The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust dues actually manage to have some wildlife in their HQ at the Wolseley Centre. Most of it is squirrels though, because the squirrels have repurposed the bird feeders.

Every one is now a squirrel feeder…

… and the birds have a hard time getting a beak in. This one is waiting his turn.

Finally.

While I was watching the squirrels (and the occasional bird) …

… I got talking to a woman who was recruiting members for the wildlife association. She appeared to be of mixed African and European ancestry, had a Yorkshire accent, had lived for many years in the US working as a jockey, and was preparing to do a PhD in medical textiles. Impressive!

This morning I returned again to the nature reserve to see who might be around when there were not so many people.

Bunnies…

… dunnocks…

… chaffinches…

… snails…

… and robins.

Well, robins are always around, but pretty enough that I had to include the picture.

This afternoon we paid another visit to the National Trust estate at Shugborough. The formal gardens are at their best right now.

Over at the estate farm, where the old outbuildings have been converted for museum displays, a pair of barn swallows is raising a family.

By the time they are fledged, those baby swallows are going to know an incredible amount about 18th century farming.