Croftless Crofter: Nic Goddard
My husband has also been persuaded to leave a rather steep bank of grass wild all year round too – it wasn’t much fun to mow anyway and it means the cats and chickens can continue pretending to be on safari.
My husband has also been persuaded to leave a rather steep bank of grass wild all year round too – it wasn’t much fun to mow anyway and it means the cats and chickens can continue pretending to be on safari.
April feels like just the right month to have arrived in the west Highlands, as spring wakes up.
Pruning the fruit bushes is definitely a winter task and although I only have a small number of trees and bushes they will certainly benefit from some attention.
It was autumn when I fell in love with the highlands and 10 autumns later the magic is still there every October day.
Between whatever has enjoyed a chicken dinner and the slugs feasting on my cabbages it could easily feel as though food is being swiped from under our noses by the nature outside.
It has spurred us on to register to train as volunteers so that perhaps if there is a next time we feel more able to help, or indeed to be the local people someone else can call upon for help or advice.
While we are all used to April sunshine and showers this year I have been both sunburned and snowed on within a 48 hour period as temperatures have soared and plummeted even more than usual.
Small victories, tiny appreciations and minute blessings which just like the extra minute or two each day of daylight we are starting to see all offer hope for the year ahead.
Our little corner is still there waiting; we have a leave of absence from our croft as our (now adult) children are both keen to return at some point and continue with their own relationship with this most unique place.