SEED SPIKES RIPPED OPEN SHOW A HEALTHY BUNTING POPULATION

THE weathermen had not predicted snow but a surprise blizzard was in danger of turning into a total whiteout.

- Stuart Winter

Flurries were swirling and twirling in bitter easterly gusts and the ground was coated with a veneer of slushy fluffiness. Strangely, the skies were an immaculate blue without any hint of storm clouds.

Running a few “flakes” through freezing fingers, the meteorological conundrum was soon solved. Rather than crystallised precipitation, the snow turned out to be downy seeds.

A quick binocular scan revealed the culprit.