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 of its call. This year it's remained firmly hidden, but it has been rather vocal. I lay in the tent, at somewhere between 5am and 6am.  The cat slept, the children slept, but the cuckoo appeared to have just woken up. It was the first time I had heard

Winter wildlifeMost garden wildlife hibernates over winter, as food is in short supply and freezing temperatures make life difficult. Learn how to help wild creatures through the cold winter months, below.In winter, wild animals and insects hunker

and we decided on setting up humane traps to deal with the problem. We have a small dog and they have several cats, so we didn't want to risk leaving rat poison around. We both invested in these metal contraptions with precariously balanced doors

and dropped to the floor. And yesterday the cats brought in a huge black and grey moth - the old lady, Mormo maura - which fluttered around the kitchen ceiling until rescued.Wednesday also brought the first large cabbage white butterfly of the year. I don

and the odd really unfortunate one got into my mouth. Then they came indoors, having discovered open windows and open cat flap, and hung around the fruit bowl like miniature vultures or drowned in the chianti.They're all gone now...or so I thought. In fact

because he knew mankind would often be in its presence.Nowadays the only dung I ever get first-hand experience of (although it's usually first-foot experience) is dog, cat or fox, and none of them is renowned for its sweet scent. I have found the odd

A plaintive mewling took me to the end of the garden a couple of days ago. At first I thought a cat had caught a bird or had cornered a fledgling. As I got closer I realised it was coming from a tree and wondered if some strange seagull was lost

to prevent other suitors taking advantage until the eggs are laid. At present there are approximately no cow pats in my garden, but we have two well-fed cats, and the regular procession of foxes leave more than their fair share of strong-smelling faeces. Even

be good to state that I am not anti-wildlife, just pro gardens. I welcome all creatures great and small. Except rabbits. And maybe the next door neighbour's cat.

up and down the lawn where migratory herds appear to have trampled. As far as I can make out, these are the combined footprints of our two cats, that fox, and several squirrels. They must have made the journey dozens of times.The fox prints