algae Killer https://amzn.eu/d/d03THnm

@Free Falling Foxes

Also recommend this stuff. Mix together with the weed killer and spray about every 6 months. 

[Parafox]

We have put up a bird feeder designed for small birds to access and intending to keep the pigeons and other larger birds from being able to get food from it. It's on a thin branch that wouldn't support the larger birds.

 

I have just watched a magpie land on a thicker branch adjacent to the feeder, peck off a few leaves in order to get a decent grip and then hop along using his weight to get the branch to lower to a level where he could take the food from the feeder.

 

Incredible.

 

 

Edited 5 June 2024 by Parafox

[Free Falling Foxes]

I guess I'm fortunate in that the simple things in life give me pleasure and make me feel good.

Two things this week, both involving our feathered friends.

I was sitting under a tree in our garden when a young family of Wrens appeared. There was about 6 or 7 of them, clearly oblivious to my presence just 3 feet below them.

They were hopping from branch to branch looking for tasty morsels and also going up to their mother on occassions for an helping hand - well, beak. She too, was also keeping an eye on proceedings

This only lasted around 2 minutes but was an absolute delight.

Then today, whilst sitting on a bench in Bradgate Park, several swifts gave me a low level aerobatic display for a few minutes. They even circled where I was sitting several times.

Wonderful.

Edited 28 June 2024 by Free Falling Foxes