This is the last of Dick Warner’s hugely popular columns following his death last Friday. Here, he discusses birds’ nests and eggs

The other day, I had an extraordinary encounter with a bird. I opened the front door early in the morning to go out and feed the hens and, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something bright blue in the shade of a potted plant on the doorstep. 

Usually the cuckoo arrives early in the part of the country where I live, and leaves early too. 

The real meaning of the word amateur has nothing to do with qualifications or where your income comes from, writes Dick Warner. 

I have a friend and neighbour who, many years ago, planted trees on most of his farm. He now has a large mixed woodland and it’s right beside an even larger one, Donadea Forest Park, which is an old demesne wood now managed by Coillte, writes Dick Warner.

Dick Warner shares his techniques for Spring cleaning your garden pond.

I live down a narrow, twisting cul-de-sac lane. You are forced to drive very slowly but this does give you the chance to take in the seasonal progression in the hedgerows and verges and the wildlife living in them. 

I RECENTLY went on a short holiday to Croatia, the first time I’ve visited this rather wonderful country, writes Dick Warner.

This week Dick Warner ponders over the paradoxical deciduous larch tree.

A major reason for planting the trees was to try and create a habitat for woodland plants and animals, writes Dick Warner