Overgrown garden being hacked to death! (1 Viewer)

[helenol]

An elderly couple live next door-but-one. This morning I heard the sound of a strimmer. Their garden hasn't been touched for over 10 years, and now they have decided to have it cleared.

I am having heart palpitations here as it seemed to be a haven for the local bird population. (Having said that, fortunately there are loads of nesting sights around here, not just their garden).
I went and spoke to the 2 men doing the clearing (I know them vaguely - one of them is another neighbour) and voiced my concerns about birds nest and the breeding season etc.

They assured me they would let me know if they found a birds nest (they are clearing about 6ft high brambles but leaving the trees etc).

Being a cynic, I really don't believe they will inform me of any nests, so I went around there myself to have a look. I haven't found anything so far, but I more or less pleaded with them to stop immediately if they came across something. I told them the local wildlife liaison officer would be notified. I know damn well that upon leaving them they probably think I'm an interfering so and so, but I wasn't confrontational, rather I tried to turn it into a lighthearted conversation.

The problem is, what more can I do, other than stand there watching over them, which of course I can't?

The other problem is, I can't PROVE there are nesting birds. Maybe there aren't any, I don't know. Fortunately, as far as I can make out, it seems to be just a couple of blackbirds and 3 robins still taking food back to the nest. I know that one robin is nesting there - or at least very close to there - it is quite difficult to tell with the amount of mature trees/shrubs.

Why do people insist on chopping down everything at this time of the year, and has anyone else come across this situation before?

Regards
Helen

 

[StevieEvans]

chopping...

Hi Helen
I can understand your concerns fully, although i make a living out of "chopping things down" .

The imediate advice i would give you is that try Not to get too upset, birds are quick to adapt to gardens being cleared.

Nests CAN be moved with success, with either eggs or chicks in. Idealy try to reposition them as close to the original site as possible. It Does work!

We regularly have to cut the tops out of large domestic leylandii hedges, and consequently must move nests.
During our tea-breaks, on more than one occasion i've seen Blackbirds trying to locate the nest in the specific piece of hedge were it lies on the ground..
often they find (hear) the chicks and start refeeding right away, the bond is that strong.

Perhaps you can provide a new nest site in your garden for them, i would say that the much maligned leyland cypress is as good as ANY Hawthorn hedge for numbers & species of nesters.......just keep it topped & trimmed back hard.

Hope thats of some help to you.

PS. Watch later on when the workers go home, Thrushes & Robins will have a feast on the disturbed areas.

Stevie

 

[helenol]

Stevie,

Thanks for your reply. You've put my mind at rest a little I guess.

One good thing about it, at least the robins won't be taking all my mealworms now with such an abundance of natural food that is about to become available to them!

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing whatsoever against "chopping", it has to be done at some time, unfortunately it's being done by someone who is not the most "in-touch-with-nature" person around this neighbourhood, that's why I said "hacked".

Regards
Helen

 

[StevieEvans]

H.
Okay.
Change is sometimes, something that we don't want to see happen.
Try to see a positive outcome from this, you may even be able to persuade your neighbours to plant up some spots with bird-helpfull species like cotoneaster, ivy etc

If you can try & turn this negative into something of a potential plus, then it may make it easier for you to get used to it.

Hope it all ends well anyway.
S

 

[jeff]

At the end of the day, there isn't much you can do, it's your neighbours garden after all.

As for you saying you were not being confrontational, if I was one of those workmen and a neighbour confronted me saying the wildlife liason officer would be informed........ sound confrontational to me.

"Fortunately, as far as I can make out, it seems to be just a couple of blackbirds and 3 robins still taking food back to the nest"

doesn't sound very fortunate to me.

"Why do people insist on chopping down everything at this time of the year"

I'd say cause the weather is good at this time of year.

 

[StevieEvans]

all cut & dry...?

Jeff
I think if you re-read the initial message, you have see that the poster may well of been upset by what she was seeing.

Any neighbour with has half a brain would inform their imediate neighbours prior to this sort of 'one of job' simply....
out of good 'neighbourlyness',
they might have a night shift worker next door
so they know not to put any washing out that day
& so on.

Perhaps when you read the post, you didnt understand how the writer would have felt in that position, seeing as she appears to be a bird lover.
Maybe you should think more carefully about the bigger picture, before you criticise...?
S

 

[helenol]

Hi Jeff

I'm sorry if you misunderstood me.

Regarding the "informing the liaison officer", the way I said it was in a jokey way i.e. "Honestly there is crime everywhere, but touch a birds nest and they come running" type of thing. Believe me, it was in a joking manner. The men actually thanked me for the info as they weren't aware that birds could also nest quite low down and not just in trees. They also told me they weren't even aware it was the breeding season. As I mentioned, I know one of them, and I even offered to help them in which they replied enthusiastically that I could make the tea!

Regarding the birds nesting. My point was that all the finches/tits/blackbirds etc have their young ones now feeding on their own. The birds I mentioned as far as I can make out, again I am not positive, seem to be nesting elsewhere, but they COULD be nesting in that garden, i.e. nesting in that general direction. I thought I had made that point in the original post.

Indeed, I agree with you, it is perfect weather for the job. My point was, and I can see I didn't make it very clear, it would be nice once in a while if people would just stop and think for a second and perhaps check out the area for wildlife before "bulldozing" their way into it. Of course go ahead and do the job, I would too, (in fact I did 3 years ago in my own garden) but I would at least have a scout around first.

Yes, I suppose I was quite narked when I wrote the post, but it still doesn't change my view.

Thanks for replying to my post.

Regards
Helen

 

[pauco]

hi helenol
you did what you thought was in the best intrest of the wildlife and birds in that garden!! the advice from steviewol was spot on,
good on you.
bert

 

[jeff]

Steviewol,

I didn't really think i was being critical in the first post, but now you've accused me of it............

Even me with 1/4 of a brain I could read she was angry/upset by what was happening, did I question that?

Not all neighbours get on with each other.

Seeing the bigger picture!! What's that all about, i was reply to her post.

helenol,

Ok, you were joking with the workmen. Point accepted. It didn't come across that way when i read it.

The other problem is, I can't PROVE there are nesting birds. Maybe there aren't any, I don't know. Fortunately, as far as I can make out, it seems to be just a couple of blackbirds and 3 robins still taking food back to the nest. I know that one robin is nesting there - or at least very close to there - it is quite difficult to tell with the amount of mature trees/shrubs.

No matter how many times i read this, it is still unclear.

You can't prove there are nesting birds. - OK
Maybe there aren't any. - OK
You then say there are a couple of blackbirds and 3 robins taking food back to the nest. - What nest, you have just said there aren't or you can't prove there are any.
I know that one robin is nesting there or very close to there. It's difficult to tell. - Again i'm confused, so you CAN prove there are nesting birds there or close to there?
In your later post you say all the birds are feeding themselves, this suggests they have left the nest. If so then why would the bird be taking food back to the nest? If there is a nest?

Not all people are nature lovers, or birds lovers like yourselves, so that it's probably the last thing on their mind when doing such a job. I applaud you for trying to educate.

Just like not all people like :cat: cats :cat: , hard to believe isn't it. What a sorry world we live in.

 

[pduxon]

Helen - if you lived next door to me you would get no notice. Wouldn't even think about telling you!

Steve - if my neighbours wandered down to tell me they were "doing the garden" I'd say yeah fine - preying to god they didn't expect a hand.

I would echo the bit about nature lovers. Its not that they don't care they probably don't even think about the wildlife

Our local council keeps wanting to cut down the shrubs next door to my folks house. its aprox 60 * 12 ft of dense vegetation and it is packed with birds and the odd Squirrel & fox. So far my parents have managed to scoot the council workers off. They haven't tried lately.

Cats? Given that one may have nicked one of my babies the little b*gg*rs are not flavour of the month!!

 

[walwyn]

Cats? Given that one may have nicked one of my babies the little b*gg*rs are not flavour of the month!!

Damn big cats you've got. I thought it was the gypsies that did that.

 

[helenol]

Jeff

Yes, I know it's confusing about the few birds taking food to the nest. Out of the dozens of birds in my garden, there seems to be just the few I pointed out that are still taking food back. The point about nesting in that area, is that it is so dense, it is impossible to tell exactly where they are going, and there is no access unless you have a scythe to cut through the undergrowth!

The thing is, our gardens are almost 160 feet long and between 25-30 feet wide, so it's not always easy to see what's going on further down the garden! In fact sometimes it happens that a neighbour will tell you what's been going on at the end of your garden if they happen to be at the end of theirs...

I offered to help, as the neighbours are a lovely couple, both well in their mid 80's, one of them is blind, and they have never ever used their garden in over 10 years.

We are fortunate here, as we all tend to let each other know what's going on etc with the gardens, being as big as they are, and the amount of work they take to maintain, it can sometimes help if you do have someone offering to muck in. Belive me, I had the same problem with my garden 3 yrs ago when moving in, I still haven't quite finished it!

I hope this clears the picture up a little for you Jeff.
Regards
PS - Do I take it you like cats?



Pduxon

As I've mentioned above, our gardens are quite long, therefore the job of clearing it is going to be a mammoth task, taking a few weeks working on and off most days. As I said, I still haven't quite finished with mine yet, and that's after 3 yrs! We're pretty lucky here, in that we all get on as neighbours, so there is absolutely no thoughts of people being nosy etc regarding the gardens, it's just they are so much hard work for us lot, I wouldn't be without mine though now, especially with all the birdlife in it (including the red kite the other day).

Regards
Helen
PS - I take it you're not keen on cats?

 

[pduxon]

Helen

really should have chosen a better signon that pduxon shouldn't I.

Cats are not my favourite animal. I know alot of birders don't like Squirrels but as they are a wild animal I can forgive them some of there sins. Cats just go home and get fed by their Slave sorry owner.

I just wish cat owners were more responsible rant rant rant))

Walwyn
birds or ankle biters ? Give me a Robin or Blackbird any day !
Pete

 

[jeff]

Just like 'Iron' Mike Tyson, except his black bird was called Robin

 

[helenol]

pduxon (Pete?)

Re squirrels, I have 2 in the garden, yes they are a pain in the backside sometimes, but I figure instead of trying to outwit them, just give them their own food. Works for me, plus they are quite amusing to watch at times.
Cats, we have become a part-time (more full-time now) owner of a neighbours cat (who BTW doesn't mind). We feed her etc. She is about 5/6 yrs old and the owners said to me "oh...she's never worn a collar, she wont wear one etc., etc." OK I thought, let's try one. Couple of months ago I bought a collar put it on her and it's not bothered her one bit, in fact I've even put 3 bells on her, now she sounds like Rudolph the reindeer. she's going to have that many bells on her soon she'll be weighed down. Her real owners were well chuffed, so incidentally are my garden birds.

Regards
Helen

Jeff - groan!!!

 

[pduxon]

yup its Pete

you never own a cat, it owns you!! The bells give the birds a fighting chance.

well better do some work hadn't I !!

Pete

ps Jeff - double groan