In our tranquil garden, bird life is prolific as the diverse vegetation lends its self to a wide collection of species which includes, wood pigeon, bellbird, wax-eye, tui, chaffinch, goldfinch, lesser redpolls, song thrush and quail.

When my children were youngsters, they would spend hours in their pirate ship (an apple bin) which was located in their own secret garden; bird-watching with their binoculars and clip boards to record the different birds visiting and their feeding habits.

They talk often of their wonderful pirate ship days.