ORCHID TRIMMING TIME

Paul Haresnape was kind enough to offer to buy us protective goggles and a flourescent jacket for Graham so that he could fulfil the requirements of HM Government's health and safety directives whilst trimming the grass surrounding the small colony of orchids that we found at Fairy Cross.

If anyone doesn't know the story so far they can check out:

http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2010/05/letter-from-me-to-torridge-district.html
http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2010/05/another-orchid-update.html
http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2010/05/orchids-result.html
http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2010/05/donation.html
http://forteanzoology.blogspot.com/2010/05/paul-haresnape-is-really-nice-bloke.html

...which in chronological order tell the story of the orchids of Fairy Cross, and give one hope for both mankind and regional government.

However, Graham managed to find a jacket for £3.50 on eBay, and it turned out that we already had some protective goggles, and so - whilst it was incredibly kind of paul to offer - we didn't want to take his money under false pretences. However, we are asking for permission to put a small sign by the orchids saying that this area of land is being conserved by the CFZ in memory of Paul's late mother.

But I am digressing (as I so often do).

We were driving to Bideford on other errands when we noticed that all of the verges along the Fairy Cross road had been trimmed severely. But our friend at the Highway's Agency had been as good as his word, and had arranged for `our` bit of verge to be left unscathed. So, because it looked so unkempt, we decided that it was about time to attend to our side of the bargain (flak jacket or no flak jacket) and so we did just that.

Paul's mum will, I hope, be looking down upon us proudly.