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Good day, Jazzgirl!
Lucky you with the skylarks!
And good thinking by your local council in "reserving" a special place for them.
Their song is beautiful.
i have not heard a corncrake in years, either.
Knowing nothing about hedgehogs' dietary requirements, I shall bypass today's discussion on them!

Hi elleNo hedgehogs cannot tolerate lactose or yeast
I feed ours on dog or cat food meat only no fish raw egg yolk raw liver and the large mealworms,Our big boar seems to come year round they sometimes dont hibernate but the small ones join him in the summer.It is a pity that if the weather is good they have another litter to late in the year for them to reach the weight to hibernate and many die,Ziggy seems have a good relationship with them as they eat his food too,I worm and deflea and tick them and send them on their way,I always feel sad but they just toddle off into their new gardens

Hi, Rusty!
Still raining here!
Croydon was assimilated into Greater London in 1965 but is still regarded by most people as being in Surrey!
Surrey is the next county west of Kent - both are south of London.
It's very confusing, I know.
I think the reason for saying "up" to London, no matter where you might be at the time, is that it is the capital city.
I expect all that is as clear as mud?!
Now... I have to go out as my friend has just arrived and we are off to lunch (Thursday!)
I love the idea of snow shovels and sunloungers side- by-side .... Asda's motto must be "Prepare for any eventuality" !!!!
Have a fun day - catch you later.....

Hello, Elle!
I never knew Croydon was a part of Surrey at one time.
But it is becoming clearer all the time. Thank you!
I knew a man from Crawley once. Surrey?
That intrigued me as we have a Crolly in Donegal.
That is where Enya and Clannad are from. Their Da has a pub there. Great for music!
I have never heard anyone in Scotland say "up" to London. Always "down". Our capital is Edinburgh, you see. May be the reason?
I would say "up" to Inverness or Aberdeen, but "to" Edinburgh.
When your new Brewer's arrives could you find out where "donkeys ages" comes from?
Or even "yonks"?

Hi again,

Not many skylarks around unfortunately - there are some in France but this area is very much a hunting area (regulated and only allowed at certain times of the year) - Nonetheless, I wonder if this could have something to do with the birds not being around.

I always leave some food outside for one or two stray cats who (luckily) do not come inside the house, and this is where I saw the hedgehog the other evening - next to the cats' bowl.

They are extremely common around here and are reckoned to be the gardeners' friends. Sadly, they do get run over sometimes, but I don't think it can be helped.

PS - I don't think I have ever heard the song of a Skylark;
there are none in Paris of course, and never heard one since leaving the city either.

Hello Rosalind,

I know Oxford and its area very well; My aunt (mother's sister) lived in Witney, and I went to college there. Do you know it?

I went to Oxford with some friends a few years ago but we did not have the time to go and stop in Witney - I dare say I might have been disappointed anyway, for I am sure it has changed a lot since my teenage years !

Pigale I have been to Witney a few times but it is very much a dormitory for Oxford and you still have to go round that tiny roundabout if you go there. You were wise not to go, surrounded by housing estates now.

pigale enjoy :

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FCezW7OfGOU

One of my favourite pieces of music is "The Lark ascending " composed by Vaughan Williams. There are several versions on Youtube.
Time for lunch .....

Hello Jazzy,

Thank you so much for the link - just beautiful. It confirms what I thought, I had never heard this kind of bird song before, no have I ever seen the bird.

On the other hand, I read 'Larkrise to Candleford' many many years ago, bought by my cousin mainly because the novel is set in Oxfordshire. I know there is a DVD version of it and it is in my Amazon wish list.