Remembering the Magna Carta

We start the blog this week with no apologies but once again we dip into Kipling. From his poem 'The Reeds of Runnymede' we quote

"The lissom reeds that give and take
That bend so far but do not break..."

With that in mind the Garden Group decided to replace the aged Hazel hurdles which were on their last legs with a tidy reed screen but on a more formal approach to that made to screen the compost bins. Again we thank our friends at Abbotsbury Swannery for supplying the reed and also their wonderful hedge cutter which gave us a splendid finish to the job.

Despite the cooler weather over the weekend yet another bee species was identified in the garden.  The Common Carder Bee.

In the afternoon we traveled across town to pick up some Bamboo which we were donated. It will help screen the Jurassic garden later and also enhance the avenue effect as you approach the garden with the Aeolian Wind organ on the right  and the newly planted Bamboo on the left.  A sign has been put alongside the Wind Organ giving a brief description of them and their use

The Bamboo arriving in style!

The pair of Robins which have nested near to the World War 2 shelter are busy. All weekend the pair were active around the pond area collecting food for their young.

The pair of Blue Tits which have nested in the green nest box in the garden have ten eggs in the nest.  The nest was lined by hair supplied by the school in string bags hung in the bird garden. We can only hope that this year the weather will be kind when the young hatch. Last year the young perished as torrential driving rain for a week prevented the adults from foraging for food for them. Fingers crossed!!

Can anybody count more than ten eggs!

The garden group will shortly be holding  a meeting one evening to discuss fund raising at the open day in June.  The date and time and contact will be posted on the blog once decided. We always welcome more helpers

Finally why mention the Magna Carta? Signed in 1215 by King John at Runnymede which made him proclaim certain liberties to the population of England.  The most important clauses still remain today and make up the basis of the law in England and Wales.  It has been described as the most important constitutional document of all time.  We have a lot to thank those Feudal Barons for!

The Magna Carta was inspiration to Kipling's poem and well worth a read.