The chicken known as Small Cret is incapable of climbing my bamboo ladder so I’ve had to construct a drawbridge. This is definitely not fox proof but once Small Cret has got used to it I might remove some of the slats, assuming the fox doesn’t get her first. Last night she tottered up and sat at the top.

Including Elodie’s birthday, various visits to brighton and the billingshurst carnival.

Four chickens came our way but they had difficulty getting into the tree to roost so I made them this. Hopefully, tonight’s ascent will not be punctuated with screeches of discontent as they tumble back to earth:

Orlando at work:

Pirate Ship:

Rosabelle and chick:

Mamiechou’s rainbow:

Elodie’s drawing:

An amazing evening. I’ve never seen the sea so still or so welcoming. A vast lagoon stretching from Selsey to West Wittering, teeming with horses being ridden bareback, pensioners in kayaks, lithe paddleboarders, and swimmers of all sizes and ages. The water was so benign, many of the floating bodies were grouped together, engrossed in conversation. I returned for a second swim, and didn’t want it to end, which has never happened before in the English Channel.