ALL CHANGE - HELLO HENRY!

Mr. HCB and I wanted to go to the Town Gardens, a lovely park in the Old Town area of Swindon, to see the remains of the huge 100 year old Fagus Sylvatica, or the European or common Beech, which sadly, had to be felled a few weeks ago, because it was diseased and unsafe.  Apparently, tree experts were concerned that the tree would topple after it contracted the ganoderma bracket fungus, which causes the core of the tree to rot and decay.  

We found a parking space quite easily and then on our way round the gardens, I took quite a few photographs of some of Sammy Squirrel’s relatives, the bandstand, lots of roses in the beautiful rose garden and the tree stump - with Mr. HCB beside it.  Although he wasn’t too keen on standing beside it - I told him it could have been worse, I could have asked him to stand ON it!  We had a great time wandering round together for over an hour and I thought my Blip was sorted.

However, when we got home, after having some lunch, Mr. HCB said he would go and check the squirrel trap, although we haven’t seen Sammy for about a week now - perhaps because we now have more squirrel-proof bird feeders, which makes life more difficult for him.  I then heard Mr. HCB call out to me that the trap had sprung;  however, it wasn’t Sammy inside, but Henry, the hedgehog!  He brought the trap out onto the grass, put some peanuts in front of the trap to entice Henry out and it didn’t take long.

He was soon chomping his way through the peanuts but didn’t seem in too much of a hurry to wander off, but eventually, he decided that he would go and explore.  We guessed he might go over to our neighbours’ garden, as there is quite a large gap under the gate between our houses and before long, Henry had scuttled under and with Mr. HCB in hot pursuit, he ended up in Mike’s wood store.  We told Lynn when she got home, as we knew she might have some hedgehog food, so if Henry plays his cards right, he might have quite a feast later on.

I liked this shot of Henry, showing all his teeth and almost smiling and I have put another one in as an extra.  We spent about half an hour together in the garden just watching Henry, which was great.  As Mr. HCB said, we can go to the Town Gardens at any time, but it’s not every day we will see a hedgehog in our garden.  The squirrel trap has now been consigned to the garage and will be returned to our friend, Trevor.

The best portion of your life
     will be the small, nameless moments
          you spend smiling with someone
               who matters to you.
Anon