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Jackie and I spent the morning weeding and clearing the rose garden. The task is not yet finished.
A rather large creature has head-butted a hole in the fence, tossed the insect hotel logs aside, and broken off the legs of a couple of the plastic edge rails bordering the stepping brick path, across which it has trodden a trail. We rather hope it is not a rat. In an attempt at least to deter the beast I have plugged the square hole with a round peg.
The ladybird bug in the weeping birch has taken a mate and led her further up the tree.
This afternoon we went on a drive through the forest.
A group of ponies on the road between Burley and Ringwood feasted on gorse, grass, and brambles on the verge and the bank above it.
One took itself along and across the road where it thought the grass was greener.
Attracted by the smoke of controlled burning, I stepped out onto the heathland where
I met a group of hikers seeking directions. Naturally I led two of them to the driver who set them right.
‘Yearly burning of heather and gorse in the New Forest is helping to reinvigorate the area’s heathland habitats for wildlife, according to a scientific study.’ This quotation comes from http://www.hlsnewforest.org.uk/hls/news/article/11/research_shows_burning_benefits_precious_new_forest_habitats from the Forestry Commission website which has further information.
On the outskirts of Hyde we encountered a string of ponies taking a leisurely stroll along a road lined with
blackthorn.
One of the animals stopped, turned, and noisily expressed its desire that I should also stop, and retrace my steps,
which I did, to find reinforcements alongside the Modus in which Jackie closed the window
in the face of one particularly hopeful individual which,
when I came between it and the passenger side, observed me with what seemed like malevolent intent.
Cattle occupied the higher ground at Gorley Common,
while donkeys’ leathery mouths tore at the gorse below.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s beef cobbler served with boiled potatoes, crunchy carrots, cauliflower, and green beans; and purple sprouting broccoli which turned green the cooked. Jackie drank sparkling water and I finished the Bordeaux.