Tree Surgeon Paul Johnson kindly allowed me to harvest some local Western Red Cedar for making into British National Hives. I’m due to pick up the Cedar from Rowsely Sawmill tomorrow after which it’ll join the Chatsworth Cedar for seasoning. Paul’s son Perry is very keen (and very knowledgeable!) on birds and wanted a dovecote so I decided that it would be easy enough for me to return the favour. Here’s a quick photo of the result.

Dovecote
Luckily Perry has found some doves locally and they are now in their garden shed awaiting a new home. All that’s needed now is to put some felt on the roof and paint/stain and the birds can move in.
Best of luck Perry!
View from the kitchen window…

Winter 2009
It is very pretty (and the children are loving it!!!) but it’s becoming a chore now…my current best friend is…

husqvarna...keeping us warm...
…to keep the home fires burning…if only the home (my parents home) were better insulated, then I wouldn’t have to be out so often with the chain saw looking for fuel. It’s a long story but the short version is that the house was built during the war when materials were scarce. Nick.
it’s sloe gin time… the berries are nice and ripe and I’ll have to get picking before the birds beat me to it…if I’m up early enough I should have time to get some sloes and finish off some nucleus hives tomorrow. cheers.
