As I spend more and more self-isolation time in the house, the view from my kitchen window is getting rather more close scrutiny than before. I spotted a rather annoying clump of ivy that could do with a bit of a haircut.
What I wanted to remove were the long strands of juvenile ivy. It’s this juvenile growth that causes most of the ‘I hate ivy’ emotions in the garden. Juvenile ivy leaves have those distinct ‘points’, and adult ivy leaf shape is quite different – gone are the three ‘points’, to be replaced by a much smoother and more graceful leaf margin. the leaf will be the same colour.
Now, I cannot tell you exactly when an ivy plant decides that it is time to grow up, all I can tell you is that it does and the growth habit and leaf shape are quite different.
It is this adult form that will produce flowers and berries, and is generally much better behaved. If you were to cut back an adult stem, there is absolute no danger of the plant reverting back to being a teenager.
Anyway, back to the task of removing that juvenile ivy growth
Off I went with secateurs at the ready, but alas I was halted in my tracks. Carefully parting the ivy ‘curtain’ I spotted a bird’s nest.
Now, I don’t know exactly how long it has been there – whether it is last season’s model, or even the year before, but I knew I had to stop.
Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, it is a punishable offence to destroy, disturb, or in any way interfere etc etc with nests, eggs and wild birds themselves.
So that was that!
Leave a Reply