Tales from the garden

Serena Strickland is medical doctor who loves swimming, playing violin and guitar, singing and hens.

She first volunteered with BHWT Team Devon in December 2016 and has been an active hen helper at Rose Ash, helping at farms too. Serena also likes to turn her hand to a little writing now and again and wrote this lovely piece to help our celebrations along about the induction of a rookie hen.

Tales from the Garden

"A garden snail named Archie, owned by Carl Branhorn of Pott Row, England, covered a 13 inch course in 2 minutes at the 1995 World Snail Racing Championships, held in Longhan, England.”

‘If you are going to survive here you have to be quick, this orchard contains some of the fastest slugs in the world’ said Jemima. Andromeda didn’t quite know how to respond, it was all a bit overwhelming, to be honest. She had only just settled in after the usual argy-bargy when joining a new flock. She was at the bottom of the pecking order, only in contrast to her previous quarters, being the bottom of a pecking order of four was a different kettle of fish from being the bottom of a thousand hens. Then there was Ayman, the diminutive rooster who kept them all in check.

Jemima seemed to have taken Andromeda under her wing, if not literally, then at least metaphorically. So, here they were, wandering around the garden, with Jemima giving Andromeda the low down on what was good to eat.

Before her arrival, Andromeda had never seen the outdoors and found it quite overwhelming. To begin with, she was afraid to leave the coop, but now she was more confident, although she still cowered in fear whenever a pigeon flew over. She found keeping close to the trees gave her more reassurance. It was late summer and the grasses were long, there were well-worn paths they could follow and take in the best buffets the garden could offer. Jemima led the way, followed by the little pekin cockerel -Ayman, Andromeda and then Lily, who was off in a world of her own, distracted by a small moth which seemed determined to taunt her by fluttering about, just out of reach of her eager beak.

So Jemima continued her induction, telling about spiders, chiggy pigs (woodlice) which were the most delicious in the whole of Devon, the ant hills full of delicious grubs and finally, the slugs. The slugs, she maintained were particularly difficult to catch, with a top speed of 15cm a minute they could fast outwit a chicken’s beak, and the slime they exuded made them especially difficult to grip hold of. Andromeda thought 15cm a minute didn’t sound very fast, but she kept quiet, assuming that her lack of garden knowledge would show up if she questioned Jemima’s wisdom.

As they came down the hill Jemima skirted around a patch of green sunken into the ground, Andromeda followed although Jemima indicated that this was where delicious treats may be found. Ayman squawked a warning as Andromeda was about to jump down, Jemima chuckled and Lily, finally catching up with them joined in. Andromeda stopped in her tracks, one foot poised over the abyss. A small stone was dislodged by her feet and fell down into the pond with a splash. Lesson learned Andromeda, avoid the pond. Ayman caught up with her and danced his pretty little dance, singing softly. 'Don’t worry darling’ he sang, ‘Jemima walked straight into the pond when she first arrived and she’s wanted everyone else to do the same ever since’ He finished his song with a flourish and a loud ‘Cock-a doodle-do!’ Andromeda sighed in relief and turned to Jemima. ‘So, about these slugs…’