We have one that starts when she finds one of the other 11 hens in the only nest box they will use, has a break while laying then starts again...drives me bonkers! She's been doing it all summer since we got her three years ago.

Unfortunately there are good guys and bad guys, and if you bring in the wrong ladybirds they will eat the native ones. Some halequin ladybirds look traditional, but though they do eat aphids, they also eat other insects and larvae, including native ladybirds. Have a bowse on gurgle

We are having a bumper year over here too. I have been asked by friends to take as many as I want, as well as blackcurrants, redcurrants and whitecurrants. Bring it on!

I was pleasantly surprise at how easy pasta was too and now make dough to keep in the freezer when eggs pile up. I use a simple pasta machine but don't bother hanging the pasta to dry, just fluff it up with a bit of flour while the water boils. It's amazing how much ravioli you can make with a slice...

We drove all the way to Bulgaria with two dogs on the back seat with a grill. The grill meant we could put leads on before opening the door, they are very obedient but you never know....We had long days but wee breaks and water were all they needed, otherwise they just slept all day. They were fed i...

But Counrtyfile is not Farming Today and covers all sorts of countryside matters. Riding is predominantly a country sport and as with other items, sometimes it's interesting to see another angle, many people, including the riders themselves, have no idea about the skeleton and muscles of the animal ...

It looks as if you are well and truly hooked! Enjoy your girls.

I grew the striped cream and purple ones successfully one year when we still lived in N Wales. I had a couple in the greenhouse and the rest outside on the drive. The outside ones were healthier plants and we had loads of fruit. I'm not that keen it was just something different to try. It must have ...

Just what I was going to say Spreckly

Lovely

Rubber matting can cope with horse shoes so it should cope with hen claws. We stored some under a hen coop once as we had nowhere to put it, no problem.

Recipe? Now you've got me! I don't tend to bother but do a basic mix of garlic, toasted walnuts (or almonds if I can get them) hard cheese and oil, but not a huge amount because that way you can use it for all sorts. You can use pine nuts, but it's not necessary as they are expensive.How much you us...

For preserving it I make pesto as I said above, with less oil, freezing it in lumps so that I can take enough out for one, like tonight. I use our own walnuts but you can use whatever nut suits. Chop it and add to bread, sauces, mix with spinach, as a stand alone wilted veg (if you dare!) in quiche,...

Lovely stuff. Haven't seen it growing wild here, have tried planting bulbs and seeds but am getting nowhere. I have serious envy of my sister who has a small wood in her garden teeming with the stuff. However it is available in packs in the supermarkets here so I don't go without. It just doesn't ha...

Glad I'm not alone, it was too long, longer than a feature film.