Category: Notes from the sticks

ON a walk through the park the other day I saw dozens of blackbirds – every one of them male. Where all the ladies have gone I have no idea. … Continue readingSing a song of blackbirds

IT HAS been a pretty cold winter so far in Lancashire, with night temperatures regularly down to about minus 8 deg C and staying at freezing point during the day. … Continue readingThe year with no summer

WHEN we lived in God’s own county, Essex, more than 30 years ago, we used to see flocks and flocks of lapwings, but I very rarely see them in Lancashire, … Continue readingOur tumbling lapwings

I AM tremendously keen on the British artist Eric Ravilious (1903 – 1942) and as usual I have a calendar of his work above my desk. This month’s picture is … Continue readingHave I got newts for you

I SAW these fresh molehills the other day, which reminded me that I wrote about moles nearly two years ago. There is stuff in the article I had forgotten, so I … Continue readingThe return of Mr Mole

WHEN we lived in the London suburbs, I would occasionally see clumps of mistletoe in trees, but it doesn’t often grow as far north as Lancashire. It is hard to … Continue readingWhy do we kiss under the mistletoe?

SINCE the TV series Bergerac ended, there’s not been a huge amount of drama on Jersey. In recent weeks, however, the Channel Island has been agog over the hunt for an illegal … Continue readingMuch ado about coypu

I STARTED supporting the Wildfowl Trust, as it was then, about 40 years ago after a magical visit to their reserve at Caerlaverock in southern Scotland. I saw thousands of barnacle … Continue readingHot air from the wildfowl wokies

SHEEP of the Week takes over the top spot today. Readers may have seen a news item last week concerning a flock which have acquired pink hairdos. The story was that … Continue readingPulling the wool over our eyes

I NEVER forget for a minute how fortunate we are to live by a stream (or brook, as they are called in Lancashire). I am not so sure if everyone … Continue readingA few foam truths