Comments on: A Bird in the Bush is worth Two in the Hand http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/ Noli nothis permittere te terere Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:24:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Primal Sneeze http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1629 Primal Sneeze Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:15:24 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1629 Medbh - Hedges and land aside, FMC's story was pure class.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1629','Primal Sneeze'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Medbh – Hedges and land aside, FMC’s story was pure class.
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]]> By: Medbh http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1619 Medbh Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:56:17 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1619 Primal, you do as you see fit with your own land. Better to have nature take the lead than in trying to conform to policy or the neighbors. What a great story, FMC.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1619','Medbh'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Primal, you do as you see fit with your own land. Better to have nature take the lead than in trying to conform to policy or the neighbors.

What a great story, FMC.

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]]> By: Primal Sneeze http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1606 Primal Sneeze Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:48:39 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1606 I like your Da, FMC. A lot. A man after my own hedge, so to speak. We had (what am I saying, we have!) a family like that around here: They pleaded with one of the local farmers for permission to shoot foxes on his land ... doing HIM a favour like. He gave in eventually and regretted it ever since. The morning after the brothers' first night on the land every single duck was gone from the river as were a lot of the rabbits. Nothing left but feathers, fur ... and foxes. Oh and, <i>Of course my mother went bat shit crazy and said he could have killed them and could have been arrested for attempted murder, but I have to say I was never prouder of him and to this day it was one of my more misty-eyed stories of my father</i> has convinced me to begin a <i>comment of the week spot</i>. I love it!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1606','Primal Sneeze'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I like your Da, FMC. A lot. A man after my own hedge, so to speak.

We had (what am I saying, we have!) a family like that around here: They pleaded with one of the local farmers for permission to shoot foxes on his land … doing HIM a favour like. He gave in eventually and regretted it ever since. The morning after the brothers’ first night on the land every single duck was gone from the river as were a lot of the rabbits. Nothing left but feathers, fur … and foxes.

Oh and, Of course my mother went bat shit crazy and said he could have killed them and could have been arrested for attempted murder, but I have to say I was never prouder of him and to this day it was one of my more misty-eyed stories of my father has convinced me to begin a comment of the week spot. I love it!

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]]> By: fatmammycat http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1595 fatmammycat Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:36:41 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1595 MY father left thick hedges for the exact same reason, and he had a decent sized copse at the top of the farm which he allowed to be completely wild. We even had a badgers set there. He was a ferocious defender of the local wild life, spurred by the fact that there were a breeding pair of pheasants up near the barley field that he used to like to watch. One day while he was driving the tractor up the back lane he came across the hen lying bleeding on the side of the lane and the cock was gone. He knew fine well they'd been shot. The next evening him and Benjy- the farm dog, set off up the fields, him with the shot gun loaded with pellets and they waited. Sure enough at at two there were two fellas lamping across the back field. Dad let loose the dog and as the lamps were swinging over the gates he aimed where the lights were. According to him, there was a loud scream and then a lot of cursing. It soon became common knowledge his land was off limits and there were two brother of a local reprobate family limping for a couple of weeks after. Of course my mother went bat shit crazy and said he could have killed them and could have been arrested for attempted murder, but I have to say I was never prouder of him and to this day it was one of my more misty-eyed stories of my father.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1595','fatmammycat'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> MY father left thick hedges for the exact same reason, and he had a decent sized copse at the top of the farm which he allowed to be completely wild. We even had a badgers set there. He was a ferocious defender of the local wild life, spurred by the fact that there were a breeding pair of pheasants up near the barley field that he used to like to watch. One day while he was driving the tractor up the back lane he came across the hen lying bleeding on the side of the lane and the cock was gone. He knew fine well they’d been shot. The next evening him and Benjy- the farm dog, set off up the fields, him with the shot gun loaded with pellets and they waited. Sure enough at at two there were two fellas lamping across the back field. Dad let loose the dog and as the lamps were swinging over the gates he aimed where the lights were.
According to him, there was a loud scream and then a lot of cursing. It soon became common knowledge his land was off limits and there were two brother of a local reprobate family limping for a couple of weeks after.
Of course my mother went bat shit crazy and said he could have killed them and could have been arrested for attempted murder, but I have to say I was never prouder of him and to this day it was one of my more misty-eyed stories of my father.
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]]> By: Primal Sneeze http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1589 Primal Sneeze Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:18:58 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1589 Young Knudsen - You snook in on me there while I was replying to the other folks. I have been trimming for years - lightly with a slash hook where it was looking like getting out of hand totally. The birds will get food elsewhere I admit, but I just like them in my garden not on some pseudo eco-warrior's kids' birdtable. But maybe you're right. I starting to think it might be the best, if only for a quiet life.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1589','Primal Sneeze'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Young Knudsen – You snook in on me there while I was replying to the other folks.

I have been trimming for years – lightly with a slash hook where it was looking like getting out of hand totally. The birds will get food elsewhere I admit, but I just like them in my garden not on some pseudo eco-warrior’s kids’ birdtable.

But maybe you’re right. I starting to think it might be the best, if only for a quiet life.

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]]> By: Primal Sneeze http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1588 Primal Sneeze Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:11:15 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1588 Grannymar - Yes, nature finds it's own boundaries. A Hawthorn (Whitethorn if you wish) grows out and up only so far. Any further and it blocks it's own light and stalls. Aonghus - The funny thing about the whole scenario is that, in granting permission for the extension, the council stipulated 18 conditions, one of which was that the hedgerows not be taken out. I had suggested taking out the strip directly behind the new part of the house (to make it easier for the workers), fencing it and replanting, but they told me it was a <i>heritage hedge</i> in that it was there (according to their <i>experts</i>) 200 years. Pointing out that my grandfather who planted it was not alive 200 year ago was met with bewildered looks. Gaye - Damn the work. Damn the cost. You are right - it <b>is</b> wonderful. Legally I can do anything I want as it is not part of the road-frontage. I am beginning to think that I should just trim the top and not breast the sides (thereby leaving the berries) and hope the neighbours appreciate the compromise. They may not - unlike me, they want to think they are living in Wysteria Lane and not rural Ireland.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1588','Primal Sneeze'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Grannymar – Yes, nature finds it’s own boundaries. A Hawthorn (Whitethorn if you wish) grows out and up only so far. Any further and it blocks it’s own light and stalls.

Aonghus – The funny thing about the whole scenario is that, in granting permission for the extension, the council stipulated 18 conditions, one of which was that the hedgerows not be taken out. I had suggested taking out the strip directly behind the new part of the house (to make it easier for the workers), fencing it and replanting, but they told me it was a heritage hedge in that it was there (according to their experts) 200 years. Pointing out that my grandfather who planted it was not alive 200 year ago was met with bewildered looks.

Gaye – Damn the work. Damn the cost. You are right – it is wonderful. Legally I can do anything I want as it is not part of the road-frontage.

I am beginning to think that I should just trim the top and not breast the sides (thereby leaving the berries) and hope the neighbours appreciate the compromise. They may not – unlike me, they want to think they are living in Wysteria Lane and not rural Ireland.

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]]> By: Old Knudsen http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1587 Old Knudsen Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:54:06 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1587 Most hedges and bushes do better with a little bit of trimming now after then, it stimulates growth in other areas, it'll grow back. Before winter the birds should get plenty of food from elsewhere but do it before March before breeding season starts.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1587','Old Knudsen'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Most hedges and bushes do better with a little bit of trimming now after then, it stimulates growth in other areas, it’ll grow back. Before winter the birds should get plenty of food from elsewhere but do it before March before breeding season starts.
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]]> By: Gaye http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1584 Gaye Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:21:10 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1584 it seems like it's too much work and extra cost to keep trimming all the hedges. If it doesn't look really really awful, why bother cutting any of it? Does the front really have to match the back? It sounds wonderful at the back, all in tune with nature and a refuge for the birds and other little living things. What can you get away with doing or not doing (legally speaking)?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1584','Gaye'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> it seems like it’s too much work and extra cost to keep trimming all the hedges. If it doesn’t look really really awful, why bother cutting any of it? Does the front really have to match the back? It sounds wonderful at the back, all in tune with nature and a refuge for the birds and other little living things. What can you get away with doing or not doing (legally speaking)?
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]]> By: aonghus http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1576 aonghus Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:18:04 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1576 Seconded. Maybe you could get Dúchas or whatever they're called now to slap a preservation order on it to keep the Jones's off your back? "I'd love to tidy it up, but I'm not allowed"<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1576','aonghus'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Seconded.

Maybe you could get Dúchas or whatever they’re called now to slap a preservation order on it to keep the Jones’s off your back?

“I’d love to tidy it up, but I’m not allowed”

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]]> By: Grannymar http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-bush-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/comment-page-1/#comment-1574 Grannymar Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:55:51 +0000 http://www.primalsneeze.com/2007/09/17/a-bird-in-the-hedge-is-worth-two-in-the-hand/#comment-1574 Nature never grew in straight rows. I vote keep the hedge<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1574','Grannymar'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Nature never grew in straight rows.

I vote keep the hedge

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