Yvonne Fleece: A new start

A new start…

Once upon a time on a small farm near Billingshurst…

Jeremy Nuthatch peered cautiously around the corner of the fencepost ready to retreat at a moment’s notice. His little heart was pounding and if squirrels could sweat the fur above his eyes would have been soaked. But the coast was clear. He breathed a sigh of relief and slowly and vigilantly carried on across the lawn of the house paddock. He headed straight for the oak trees by the far fenceline and quickly scampered up far enough so he could survey his new territory.

Well, it wasn’t really new territory for the Oakhatch Clan. Jeremy’s great, great, great, great grandfather had established the territory about 10 years ago when the new human family had moved in. It was the bird feeders that had been the deciding factor. They were a ready alternate source of good grub. Somehow though, the territory had been abandoned due to the foxes that had moved in. Sadly, many of Jeremy’s ancestors had met a sad fate at their paws.

But wasn’t as if it had been forgotten. On winter nights young squirrels were lulled to sleep with the stories about that little farm near Billingshurst; how James Edward the big ginger cat had fallen flat on his face trying to pounce on the old Jeremy as he climbed the ivy hedge; or Magnus’ failed attempts to catch him up the bird feeder; or the time he spent a whole day in deadlock with a jay arguing over whom the acorns on the tree belonged – that one had to be resolved by Resident Crow’s intervention. So, when the Clan chose this Jeremy (eighth or ninth) to reclaim the territory, he had some idea about what to expect.

As he looked across the paddocks, he noticed some things which were decidedly the same. The foxes were still around – evidenced by many little piles of fox poo dotted around the field. He’d have

to keep a weather eye out for them, he thought. And right next to the oaks by the fence there was a great big new chicken house and run. It had a low-slung electric fence around it. Jeremy hadn’t been zapped by an electric fence – yet. He wasn’t in a hurry to try that out either! There were no longer any pigs but he checked out the sheep in the bottom paddock. He noted they only came up at feeding time in the evening so he didn’t think they would be much bother. And, oh joy, there was no cat! The bird feeders were still there and even an extra peanut one. He understood why when the woodpecker family came to visit, then just about every tit in the neighbourhood descended, followed by the sparrows when they were done. It was a very busy place Introducing Jeremy Nuthatch but Jeremy knew that at some point in the winter he might have need of it and hoped it wouldn’t be too dangerous to access. The big dog was gone but there were two little dogs who could still give him chase. There were also some newbies like him. Leisurely hopping across the lawn he’d met a Yaffle (green woodpecker) who was also was exploring new territory because the area from next door wasn’t big enough. Jeremy thought the bird was very pretty and polite and he decided to be friendly to him as they were sort of on the same kind of adventure. As it was late summer when Jeremy arrived, there was plenty of things to eat while he waited for the acorns to begin their tattoo on the shed roof. After sorting out a very nice hole in the tree and filling it with bits of hay, feathers and dog fur, Jeremy felt optimistic about his territory on the little farm near Billingshurst. 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