14. Wildlife Visitors

Parkgate is situated on the banks of the Dee Estuary, an RSPB reserve with its large bird population. The river has receded along this part of the estuary leaving wide salt marshes that are home to thousands of birds and other smaller creatures. A few times a year we get a very high tide, with the water coming all the way in to the Parade sea wall, which brings many of its inhabitants into the village.

The local bird life is prolific. We get all the usual garden birds visiting the garden daily, but also herons, pheasants, ducks, kestrels, sparrow hawks and owls are occasional visitors too. The grey herons come to raid the large ponds in the garden next door - our neighbour breeds frogs, toads and newts in them. Many birds of prey hunt out on the estuary, and use the Parkgate gardens as a resting place in between bouts of hunting.

All the common garden bird varieties are regulars: robins, blackbirds, tits, finches, wrens, blue jays, dunnocks, woodpeckers, pigeons and doves. In winter we get tiny goldcrests and nuthatches. In the spring we get the baby crows, who fledge about 10 days before they can fly, and live in the garden learning how to take care of themselves on the ground under the watchful eye of a parent bird. There are robin, blackbird and wren nests in the patches of ivy on the walls.

In spite of there being no standing water source in the garden, we regularly find frogs and toads hidden amongst the foliage. They migrate from the garden next door after the breeding season and make themselves at home. Mice and voles are regular visitors, particularly after high tides on the estuary drive them ashore looking for safer dry ground.

Hedgehogs are nightly visitors. They come out at dusk and bustle around looking for slugs and snails in the vegetable garden. It is not unusual to see a mother with two or three hoglets in tow. Foxes are rare, but they do sometimes come through the garden.

The garden is such a peaceful place, and once the main works are done, I intend creating spaces and places for wildlife to thrive. They are a very welcome addition to the garden.