I HAVE been spending quite a lot of time around the canal recently, getting my boat organised for the new season.

A FEW weeks ago I wrote an article for this page about unusual garden birds and mentioned a photograph sent in by a reader of a snipe feeding on a suburban front lawn.

RECENTLY every morning round here has started with a white frost, but strong sunshine has melted it all by about 11am and tempted me out to look for signs of growth in the garden and to pass judgement on plants that may or may not have been killed by the harsh winter.

SOMETIMES odd birds turn up in people’s gardens.

THE countryside is rather quiet at present. Most things seem to be still and dormant, waiting for the spring. But below the surface in our rivers, lakes and canals there is plenty of movement and drama.

IN a bed beside the front yard is a shrub I’m rather fond of.

READERS of this newspaper are very erudite people.

A COUPLE of weeks ago I found myself, rather unexpectedly, visiting Sardinia for the first time.