A surprise find in February
18th February 2021
The Allotment during the winter months is a bit of a spartan place, with much of the growing season completed, with the exception of overwintering vegetables, of which I grow little.
Generally speaking the winter months, on milder days, is a time for repairs, maintenance and ensuring everything is prepared for the coming growing season. Poly tunnel repairs, pathways, and importantly the spreading of a trailer load of well rotted compost needs to be undertaken, as I am deploying a no dig method as far as possible.
Generally speaking the winter months, on milder days, is a time for repairs, maintenance and ensuring everything is prepared for the coming growing season. Poly tunnel repairs, pathways, and importantly the spreading of a trailer load of well rotted compost needs to be undertaken, as I am deploying a no dig method as far as possible.
One thing I have learned is always have the camera with you, and telephoto lenses, or for the smaller bugs and beasties macro set up. My plan was to rake out and spread the manure, which should attract the very friendly Robin, who appears, very unflustered and picks of various tit bits from the area of land worked. Robin image captured, and a sense of satisfaction as he kindly posed on my pond fence which provided a really clean diffuse background.
However, a surprise find was a yellowjacket (wasp). Having taken the top out of an evergreen shrub, and just about to chop for the compost bin, this rather sleepy, slow wasp crawled onto the pallet top. Obviously sheltering for the winter months, his movements were suitably laboured to allow some close shots to be taken, and no fear of being stung. Along with a couple of ladybirds which were also in amongst the foliage, provided a neat surprise for February when the bugs and beasties are usually pretty scarce.
There are a range of images which can be viewed in the Allotment Safari gallery, which apart from one or two, have all been taken on the allotment or in the borders of the site. A rich diversity of wildlife all of which contributes to life on the plot.
There are a range of images which can be viewed in the Allotment Safari gallery, which apart from one or two, have all been taken on the allotment or in the borders of the site. A rich diversity of wildlife all of which contributes to life on the plot.