On my rounds at The Farm today I noticed that there had been some skulduggery in the new orchard. The protective fence around the trees had been leaned upon, stretched, bent and torn. I looked around for clues. The ground has been scraped and clawed at in this area over the past few weeks, nocturnal worm hunting by badgers I would imagine. But surely brock couldn’t reach up that high, and as there is no fruit on the trees I can’t think what would interest them. The rabbits have been a problem in the past, but since we laid the paving slabs around the bases they seem to have lost the will to burrow beneath the new trees. A bunny big enough to cause this damage would be the stuff of nightmares. So who could it possibly be?
All of a sudden I had the strange feeling that I was not alone, that I was being watched. Slowly I turned and behind me, on the brow of the hill, silently watching my every move, were none other than the infamous Pony Posse. We have history, me and this gang of reprobates. Not only was there the Great Pasty Theft of 2015 but also previous orchard incidents, as I wrote about in Deception Explained. I had heard that they were out on bail, and might have guessed they were involved. It had their hoof prints all over it. All I can say is “don’t forget who is wearing the white stetson in this movie”.
Off The Edge Gardening 
I suspect you are potentially maligning badgers. This article https://rivendellgarden.blog/?p=1585 contains a photograph of about 25 square feet of badger damage. One night (singular), one badger (singular) and you casually mention badgers (plural). Dem ponies is guilty as suspected. Stop giving them carrots. Meanwhile be happy that the damage you survey is not to your garden and you will (potentially) earn income by putting it right. If bunnies are a problem, the solution is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL3-rvaAOz8 (At least I’m entertaining).
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Don’t worry, I have had run-ins with badgers before, digging up plants, destroying lawns, and I still love them. I am pretty sure this is badgers, but it is a rough ground that the ponies regularly carve up as well. It won’t be repaired, just left to heal itself. Now if they start digging up the flower beds, I might be a little less happy. Thanks for the handy bunny tips, noted. 🙂
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I suspect giant rabbits -have you seen Wallace and Gromit and the Curse of the Were Rabbit? solutions all there too
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One of my favourite films! Do you have their number?
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I’m afraid not – maybe just watch it again for ideas
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Goodness! To pay the rent in college, my roommates boarded horses, who did not care how rare, exotic or expensive the plants in my patio were! They were not supposed to be near the house, but someone would occasionally tie one up to the fig tree with a long lead; or someone would tie a horse up right outside. The fig tree eventually got pulled over.
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These are kept (on the whole) far away from any flowers or shrubs and roam free in the rough pasture and orchard. Occasionally someone leaves a gate open and they go on their travels but, luckily for me, not often. They are Shetlands, so only tiny, but large in character and fully able to make a nice meal of an apple tree! Love the sound of your room mates horses, but did any of your plants survive?
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Well, I graduated and moved away before the fig tree came back from the roots. I took pieces of my geraniums, and still grow them today. The plumerias are now good sized trees down in Los Angeles. Quite a few things were killed, but I try not to remember that. Most plants survived and recovered.
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Always best to remember those that lived, rather than those that succumbed!
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A great story and a remarkable photo, full of mood and drama.
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Thanks Mrs D, you know I love them really!
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The joys of gardening! I hope your trees survive ok. The ponies sound lovely. 🌼
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They are adorable, I love them, partly because they are so naughty!
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Badgers?? giant rabbits?? ponies……surely not?? great post! The suspense…….the joys of gardening in the countryside ay? Love it!
Thank you Gill for linking up to #MyGloriousGardens with this fun post. Did you ever catch the creature that did this?
I am in the process of writing a round-up post so will post soon. xx
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Well thank you for hosting it (and giving me a little nudge of reminder 🙂 )! Look forward to reading your round up post. x
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