Category: Notes from the sticks

WHEN we lived in the London suburbs, I would occasionally see clumps of mistletoe in trees, but it doesn’t often grow as far north as Lancashire. It is hard to … Continue readingWhy do we kiss under the mistletoe?

SINCE the TV series Bergerac ended, there’s not been a huge amount of drama on Jersey. In recent weeks, however, the Channel Island has been agog over the hunt for an illegal … Continue readingMuch ado about coypu

I STARTED supporting the Wildfowl Trust, as it was then, about 40 years ago after a magical visit to their reserve at Caerlaverock in southern Scotland. I saw thousands of barnacle … Continue readingHot air from the wildfowl wokies

SHEEP of the Week takes over the top spot today. Readers may have seen a news item last week concerning a flock which have acquired pink hairdos. The story was that … Continue readingPulling the wool over our eyes

I NEVER forget for a minute how fortunate we are to live by a stream (or brook, as they are called in Lancashire). I am not so sure if everyone … Continue readingA few foam truths

I FIND it surprising how few rabbits I see round here – I think I have seen more hares. I am old enough (just) to remember seeing masses of rabbits … Continue readingThe rabbit pandemic

AFTER the heatwaves in the summer (what was it, about three or four days in total?) the National Trust was all doom and gloom about the autumn – the trees … Continue readingAn autumn gallery

IT occurred to me the other day that I have not seen an earwig for years, if not decades. My mother used to grow dahlias and earwigs lodged in the … Continue readingEarwiggo, earwiggo, earwiggo

AMONG the comments on last week’s column was this from our dear American friend Audre Myers: ‘When I saw the Ribble Valley (in pictures) for the first time, I mentioned to an … Continue readingHobbit country

THERE’S a small piece of land in our village with no obvious function. I’m hopeless at guessing measurements but it’s probably about 30 yards by ten, surrounded by a wall … Continue readingThe homeless shelter for animals