Goldhead

Definitely hazelnuts. It seems to be a good year for them - although I haven't checked the contents!

Brooklands Avenue. Long gardens and (still) plenty of trees!

We had 2 visiting our feeders here in Fulwood until we put the squirrel guard on. They are obviously nesting in a tree two or three gardens up the road as there are now 3 of them! They are hideously noisy ...

Try growing French Marigolds among the brassicas (if you can keep the slugs off them). Whitefly don't like the smell.

I fold chicken wire over the top. This also discourages squirrels from digging up bulbs. The temptation to connect the wire to the mains has been resisted!

It is really a bit early to plant out courgettes: cold nights will see them off, and we can't really guarantee frost-free nights until June. You may be OK, but they don't like the cold. I use copper rings to keep slugs at bay on individual plants until they are large enough to manage on their own, but this is an expensive option. You can also try coffee grounds, ground up eggshells or purchase wool pellets at a garden centre (they swell up to a sort of felt). If you go down the slug pellet route, use the environmentally more friendly ferric sulphate ones rather than metaldehyde - and don't use too many, a very thin scattering is adequate. You can catch slugs in beer traps ... yoghurt pots sunk to within 1/2 inch of the rim, with an inch or so of beer in the bottom. The peppers and tomatoes will both be very much happier growing in your greenhouse than outside. Both need warmth, and indoors the tomatoes will have thinner skins and won't get blight. Sow the peas outside now. Broad beans can also be sown outside now, although it is a bit late. French and runner beans can be sown now, but I would sow them in pots in the greenhouse for planting out after all risk of frost is over. Good luck! Slugs are a sad but inevitable part of gardening life, I am afraid.

It's only the top reservoir that is empty - the lower two are full.

Fly fishing gear can be donated to Fishing 4 Schools via the Ladybower fishery office; I dropped off my (now disabled) fishing pal's gear there last year. They may be grateful for coarse fishing equipment too; you could call them and ask - 01433 659712.

It's a bit late - the plants should be about 3-4 feet high by now

Here you go: http://www.floatingbones.co.uk/bankside_vol3.htm

Thanks Tangler, sounds like a brilliant project - but it is a long way away!

Does anyone know of such a group which would be grateful for some old but usable fly fishing tackle?

I agree, too. Puts me in mind of the roadside sign we saw on the way to Norfolk once: "Tame rabbits, oven ready".

..... who found my lost wallet by the Co-op, and personally returned it to me at home (from the address on my driving licence). He wouldn't take anything, so a donation is going to charity. There are some good people around.

I rather like Bowyer's, down in Fulwood village .... and their pork is excellent if you buy the stuff from Whirlow.

Absolutely disgusting behaviour by our council, who are supposed to represent us. They say it is not their fault, it is Amey and they have no say .... but who signed the contract?

The cans are probably aluminium, and so they won't rust. Aluminium is easily "squidged", unlike the plated steel cans used for food such as baked beans etc. If they prove good, enjoy accumulating more!

Vast quantities of Sweet Cicely up the Porter Valley. You will have to wait until next year now, though.

Happy to have them banned. Whatever makes people think it acceptable to set them off late on random dates, waking up everyone within a half mile radius?

39 quid a ticket! Even in advance they are £32.50 ...... Minimum £65 for a couple. I shan't be going, I am afraid.

I am a game angler, so only ever fish one rod .... have you ever tried casting two fly rods at once? I always considered the licence fee allowing up to two rods to be fair. I never thought of it as paying twice as much as I should! Incidentally, I approve of the Angling Trust. Angling needs a united voice in the corridors of power.

I believe you can grow the top of a pineapple, as you can with the top of a carrot. There, of course, the similarity ends!

I've grown Salsify once, and Scorzonera several times. Both are deep rooted, so you need a good depth of stone-free soil, and both will give larger roots after two years of growth. No problems growing, but I am a bit concerned you say they will be transplanted, better really to sow in situ. Put them in before the tap root reaches the bottom of the container they are in. Have you tried this vegetable? If not, be aware it is very windy ...... if you thought (Jerusalem) artichokes were spelled with a silent "F", wait until you try these little beauties!

Systemic insecticides have a lot to answer for..... and badgers (I suspect) have dug out a bumble bee nest in my strawberry bed, leading to a lot of angry and confused bees. This in turn makes picking strawberries a risky affair!

Fishing at wiremill dam, I've never seen anyone fish a dam downstream of there. Article below from the latest newsletter of the Friends of Porter Valley: "Fishing is the largest participant sport/leisure pursuit in the country and on a warm summer’s day there is no place I’d rather be than down at Wire Mill Dam. It’s a good job really as I have to call in 2 or 3 times a day to see who’s fishing and most importantly to make sure they’re catching a few fish; anglers won’t keep coming back if they don’t get their net wet! I took on the fishing rights for the dam in 2007 and in the first couple of years it was a matter of clearing out a lot of rubbish and a big build up of leaves. The fish were stunted (not growing) due to poor water conditions. I regularly check on the goit and clear some obstructions but the manpower of the Friends of Porter Valley make a huge difference in keeping water flowing into the dam. Wire Mill had always been a bit of a novice’s pond, but the real challenge is to hook one of the large carp that have been in the dam for over 20 years. It’s great to see someone catch the 16lb ghost carp and pose for the obligatory photo or two. Passers-by watch in amazement having never seen a fish so big especially in a council park pond. To add to the large number of roach, perch, bream, tench and crucian carp that are in the dam, I stocked it with 200 new common and mirror carp back in March last year. These fish are thriving and have already doubled in size, giving great sport for the more experienced angler. All are welcome at the dam, just sit yourself down and start fishing. I’ll see you at some point and have a chat. There’s a good bunch of regular anglers who are always eager to advise you on how to catch a few fish!! If you’ve never fished before and want to give it a try, then give me a call on 07809 172872, and we can arrange an hour’s fishing lesson to get you started."