Nature Blog by Jenny Bourne

We’ve gone through what feels like Arctic conditions through the past couple of weeks, with the harshest, coldest spell of sub-zero temperatures for as long as I can remember.

Our peas are in flower, the potatoes planted for Christmas have got blight and there’s blackfly on the broad beans! My next door plot neighbour and I were chatting a few days ago about the unusual November weather we’ve been experiencing.

It’s been quite disconcerting to see flowers, annuals and perennials growing again amongst the usual late season varieties such as dahlias. The extremely mild to warm weather has been a result apparently of a southerly jet stream over us for the past few weeks.

A damp and soggy Bonfire Night day so far, and the rain gauge over-flowing at more than 2.5inches when we checked yesterday. I hope it stays dry for any community organised firework displays this evening, that bonfire piles are checked first for any hedgehogs etc hiding and that pet owners do what they can to minimise stress from all the loud bangs and explosions!

Some buffeting high winds and heavy rain showers over the past weeks have brought down the leaves, patternng the ground with autumnal colours and creating slip hazards when wet. But these leaves are plant gold for their use as mulch, once they’ve been raked off the paths and grass.