Wildlife

Local wildlife much in evidence.  When I went out to water the geraniums this morning, I found the neighbours’ cat at the door, and shooed it away as usual.  I then noticed the rat it had cornered, and shut the door sharpish.  A little later, when I went to chat with a passing neighbour, I noticed that the box caterpillar has arrived, and is chomping its way rapidly through the front garden.  Debating with ourselves what to do.  We’d rather not use an insecticide, but we’d like to keep the box if we can: we have a whole lot of it.  There is a product that is supposed to be harmless to bees and birds.  That, together with a pheromone trap to show when the moths return and hence the need to re-treat, might give them a fighting chance.  Bugger.