Category: Notes from the sticks

ONE of the most spectacular plants you will ever see in this country is giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). It can grow to 16ft or even more with leaves up to … Continue readingGiant hogweed: Look but don’t touch

THIS is The Victoria pub in Great Harwood, a small Lancashire town not far from us. However if you asked a local for directions they would probably not realise where … Continue readingThe Art Nouveau palace in a back street

OF all the beautiful birds we have, I think my favourite is the bullfinch, with the male’s bold colours and markings subtly echoed by the female. The white rump is … Continue readingWelcome back, bullfinches

THE science classroom at my grammar school had some stick insects in a tank, and every holiday someone took them home to look after them, usually me. They ate privet, … Continue readingOur lesser spotted trout

DURING the winter I have been aware of many different kinds of lichen on branches and walls. Now that the leaves and flowers are coming out the lichens are fading … Continue readingA liking for lichen

WE have frequent vehicle rallies round here, taking advantage of the twisty country lanes and the beautiful scenery. Often they involve vintage or classic cars, but last weekend it was … Continue readingKeep on truckin’

THE weather forecast looks propitious so Pendle Hill should be swarming this morning with children either rolling eggs or looking for them. For centuries there has been an Easter tradition … Continue readingFor whom the egg rolls

LAST week I wrote about horsetail, possibly the hardest weed to eradicate on the planet. To me it looks evil. But pests can sometimes look very cute, and an example is the edible … Continue readingAn unwelcome house guest

WALKING by a stream this week, minding my own business, I suddenly saw something that made my blood run cold. (You might think Jaws music here.) This is the scene: The villains … Continue readingThe candle-shaped vandal

ABOUT this time last year I was disappointed to come across a newly laid hedge and find I had missed seeing it done by a couple of weeks. My luck … Continue readingThe taming of a hawthorn hedge