Editorial and advertising enquiries: 07762 767084, editor@villagetweet.co.uk
Little Tweeters! / Fencing
A new start…
Once upon a time on a small farm near Billingshurst…
J
eremy Nuthatch peered cautiously around the to keep a weather eye out for them, he thought. corner of the fencepost ready to retreat at a And right next to the oaks by the fence there was moment’s notice. His little heart was pounding a great big new chicken house and run. It had a and if squirrels could sweat the fur above his eyes low-slung electric fence around it. Jeremy hadn’t would have been soaked. But the coast was clear. been zapped by an electric fence – yet. He wasn’t He breathed a sigh of relief and slowly and in a hurry to try that out either! vigilantly carried on across the lawn of the house There were no longer any pigs but he checked paddock. He headed straight for the oak trees out the sheep in the bottom paddock. He noted by the far fenceline and quickly they only came up at feeding time in scampered up far enough so he the evening so he didn’t think they could survey his new territory. would be much bother. And, oh joy, Well, it wasn’t really new territory there was no cat! for the Oakhatch Clan. Jeremy’s The bird feeders were still great, great, great, great grandfather there and even an extra peanut had established the territory about one. He understood why when 10 years ago when the new human the woodpecker family came to family had moved in. It was the bird visit, then just about every tit in feeders that had been the deciding the neighbourhood descended, factor. They were a ready alternate followed by the sparrows when they source of good grub. Somehow were done. It was a very busy place though, the territory had been Introducing Jeremy Nuthatch but Jeremy knew that at some point abandoned due to the foxes that in the winter he might have need of had moved in. Sadly, many of Jeremy’s ancestors it and hoped it wouldn’t be too dangerous to had met a sad fate at their paws. access. The big dog was gone but there were two But wasn’t as if it had been forgotten. On winter little dogs who could still give him chase. nights young squirrels were lulled to sleep with the There were also some newbies like him. stories about that little farm near Billingshurst; how Leisurely hopping across the lawn he’d met a James Edward the big ginger cat had fallen flat on Yaffle (green woodpecker) who was also was his face trying to pounce on the old Jeremy as he exploring new territory because the area from next climbed the ivy hedge; or Magnus’ failed attempts door wasn’t big enough. Jeremy thought the bird to catch him up the bird feeder; or the time he was very pretty and polite and he decided to be spent a whole day in deadlock with a jay arguing friendly to him as they were sort of on the same over whom the acorns on the tree belonged – that kind of adventure. one had to be resolved by Resident Crow’s As it was late summer when Jeremy arrived, intervention. So, when the Clan chose this Jeremy there was plenty of things to eat while he waited (eighth or ninth) to reclaim the territory, he had for the acorns to begin their tattoo on the shed roof. some idea about what to expect. After sorting out a very nice hole in the tree and As he looked across the paddocks, he noticed filling it with bits of hay, feathers and dog fur, some things which were decidedly the same. The Jeremy felt optimistic about his territory on the little foxes were still around – evidenced by many little farm near Billingshurst. piles of fox poo dotted around the field. He’d have Yvonne Fleece
RUDGWICK FENCING All types of fencing work undertaken
FOR A FREE ON-SITE VISIT, ESTIMATE AND ADVICE Phone Adrian Bargman
Tel: 01403 823048 Email: adrianbargman@gmail.com
44
