Friday 22nd May 2026 - Comments, Gaia, Gnomes, Hedgehog and Sports Club Fundraising

I’ve been dipping into BBC’s iplayer and watching segments, from this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.  A couple of comments made at the show are worth a mention.  The first was related to gardening ‘every day is a learning day’ – so very true.  The second was from a son with his mother who said they came away with good ideas, none of which they put into practice – I wonder how true this is for many of those attending.  The star of the show, for me, had to be the wood carving of Gaia sleeping.  I watched how it was made, in three separate pieces, before being constructed at Chelsea to show the full beauty of this sculpture in wood.  A gnome featured in the Kings Garden.  Garden designer, also a garden programme presenter, Frances Tophill, explained the reason why she had included it - the King has a gnome in his garden at Highgrove which he moves around for the gardeners to find.  I wonder if gnomes are now going to be the ‘in thing’ to have in gardens.  We have a number dotted about.  These were made a few years ago by Peter, following a visit from our grandsons.  They weren’t interested in making any, hence Peter making them and us having them in our garden.

Wednesday morning, Peter spotted a hedgehog in our front garden.  Being nocturnal, we wondered why it was out during the day, usually a sign of sickness or disruption to their nest/sleeping area or a need to find food for their hoglets.  However, our initial concerns were; it was heading for the road.  Gloves at the ready to pick it up, I went out and was pleased to see, it had gone under our neighbour’s gate and into their garden. In the afternoon we were alerted to a hedgehog at the edge of the road.  Gloves on, I picked it up and moved it to the safety of our back garden, under the trees.  I provided food but it wasn’t interested and moved on.  That evening, Peter set up the trail cam and I put some food in the cat proof feeding station.  Next morning, the trail cam had recorded inquisitive local cats, including our Sid, and a hedgehog which didn’t stop to take advantage of the food.  Last night it only recorded Sid and once again, the hedgehog who passed by but showed no interest in the food.  We will continue with the set up but I’m guessing the hedgehog is finding plenty of natural food and therefore doesn’t need what we’re providing.

Today’s photo is of the banner on the Pavilion, covering the Sports Club’s 80^th Anniversary of sport and community events.  It's also promoting an appeal to raise £140,000 for repairs and refurbishments to the Pavilion.