On Monday I noticed that the three cherry trees boasted a good crop of green cherries some of which were beginning to show a red blush on the fruits. I spent Monday evening sewing together some net curtain remnants and this morning I stepped outside to cover the tree nearest the house.

However the two trees In the small orchard had already been stripped of their fruits by the voracious birds. I will be quicker off the mark next year.

Whilst I was battling the birds, Jeremy and Chris were banging stakes into the ground around the orchard and fixing wire netting to the poles. We plan to stock this fenced off area with chickens and ducks and the ducks can swim in the old bath that we saved from the house and sank into the ground.

The wild ducks appear to be using the floating duck house on the natural pond and I am wondering if the female might be sitting on a second clutch of eggs. Here’s hoping.