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June 2020 June 2020

accompanied by some amazing photos. Let us know if there is anything you
One Friday, during lockdown, I make my way to my local Tesco for my essential
would like us to cover. If you would like to be included on the e-mailing list, please
shopping session. I am in the queue with my trusty trolley, and am casually staring
contact us.
out into the car park watching others like me coming and going. I see trolleys full
of essentials like toilet rolls, tinned tomatoes and baking ingredients being stuffed
into cars, booty and treasure for yet another busy week at home.
Nest Boxes
My thoughts are suddenly cut short as I see a very familiar figure getting out of car
– he’s wearing a hat and trenchcoat. No it can’t be – it’s the man in my dreams – It is good to see the nest boxes along
yes it’s him. He looks out of place wearing that outfit on a really warm day in a the stream being put to their
Tesco car park. He’s a total anachronism! I watch him lock his car, then he goes intended use. Here is a Great Tit
to the hand sanitising station, then grabs his trolley and as he passes me – I am exiting on its way to find more food
for its young brood of helpless
the other side of the’ safe ‘ barrier, - he doffs his hat and smiles. How would he youngsters with an insatiable
know where I am? Has he followed me? Does he live in my village and maybe appetite. The parent birds will feed
that’s where I’ve seen him before?
their young on a variety of
I am in complete disbelief, I don’t know him, but I do - don’t I? He’s in my dream invertebrates such as aphids, spiders,
every night. What to do? The queue is moving forward at a pace now. He is many small beetles, caterpillars, bugs and
trolleys behind me, but I shall just ignore him and get on with my shopping. I zoom other juicy insects, all full of protein to
around as quickly as I can, and am not looking back and have no idea now help the growing birds develop a
where he is. I get to the checkout, take a swift look around – nowhere to be seen. sound bone structure. As the young
I get through as quickly as I can, to get outside to my car –my rescue ship. My grow the parents start to introduce
heart is pounding and I don’t know why, after all remember in my dream he is not small seeds to their diet prior to them
a threatening figure. What if he follows me home – just get to the car. Now to get leaving the nest. Thanks to all
out into the car park you have to snake through a complex maze of yellow one- involved in providing the nest boxes – Photo: Roger Bates
way crash barriers and when my escape plan has been executed I head you (through the Parish Council) for
towards my goal. paying for the timber, the Wildlife and Environment Group volunteers for cutting
the timber to size and putting up the boxes, and not least to the local Cub pack
Standing next to my car is the mystery man, carrying a huge bouquet of flowers. I who assembled the boxes. If you have bird boxes in your garden do let us know
have no choice but to go that way , but how does he know which car is mine which birds are using them.
and how did he get out before me? I am shocked beyond belief- he must be a
mind reader and before I open my mouth he says ‘Hello, nice to meet you at last,
these are for you’ as he thrusts the flowers on to my trolley with his gloved hand. Nature Sightings
‘I just want to thank you for letting me into your dreams. I have had such fun, joy We would be very interested to hear of your local wildlife sightings (common or
and mirth. I knew I would find you one day to thank you personally. These unusual), so as to build up a picture of what is about and when it first arrives /
memories will stay with me forever’. He bows his head slightly, with an aristocratic emerges.
air, turns and heads towards his car, gets in and drives away. Gone – just like that!

I drive home in a complete daze.
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That evening, I am almost too frightened to fall asleep, so to ease the passage, I
indulge in rather a large nightcap. Sleep arrived, my dreams arrived, but he If you would like to know more about the work of the Wildlife and Environment
wasn’t there. I know he wasn’t there because in the morning I felt a monumental Group or to be included on our e-mailing list, please contact:
sense of loss.
Tony Bates at tonybates19@gmail.com / 01929 471563
Many months have elapsed, and he hasn’t ever appeared again. Who was this Amy Yates at AmyEyeats@hotmail.com or
man in my dreams?
Mike Gee at mike.n.g@outlook./com / 0775 988 4942.
Lady in Lockdown May 2020

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