Now that my shelter is functional, I wanted to spend a day with the two pals that have helped me build it, mainly just to celebrate it, enjoy their company and have a good laugh. Simon, the chief clown, seen here demonstrating how a wheelbarrow can be a comfy chair while he tells one of his ribald stories. I had a very difficult job that I wanted to do which was to erect the tawny owl box I built last year. So having a couple of good mates to help was essential. After some tricky manouvering at the top of two ladders, we got the box strapped into place on a magnificent beech tree. I am really hoping to get some owl residents next spring.

It’s an incredible time of year for fungi spotting, here are a few of the most stunning. This one is Amanita muscaria commonly known as Fly Agaric looking like the typical fairy tale mushroom.

This is Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare)

This one is Lycoperdon perlatum – Common Puffball this one about the size of a golf ball