Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
22nd February 2025
World Wide Webs
I have numerous books about specific wildlife species – The Book of the Frog, The Soul of an Octopus (just brilliant), The Life of the Bee, The Secret Life of the Owl and The Secret World of Moles (although I can’t help thinking these lives and worlds are not quite so secret now they have been revealed in a book) to name but a few and I have recently seen a new ‘likely candidate’ – The Lives of Spiders.
I’m not a huge fan of spiders, but author Ximena Nelson obviously is and describes them as ‘amazing creatures’. The book is packed with fascinating information, which appeals to me far more that the subject itself. Facts include the world’s 15 quadrillion or so spiders consume more meat a year than a human beings does, enjoying everything from fish, frogs and lizards to mice, bats and, a little disturbing in the case of the aptly named Goliath bird-eating tarantula, birds.
And as if that isn’t a large enough menu, many spiders also eat each other. Over 80% of the amorous wasp spider males get eaten by females as they attempt to mate. Channel 4 have definitely missed out on a version of that!
As an attempt to claw back some fans, some of the spiders’ super-powers really are ‘super’ – their ability to make silk, which has ‘more tensile strength than steel and can absorb more impact than Kevlar’, being one of them.
A single web can cover up to 30 square feet, sometimes spanning entire rivers like a bridge, and, for reasons we will never know, some species decorate their webs with the mutilated remains of victims.
Once spiders have caught their victim, they inject it with venom. But they are not extravagant. Not only do they vary the dose depending on the size and ‘will-to-live’ of their prey, they also customise the venom, using different toxins from different venom glands. Now that’s a super-power, for sure – almost putting spinning silk in the shade.
And if that’s not enough, they finally cover their paralysed victim in potent digestive fluid, which sort of ‘melts’ it, making it digestible.
If you are still reading, then you will be reassured to know that spiders kill only a handful of people each year, and that most visits to A&E for spider bites actually turn out not to be spider bites at all. Despite their dubious dining habits, I do think they get a bad press and deserve all the support they can get, so will definitely be learning more about them and adding another book to my shelves.
Lazy Wind
I know it’s still February and therefore still technically ‘winter’, but I have found the icy, east wind brutal lately. It is a lazy wind – it goes through you rather than around you. And despite people saying ‘It is too cold to snow’, it has of course been to dry to snow, not too cold.
I, for one, am glad it’s warmed up a little, but a warm day without mist and rain and with some blue sky would be nice.
The cold spell will have been good for the garden though, hopefully reducing pests and diseases, like the old fashioned days. And it won’t be long before the grass starts to grow. Once the soil temperatures reach around 8 degrees centigrade consistently for about 2 weeks, along with increased sunlight to stimulate photosynthesis, then you’ll notice the lawn getting ‘furry’. If the soil is too cold, water can’t move through the grass plant easily enough to produce growth, and reduced daylight during the winter also slows photosynthesis, giving the grass and the gardeners a rest.
So, it’s a good idea to service your lawn mower now and get ready for the mowing season.
Make sure all garden tools are ‘ready for action’ too. Repair or replace any broken tools – and remember Tools for Self Reliance in Crickhowell have the best recycled gardening tools ever. More information at www.tfsrcymru.org.uk
Stihl Brilliant
I have been using Stihl’s ASA 20 cordless secateurs (now, I know all secateurs are cordless but these are battery operated) for cutting back shrubs, and in particular a large area of willow withies this winter and, I have to say, they are absolutely brilliant. You have to concentrate and keep your ‘other hand’ well out the way. I wouldn’t use them for clearing herbaceous growth from beds, as I have nipped my fingers with my regular secateurs once or twice – and you wouldn’t get away with that with the Stihl cordless pruners. But they have proved invaluable for larger pruning jobs and I have been completely astounded by what they will cut effortlessly, slicing through quite substantial branches.
My wrist and fingers have benefitted hugely too. Now, with arthritis ‘tapping at the door’, a full day using secateurs makes them (and me) very grumpy but the cordless pruners negated all of that. You don’t have to constantly squeeze the ‘trigger’ either – for maximum cutting control and very precise cuts, the movement of the blade follows the movement of the finger on the control lever during cutting. The blade only closes as far as the control lever is pressed and opens again immediately when the lever is released, so there is no duress on gardener’s joints and tendons.
I do tend to be a bit old fashioned and ‘traditional’ when it comes to my gardening tools but I must admit I am thrilled with the battery pruners. Gone are the days when I would battle through hard work heroically, especially to keep up with the lads. Now I’m all for anything that makes work easier. And these certainly do. Another glowing testament for these ‘perfect pruners’ is that the lads in work ‘pinched them’ to use whenever they could.
Stihl also do a small lightweight battery operated saw, which is described as a ‘cordless garden pruner’ (GTA 26) – and which I use when the boys pinch my pruners. Despite having my proper chainsaw licence, I’m not too confident using chainsaws these days, and this little battery operated saw is a perfect substitute for dealing with smaller branches and brash.
Whilst I am not on any retainer or incentive from Stihl – or any other company – I really do think their products are a ‘cut above’ and have always used them. Both tools are extremely competent and have made light work of winter pruning and clearing work this winter. You can get more information by emailing enquiries@stihl.co.uk, or popping into www.stihl.co.uk
Thank you
Heartfelt thanks to all those who have sent me and Ian messages and cards offering condolences, and for all those lovely readers who have asked – a Thanksgiving Service to celebrate Mum’s colourful life will be held at St Catwg’s Church in Llangattock on Friday 28th February at 2:00 pm. You are welcome to bring a single flower or feather for inclusion in a large arrangement for the Church service. Thank you.
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