Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi there

For the third time in two days, we've seen a pair of partridges in the garden. They gave me quite a shock this morning when I accidentally cornered them by our shed and they made a noisy take-off to the safety of another garden - in fact they stopped right under a pear tree

It's lovely to see something different in the garden - something that isn't going to burrow (I hope)

Not wishing to worry you but we lose small bulbs like Crocus to Pheasants.

Even worse they are very partial to broad beans just as they are emerging, and there was a pair of partridge over our alottments Friday morning. They always appear about this time every year.

No problem!

I hate broad beans!

And as for the small bulbs, well, I reckon that with partridges pulling from above and the moles/voles/field mice or whatever pulling from below, they aren't going to go anywhere, are they?

I think broad beans must be like Marmite, you either love them or hate them.

What you really need is an Owl to take residence.

If only, OH, if only

Dear Caz we are very lucky here, we have a Barn owl that is often out in the day on patrol, and also a few Tawny Owls that are in the trees behind my house.

My dear Mum that lives down the other end of the village from me, has a little stall with an honesty box like yourself.

Owls are one thing I've not seen in the ten years or so we've lived here, OH. Maybe I just haven't been looking properly.
We have just about everything else: huge numbers of house sparrows, an explosion of jackdaws - until recently they kept mainly to the church opposite us, but not any more - woodpeckers, both spotted and green, more and more buzzards every week etc.
But no owls!
Actually, bats have disappeared since we came here, too.
By the way - is there any chance that sparrowhawks will catch rodents, because we've got our fair share of those, or do they only do what it says on the tin?

I think Kestrels would be a better bet to clear up the your unwelcome underground intruders.

I bet you've only had grey Broad Beans - try some young green ones and see if you change your mind.

Morning, Geoff

I did grow them a couple of times, even though I don't like them, because my other half loves them. I tried eating them at every stage, including very young, but I still didn't like them - to me they taste like soap

I think OH was right - it's like Marmite. But I like Marmite

Hi Caz,
I strangely do not like soap either! But I agree with Geoff about the green varieties of Broad Bean absolutely wonderful.
You have brought back schoolday memories of when I said something naughty and the teacher washed my mouth out with soap! This is a memory from one who has, just this last week, officially entered his second childhood.
JB.