Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
14th September 2019
Winter of Discontent?
Sigh – I predict a hard winter. I have been trying to avoid all the signs, like the hedgerows groaning under the weight of berries and the thick nut-shell carpets under hazel trees – and the even ‘thicker’, busy squirrels – but I think it means nature is providing copious store cupboard provisions as she prepares for a belter of a winter.
“Squirrels gathering nuts in a flurry, will cause snow to gather in a hurry.” So the saying goes.
I know people say that the abundance of berries can’t predict the future weather, but rather they are a result of the spring that went before, but who do you think orchestrated the spring? ‘Zackly’ – nature. She plans much further ahead than we realise, or give her credit for.
By the way, you can pick the abundance of berries now – hawthorn, blackberries and even sloes – and freeze them to use to feed the birds throughout the winter. They will be a real treat in the cold winter months, much appreciated by your feathered friends and will save you a couple of quid on bird food too.
Birds will also appreciate apples through the winter months so if you can collect and store windfalls too, they’ll also be appreciated. Avoid storing damaged apples though, as they will only rot.
Ida Spider
Another sign of a hard winter is supposed to be bigger, and more numerous, spider webs. If the webs in my cottage are anything to go by, we won’t be having a winter, we will be having an ice age!
The Pholcid spiders, the ones with little bodies and long thin legs, are taking over. They are more commonly known as cellar or vibrating spiders, because they love dark cool spaces like a cellar and they vibrate if disturbed, respectively – and they are in abundance this year.
Some people refer to them as ‘daddy longlegs’ too, but a true daddy longlegs is just a distant relative of the cellar spider and are actually closer related to scorpions. Just to confuse the issue even more, most people when referring to a ‘daddy-long-legs’ actually mean crane flies.
Anyway, whatever you call them, the cellar spiders are apparently rather anti-social and have a bit of a dark side. Although they look like little delicate beings, they definitely punch above their weight when it comes to their eating habits. No vegan trend for them as they are carnivorous and the natural enemy of the large ‘traditional’ house spiders. When you think about it, I bet you have seen less of those ‘big-bodied’ spiders that you were familiar with, or put the fear of God into you, in your childhood, and a lot more of the annoying vibrating little bodied ones.
And I bet you thought they were harmless! Thank God they haven’t found my ‘pet’ spider, Ida, yet. (see pic) Ida has been living quite happily in my bathroom for the last few months and by waging war with a very willing Henry (hoover) on the cellar spiders, I hope to keep it that way.
In the absence of other ‘Ida’s’ the cellar spiders will also feed on flies, bees, wasps and even each other, when food is scarce. And they are not only carnivorous but very cunning.
They have worked out that if they vibrate on their webs, pretending to be a helpless insect tangled in the silk, an unsuspecting ‘Ida’ spider will pounce, expecting an easy meal but sadly ends up being the victim.
Treacherous little things, those cellar spiders – I think that little body must be all brain!
Whose Coat is that Jacket?
With winter being just around the corner, it’s time to ensure my wet weather and winter clothing is up to scratch. It’s always been difficult to find a waterproof coat that is actually waterproof in heavy rain all day and that is comfortable to work in, but last year I discovered the Breathedry Waterproof Smock from Arbortech. It’s lovely to wear, looks good and more importantly has proved to be waterproof so far. The boys also wear theirs in the rain whilst mowing on the ride on mowers and if a coat keeps you dry then, it’ll keep you dry anywhere.
Arbortech to some great clothing and it’s all designed for proper outdoor use. Their stuff is revered by arborists, gardeners and outdoor workers, and as such it’s also really good for dog walking and the more recreational aspects of outdoor living too.
Have a look at and I bet you ‘add to basket’!
www.arbortec.com/collections/clothing/products/breathedry-waterproof-smock-black
And I also bet that buying new wet weather gear will ensure a couple of weeks of dry weather – it usually does.
Did you know that the 19th September is Talk Like a Pirate Day? And do you know why are Pirates so cool? Because they just Arrrrrhhh.
Love reading your articles I learn so much about things, I didn’t even realise, I didn’t know!
Plus, thank you for reminding me of that fab welsh way of asking who owns the coat!