1st cut of grass

[openspaceman]

14 minutes ago, AJStrees said:

Well on the subject of hedgehogs, I am glad you brought that up. Good for you though on sorting that out. 

 

I have worked on the same Estate for over 20 years in the middle of the countryside and have never once seen a hedgehog here. The Widlife Trust assure us that there is no need to re-introduce as they are on the come back. There is an idea that badgers will eat them all and we have badgers, but I can't see how that makes any sense because badgers and hedgehogs have been in England for a good few thousands years co-existing I would have thought. 

The perceived wisdom is that they happily coexist when there is plenty of food but badgers will take them when not. Of course in past times badgers were hunted so their population has grown and hedgehogs haven't learned to cross the road and not curl into a ball when a car approaches.

[Stubby]

I found a couple of " peeled " hedgehogs last summer  that I am sure was done by badgers . I think its the commercial shoots that put pressure on the hedgehog . With so many birds relieced . Pheasants eat the same natural food as the hedgehog .  Once the season is over and keepers stop filling the hoppers the birds turn to the natural food .

[AJStrees]

24 minutes ago, Stubby said:

I found a couple of " peeled " hedgehogs last summer  that I am sure was done by badgers . I think its the commercial shoots that put pressure on the hedgehog . With so many birds relieced . Pheasants eat the same natural food as the hedgehog .  Once the season is over and keepers stop filling the hoppers the birds turn to the natural food .

 

45 minutes ago, openspaceman said:

The perceived wisdom is that they happily coexist when there is plenty of food but badgers will take them when not. Of course in past times badgers were hunted so their population has grown and hedgehogs haven't learned to cross the road and not curl into a ball when a car approaches.

 

I see. That makes sense. Its unfortunate, but it makes sense. 

 

[AJStrees]

On the other hand though badgers are regularly laying by the road side. 

 

I realise this thread has moved a little off topic.

 

I will get some photos of my recently mowed lawns in response. 

[Boo Who?]

First cut was between Christmas and new year. Did the 5th on Friday - shame it’s not mine!

[AJStrees]

58 minutes ago, Boo Who? said:

First cut was between Christmas and new year. Did the 5th on Friday - shame it’s not mine!

Very nice. This week is the first week it hasn't rained where we are. No mower would have been able to get onto any lawn around here since end of September, the wettest feb in over 100 years mud everywhere. So you must be somewhere with really good drainage and much better weather. 

 

Nice lawn by the way. 

[AJStrees]

1 hour ago, AJStrees said:

 

 

I see. That makes sense. Its unfortunate, but it makes sense. 

 

Potentially we need to start a pictures of hedgehogs thread. 

[openspaceman]

39 minutes ago, AJStrees said:

Potentially we need to start a pictures of hedgehogs thread. 

I wish, I haven't seen a live one since it left my garage 2 years ago, I still have half a bag of hedgehog food

[Mark Bolam]

4 hours ago, David Cropper said:

I'm so glad I've stopped spraying weedkiller on the grass  on my drive. The amount of insects I've seen in the past week has been incredible. I use a flamewand  to kill it off,  expensive for the gas, it's 60 metres long, but worth it to see the birds. I used a hoe the first year, took me a couple of days. A real ballache.

I have used hoes in the past, but fail to see how that will deal with my leatherjacket problem?

[David Cropper]

3 hours ago, Mark Bolam said:

I have used hoes in the past, but fail to see how that will deal with my leatherjacket problem?

I think you mean "Ive used whores in the past" not hoes. Easy mistake to make.