The House Martins have arrived!

We have had some decent rain today - finally. The water butts should be full again by tomorrow and the pond getting close to being at a decent level. Don't think I have had such low levels in both in April before.

Turned over the compost heap yesterday: it has also been suffering from lack of rain and was very dry in the centre. I will check it again this weekend and add a watering can of water if it is still dry.

An exciting week for the bird life in the garden: the first House Martins arrived back on Wednesday! Each year we have at least 6 nesting pairs under the eaves at the back of the house. Their chatter and aerial acrobatics more than compensate for the mess they make of the window sills and ground under their nests.

The bird feeder attracted new visitors:

-a pair of Siskins at the start of the week. Such a pretty bird, more delicate and vibrant in colour than the greenfinch

- a pair of what I am sure were Lesser Redpolls a finch with a red patch on their heads. I tried to take a photo of them and ended up frightening them away :(

A relatively frequent visitor: the Greater Spotted Woodpecker enjoying the 'fat balls'

Spring Fauna and Cover Ups

Fauna: The first bumble bee of the year bumping up against the kitchen window.

Cover Ups: ended the day yesterday putting the cloches (metal hoops covered with plastic to make a tunnel) onto the middle section of the vegetable patch. This will allow me to make an early sowing of, at least, lettuces and radishes in a few weeks time.

Rhubarb forcer (put in place early Feb)

Peaked inside the rhubarb forcer. Although I couldn't actually hear the rhubarb growing, as you can if you go to the growing sheds in Lincolnshire, the pink stems are developing nicely. Haven't a clue what variety it is. My clump is from a root division from one my parents had many many years ago.

Will order the main 'cover up' this week. This is compost created by the local recycling company from garden waste. It makes an excellent mulch as well as soil improver and remarkably cheap, as well as eco-friendly. My own compost will be dug into the part of the vegetable patch designated as bean growing area this year (once I have dug up the remaining parsnips) and mulch the base of the fruit bushes/canes.