A few months ago I was dismayed to hear someone on the television, allegedly a wildlife expert, say “I hate grey squirrels” and then proceed to character assassinate this creature who never asked to be introduced to this country and is just trying its best to survive like the rest of us. It is not evil. The problem is that it is more adept at living, reproducing and therefore colonising this land than our native Red Squirrel. Unfortunately. It may be an anathema to our fauna, and often to gardeners, but to “hate” is emotive and counter-productive. This is especially true when espoused by someone who should know better and has a fair amount of influence.
I spent a large enough proportion of today digging Spanish bluebells out of Max’s garden. Much has been written about this interloper, often snarling, bitter texts. There have been those who defend this Iberian import, but mainly the reviews are toxic. Unfair perhaps. True they are thuggish compared to our natives and hybridise at the drop of a hat, a very real threat. But I don’t hate them, even though I have ached my back removing them today. They are just doing what they are programmed to do. Yet again another problem caused by the “oh so clever” humans.
After work, actually a little before “after work”, Max’s Dad asked if I would like to go for a walk in the woods. How could I refuse? So we did. As you do. And I am very glad I did. It reminded me how much I love this habitat. We need to protect it.
Sumptuous carpets of bluebells:
Interspersed with orchids:
And stitchwort:
And nature’s sculpture:
It’s a hard life, but someone’s got to do it.
Was that a lesser spotted I spotted?!?!😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! What a lark 🙂
LikeLike
Just fabulous, thank you.
LikeLike
Thank you, it was such a lovely walk, I just had to share.
LikeLike
Agree with your points.. especially, as you note, these creatures/plants are merely there but for human interference. That said, as someone who also had dug out masses of Spanish bluebells, (how DO they get so deep???), I can understand the concern for the native spp.
Lovely photos.. as usual : )
LikeLike
They are so so deep aren’t they! But so so satisfying when you get them out intact. And thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree… though was digging some today, and with heavy soil.. many bulbs stubbornly remained in the depths..grrr..
LikeLiked by 1 person
To show their lovely faces next year ….. 😠
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup…sigh : /
LikeLiked by 1 person
A walk in the woods – always a wonder! (especially after weeding out a whole day 😉
LikeLike
As you know, one of my greatest wishes is to walk in your woods!
LikeLike
Bluebells of all types seem to be having a good year, the Blackpool Mill walk from Hartland Abbey was a delight last Thursday, orchids there, too. Wonderful time of year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is the best!
LikeLike
Lovely woodland walk. Oh, the joys of having one that isn’t half-an-hour’s drive away! But, inspired by you, I’ve spent today digging out about 2 square metres of Spanish rockery invaders that I’ve been putting off years. Once I’d got them out the soil level was 6″ lower! And my back aches and tomorrow I’ll have to hump half-a dozen bags of topsoil back in! Ta muchly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry about that 🙂 They are bloomin’ deep aren’t they? Thanks for sharing my pain.
LikeLike
Beautiful walk! We’ve experienced both sorts of squirrel. The red ones tend to be reclusive – they keep to their own part of the woods; whereas the grey squirrels are highly entertaining with their antics, including building a nest in a Hawthorne tree last year. I have to confess I’m coming close to hating dandelions, though. Four years of digging them up and there are more of them than ever. Any suggestions are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only suggestion is, as with any weed, don’t let them seed. You could try eating them. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I stayed on top of things last year, but I’m still quite limited in my activities for another six weeks or so. Sigh.
LikeLike
I don’t encourage them as such but, if they grow in areas which I have yet to “sort” for the summer, I leave them be. You may have noticed that the bees love them. I just keep a cigarette lighter in the shed and, in the morning when I’m hunting down lily beetles and any snails that have snucked somewhere for a daily nap, I just “light” any heads that have turned to seed. A quick conflagration and the seed head’s no more. Tho don’t try this if the dandelions are growing next to an oil tank, gas tank or open bucket of paraffin. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Top tip!
LikeLike
Thanks, that sounds like fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess if the S. Bluebells are in a garden nowhere near to a native colony they will do no harm. One problem is when they are dumped in the countryside with other garden waste.
LikeLiked by 1 person