GWP, gunnera and skates

Last week the top end of the village kindly sent us a greater spotted woodpecker which tried to destroy the nut feeder but finally managed to extract some peanuts and flew away, unfortunately it's not been back, so maybe the nuts were deemed inferior.

Over the weekend we wrapped up gunnera for the winter, lots of large crowns now safely swaddled in straw and tucked in with a fleece duvet, sleep well and we'll see you in the spring.
And just in time too - Last night the temperatures plummeted and all the rain, drizzle and heavy dew froze solid, this morning we really could have done with ice skates instead of walking boots.

Ice

After the snow, then the thaw temperatures plummeted over night and we've woken up to vast sheets of very thick black ice. Even the dogs with their inbuilt studded traction (claws) are struggling.
A few siskins today.

Icy

Cold today and very icy. After several days (feels like weeks) of rain every where is saturated, although not flooded like Cumbria. A sharp drop in temperature overnight has frozen everything solid including roads and footpaths.