Bits and bobs

Not the 'black sheep' causing problems at Clarks Close

Mike's on holiday next week {as am I} so lots of urgent stuff around Sherborne to do before he takes a well earned break. The morning was spent ensuring Sherborne would be left 'looking good' as mowing and strimming dominated another hot day. Interesting bit of news from Mike on the walkers gate, where those young adventurous sheep were clearly unhappy to be thwarted by Mike's changes, so they seem to have broken one of the wooden support posts to assist their continued escape {another job to add to the list}. Highlight of the morning was experienced at Northfields barn where a red kite carried out a low flying manoeuvre almost within touching distance of us as we were sitting in the 4x4. During the lunch break I carried out my normal stroll down by Sherborne brook. The usual suspects were all their and the swan family still at full complement.

4 BBC's flying around Lodge Park pond

The original plan for the afternoon was to carry on with tree guard construction with the new 5" nails, however a priority call came in for essential work at Lodge Park. So off we went, accompanied by Maddie, strimmers, mowers and assorted tools. As we hadn't been to the Lodge for a while we paused by the Lodge pond where we were treated to a flying display by Broad bodied Chasers and also pleased to see some Newts swimming around in the ponds murky depths. Whilst Mike did some extensive strimming I was given the job of taking down half of the stock fencing at the North end of Lodge Park to allow for extra parking in the adjacent farmers field  for upcoming summer Events {the fence would be re-erected at the end of season} . More mowing followed then a survey of the 'meadow' area which fronts the Lodge Grandstand. Over 200 pyramid orchids were found , lots of 5 spot Burnets, meadow browns and ringlets. Happily only a handful of Ragwort were found and duly removed for later burning. The day was unfortunately extended a little as Maddie went AWOL so a search ensued where she was finally discovered 'stuck' in one of the Gate House gardens. A good spot by Mike on the way back to Sherborne as we witnessed a stoat casually strolling through an opening in a nearby hedgerow. A busy day and I was glad to get back home up until I learnt about our woeful batting display in the first Ashes Test match at Trent Bridge in my home town.