Are the Gangs turning to Vandalism?
The Gang Turns to Vandalism?
We have managed to live in the same four bedroom detached house since I bought it new 33 years ago. It has a very large back garden, now with a number of fruit trees and a large garden shed where I can retreat when the pressures get too great or just watch the birds.
When we purchased the house back in 1984, we recognised that although the back garden was still a building site it had many possibilities, but it took a while to get it as we wanted. One problem was that it was overlooked by a line of other houses the far side of a small public open area. Together they did not add to the gardens security or privacy . So one of my first actions was to purchase 25 small Leylandii saplings of mixed green and yellow variety . They of course grew very rapidly, and were topped out once they reached twelve feet in height. They were also clipped front and rear, at least twice a year by a very professional local tree surgeon. As a result of that programme, they have now become very dense and almost give the impression of being a solid green wall. That long green wall, about 45 feet in length is now the home to at least five pairs of blackbirds!
Along the rear of the house I planted five red berry firethorns. Over the years they have grown and merged and now cover over 80% of the rear of the house. Again regular clipping and training by me has resulted in a dense but lethal covering which at various times of the year might be green, white or red. It has also become the home of countless sparrows and finches. The noise and chattering in the evening and mornings can be both amusing and annoying depending on your own mood!
The sparrows tend to move about in “gangs” of about 15, crazily fluttering about and in hot weather flapping about in the dirt of the Rose garden. I now always refer to them as “The Gang”. But recently they may have turned to Vandalism!
I keep many plants in Pots, among them some lovely succulents, but one morning I came down and found the contents of one pot spread all over the patio. Muttering darkly about “Bl****” foxes I replanted the pot and went about other things. But 3 hours later, the contents were again all over the patio! The gang, who were quite active at the time are now under suspicion, - but so also are the Magpies and the Wood Pigeons! They are both very common around here, and I have often seen four or five of both varieties in the garden, so they had better watch it too!
The garden is now very secluded and guarded on all four sides either by the house itself or high hedgerows. That has resulted in it becoming home to many many other birds too. At one end is a large family of Blue & Great Tits, they are occasionally visited by their long tailed relations. The other end near the fruit trees are a family of coloured doves and some black caps and Goldfinches.
Sadly, the proliferation of so many types has attracted the attention of a Sparrow hawk and quite often I will go down in the morning to find a perfect circle of bloody feathers with just a few bones in the middle.
I do love my garden though!
TF
