Hungry Deer

Its amazing how hungry we all are at this time of year, whether it is a hotelier struggling to start a new financial year off and searching for business to start paying bills amassed over the winter , or a badger who has been sleeping for a month whilst his feeders were on holiday or even the deer who are normally reclusive but are now quite tame!

We have around a dozen deer on the island and it is not unusual to be able to walk the whole island and never see a trace of them however the last couple of weeks has seen a very different side to these animals as the grass supply has wilted and the new season has yet really to start. Yesterday morning there were two on the patio in front of the main house showing off during breakfast and last week when we had a light dusting of snow the prints were even on the front door step to welcome us.

Clearly they have been driven by hunger having devoured many of the green shoots of recovery already with my mother complaining bitterly that her new plants have been savagely pruned and Chay surprised that even the roses and hydrangeas have had a wee nibble. I thought that my house and garden would have been immune as when it was suggested thatw e plant eucalyptus at the edge of the land, in order to dissuse the midges I had suggested that it would make little difference to the the wee midges but at least the deer would not appreciate the effort. Initially I was right howver that has all been proven to be inocrrect as I noticed yesterday that despite the smell and taste they have snacked on our flourishing plant which till now was the sole survivor from their grazing in nthe garden.

So its now either back to the drawing boad or off to the market to get some hay on the basis if you can't beat them then feed them!