One summer job in the orchard is to remove apples from the young grafted trees. This allows them to put all their energy into growing instead of producing fruit too soon. Whilst there we spotted this buttefly which we think is a common blue. Actually on one of the apple trees and eating its way through the leaves was this very well camouflaged caterpillar.

We also had Bob and Vera Carlson and Edwin and Michelle Owen (all fly fishing instructors) testing out a new weight forward line which makes casting easier for beginners.

On both occassions there was a lot of sedge hatchings in the margins.

While working on the roof we had a visit from a lost racing pigeon. It lived on the scaffolding and in the front of the building for a few days. Following advice from the web we gave it food and water and when it hadn’t flown on within 3 days we caught it to find a number of its owner. Apparently lots of young birds had gone missing from their first race and its owner came over from Huddersfield to collect it.

Work has also been progressing on the reed bed system. The bed was filled with water prior to planting but was found to have a leak around the outlet pipe. It has now been plugged but we will wait to see if the levels go down again before planting.

In the garden these young peacock caterpillars are devouring a patch of nettles. Just like the swallow chicks, they look very alien at this stage.