Country diary: Sunset, midges and then the bats arrive
We've sneaked back to the office after hours. My partner has been working late here recently and has promised me that if I sit by the window as the sun sets, I'll see something special. Our office rental is on the top floor of an old Midlands shoe factory. From our window, we can see half a dozen other Victorian relics, some derelict, with buddleia growing through the broken glass. They squat over a maze of cramped terraces: warm red bricks, slate roofs, drooping washing lines and ornate chimney pots.
My high-up view slowly fills with golden rectangles as people switch on their lights. A bright, almost full moon begins to rise. Midges buzz and bounce against the window, drawn to the glow and, ah – could that be a clue?
It is almost dark and then … there … there again! Two tiny bats, common pipistrelle, most likely, our smallest and most common species. Darting silhouettes, iconic in shape. They're so fast I have to relax into my peripheral vision to try to follow their erratic flight above the car park.
Every time I think they're going one way, off they dart somewhere else, shearing up and away from walls and windows just in time. I think of all the midges disappearing into their bellies – they each weigh barely more than a 20p coin yet can pack away 3,000 insects a night. Who knew I had such neighbours?
I can never get over the supreme pleasure of urban wildlife. Of course, it would be easy to see bats in the countryside, but in urban sprawl, it's easier to miss things. You have to really pay attention, to look up from the humdrum grind of daily life. It feels like we've passed some secret test to be here, witnessing.
We watch them until it's too dark to see, then creep home, listening out for echolocation clicks, but I'm far too middle-aged to hear them. I fall asleep, still seeing those dark shapes zipping back and forth. My whole neighbourhood feels bigger, wilder, and I do, a little, too.
Josie's new book, Letters From Wonderland, is out on 5 June
Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at guardianbookshop.com and get a 15% discount
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
13 hours ago
- Metro
Network of Victorian tunnels discovered under massive Surrey sinkhole
A huge network of Victorian tunnels has been discovered near a large sinkhole in a quiet Surrey village. Residents in over 30 homes in Godstone were evacuated after part of the high street collapsed overnight on February 17. Now a network of abandoned sand mines surrounding the hole, which grew to a staggering 19 metres in length. A second hole opened up days after the first. It has now been revealed that engineers have discovered a set of 150-year-old tunnels eight metres under the road. Lloyd Allen, infrastructure manager at Surrey County Council, said at a public meeting last night that engineers had discovered the old subterranean structures at the junction of the High Street and Salisbury Road during the course of investigating the huge sinkholes. He said: 'Currently, we're investigating the Victorian tunnels, plotting them to see the extent of them and where they go. 'There's a layer in areas between eight and 10 metres down under the surface where we're finding a clear indication – we've got video evidence of a tunnel that's been put there over 150 years ago.' Teams are conducting laser surveys in the tunnels to understand their extent. Any bends in the tunnels would need to be investigated further as the lasers only scan in straight lines, Mr Allen said. He added that the tunnel helped explain where the collapsed rubble from the sink hole went. 'I can tell you that the video cameras we've sent down it's been difficult to control at eight metres depth – it's a manned remote control camera. We've literally pointed it in and had a look around. But we have seen some evidence of the material that has migrated out of the collapsed hole on that section. It looks like that's where the material has gone.' Despite 'taking a bit of a hit', Mr Allen confirmed the town's fibre was still functioning and the council was working with Virgin to very gently put cables back in place. Engineers are also working on a north-south route for pedestrians, which should open over the next 'few weeks', he said. However, some residents complained that the council had taken months to discover what they already knew about the village's history of mine tunnels. According to the website Godstone Village, sandstone was quarried under the North Down's from the 17th century. The industry ceased in 1900 when bricks and other more durable types of stone became more commonly used to construct homes. In the early 20th century, the land was then used to grow mushrooms. During the Second World War, plans were submitted to make use of the passages as underground shelters to be connected via four exits to a proposed evacuation camp. An article in the Daily Telegraph in 1939 said that Home Office officials were seriously considering the scheme to use the caves, which would provide protection ' against the heaviest bombs known'. One local wrote on Facebook: 'It's common knowledge & everyone told them, but they chose to ignore it.' 'So it has taken the navel-gazing bellends from the council 5 months to confirm what anyone who knows anything about Godstone already knew. Outstanding' , commented another. The sinkhole has also effect the supply of water to homes, while those forced to relocate faced uncertainty on their bills. Evacuated residents will receive £100 in compensation and have their standing charges waived for the whole year, SES water confirmed. Claire Coutinho, the MP for East Surrey, said it had been an 'anxious' time for residents. She said: 'We do know, during this time, there are so many other challenges that people are facing. Parking, speeding because you've got traffic coming off the motorway. Lots of people worried about their personal finances, people who want to sell, move home and really take control of their lives.' More Trending She added: 'The quicker that we can get answers for people and get the work done, the better.' Surrey County Council said at a public meeting last night that it hoped to have repair works fully complete by December. A spokesperson for the local authority told the Metro: 'We hope to have the road re-opened during December this year, but our focus will be on ensuring the road is safe to use so the exact date will be confirmed once we are fully assured of this.' The Metro has contacted Historic England for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Network of abandoned Victorian tunnels discovered 26ft under giant sinkhole that opened up on ordinary-looking street
Residents claim they have been 'left in the dark' over when repairs will be completed HOLEY MOLY Network of abandoned Victorian tunnels discovered 26ft under giant sinkhole that opened up on ordinary-looking street A GIANT sink hole has revealed an underground network of Victorian mining tunnels. Engineers working at the site, on Godstone High Street in Surrey, were shocked when they stumbled upon the discovery. Advertisement 8 The first sinkhole appeared in February Credit: Reuters 8 More sinkholes appeared shortly afterwards Credit: EPA 8 A network of Victorian tunnels may be partly to blame for the major collapse Credit: SWNS The huge collapse, which rocked the local community in February, has unearthed eerie eight-meter deep abandoned tunnels. Experts who are repairing the street say these sand mining networks may hold the key to what caused the sinkhole. But residents in the area claim they have been "left in the dark" over when construction will be complete, as reported by the BBC. Businesses in the area also continue to be negatively impacted by the major collapse. Advertisement Local authorities shared their hopes the road would be reopened by December this year. Lloyd Allen, infrastructure manager at Surrey County Council, said: "Currently, we're investigating the Victorian tunnels, plotting them to see the extent of them and where they go. "We'll likely be finished by the early part of December, but there's a lot of reconnecting services and redoing water mains, gas mains and electric cables." Mr Allen added how the tunnels "puts one of the pieces into place" over why the sinkhole unfolded. Advertisement Although there are still "several scenarios" that have been put forward about the cause. Shane Fry, who runs a garage on the high street, told the BBC the sinkhole has slashed his profits by a third. "They said they would keep us up to date, but this hasn't happened," he said. "We need to know. It will benefit everyone in the area." Advertisement Meanwhile, Will McLean, owner of a residential windows and doors company claimed the disaster has "reduced footfall to virtually zero". And coffee shop owner Sami Bristow, shared how her income is down about 20% compared to last year. 8 The first sinkhole grew to a length of 20m (65ft) Credit: EPA 8 The two massive sinkholes have caused havoc in the tiny village Credit: EPA Advertisement 8 Work taking place around the sinkhole should be completed by December Credit: LNP "It has been hard-hitting especially with inflation and all the other things that small businesses are having to cope with," she added. Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways at Surrey County Council, said: "Our focus will be on ensuring the road is safe to use, so the exact date will be confirmed once we are fully assured of this." Catherine Sayer, Tandridge District Council leader, added: "Things are moving as fast as they can. Advertisement "The key thing is to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible." Locals have been allowed back into their homes after a risk assessment deemed it safe to do so. Christine Duncan, 57, who has lived in her home just outside the cordon for over two decades, says she is still in shock at what has happened. She said: "My husband was down the pub and saw a trickle of water. Then the sinkhole just suddenly appeared. Advertisement "I have lived here for 24 years, and I have never seen anything like this before. I am still in shock. I can't make heads or tails of it. "I think it is to do with the amount of lorries that drive through here. We are only a small village. Is your property at risk from a sinkhole? There are thousands of natural sinkholes, also known as dolines, in the UK, particularly in the upland areas of northern England, according to the British Geological Survey. By and large, these are not actively subsiding, but occasionally new sinkholes form, particularly after heavy rain. Built up areas can be at risk and it is believed sinkholes are becoming more common in the UK, partly due to extreme rainfall, which scientists have linked to climate change. Dr Andrew Farrant of the BGS, says: 'By their very nature, collapse features caused by burst pipes or collapsed infrastructure are mostly likely to occur in built up areas or beneath roads, and could happen in other areas with similar geology and aging infrastructure. 'Many recent sinkholes have been caused by collapses of old sewers or culverts, such as the sinkhole near Merthyr Tydfil last December. 'There have been other recent instances of sinkholes due to flushing out of sands and weak sandstones, for example the sinkhole that closed Storrington High Street last October.' "I am very worried about how long it is going to take to fix the road. My main concern is that there are a lot of vulnerable people around here and there is a care home just down the road." Graham Brookes, 94, has lived in his nearby home for nine years - but says he has been involved in the area for decades. Advertisement He agreed that the main worry is for older people who will have to walk a long way to get around the cordon. He added: "We realised something was wrong because the water pressure was down. Then we found out what had happened and realised how lucky we were to still have water. "It is not going to be an easy job to fix. It will affect everyone coming into Godstone. "The village will be very badly impacted by this. But we will get through it. It will mainly effect older people because they will have to walk all the way around. Advertisement "The local businesses will also be hit hard as they can't get vans in. "It has already impacted the amount of people around. I went to the supermarket earlier and the car park was half empty when it is normally packed." Paul Ryan, 53, has lived in his home on the High Street for nine years. He said: "For the first 24 hours it was a major inconvenience. I was quite surprised, but this has been on the cards for a while. Advertisement "The locals have been worried for a while about the HGVs going through the village. They use this road as a bypass to the M25 and come down at 60mph." A 40-year-old local, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We were without water for a considerable amount of time. "We thought that water would be delivered to us but instead we had to go to a water station. "Our water finally came back on at about 3am this morning. Advertisement "It is a very scary situation. The sinkhole is huge so we are quite worried that we are going to be evacuated. "The sinkhole will probably get even bigger which is terrifying. It is just a very upsetting time." 8 Locals continue to be affected by the sinkholes Credit: Reuters 8 Business owners say their income has been dramatically impacted Credit: PA
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Tiny hut on Penarth pier was home for four decades, now they're being evicted
Tiny hut on Penarth pier was home for four decades, now they're being evicted The modest hut on the town's most famous attraction is HQ for one of the town's oldest institutions The hut has been their home for more than 40 years (Image: Richard Swingler ) Like the pier on which they call their home, Penarth Sea Angling Club is a long-standing pillar of the town's seaside heritage, founded 92 years ago. For almost half of that time, their HQ has been the modest hut found at the end of the Victorian pier. Now after nearly half a century, the institution has been served a shock eviction notice and the tiny structure faces being handed over for commercial use - a controversial move by the Vale of Glamorgan Council that's left many in the community angry. The club, founded in 1933, has used the hut on Penarth Pier as its headquarters for the past 41 years. It serves as a base for organising competitions, handling membership admin, storing essential fishing equipment and even offering advice to curious tourists. Speaking to WalesOnline, the club's secretary Robert Galley, offered a glimpse into just a fraction of the hut's rich history - and his own lifelong connection to it. "I joined the Sea Angling Club when I was ten years old in 1957," he shared. "My father was Pier Master and I was actually born in the Pier Master's Lodge, which was just across the road from the pier. "He used to take me down to the pier and I'd watch people fishing. One day, someone handed me a rod - and that was it. I joined the club, and I've been secretary now for the last 40 years." Article continues below The club's history is deeply intertwined with Penarth's own, surviving the Second World War and even the partial destruction of the pier in 1947 when a ship struck it. "We have the original minute book going all the way back to our founding in 1933," Robert explained. "On October 20 this year, we'll be 92 years. Over that time, most people in town have either been members or have known someone who was." The club holds weekly competitions, depending on tides and seasons; many of which raise money for charity. In recent years, members have raised thousands for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) - nearly £5,000 since lockdown alone - with their next fundraising competition scheduled for July 20. They also boast a proud record in sport, with several members having held Welsh national records, as well as former and current members who are representing Wales internationally - including men, ladies and juniors. "We've always had a diverse membership. There are around 95 of us," Robert added. "We cover pretty much all of South Wales - we've been told that we're the biggest sea angling club in Wales." Beyond fishing, the club has also become a point of contact for visitors. "We're often asked by tourists about the local islands or how to get to Barry Island. In a way, we've become a bit of an information centre," said Robert. With this in acknowledgment, it is clear that the hut isn't just a storage place - it's the club's nerve centre. "It houses the desk we use to sign people in for competitions, sign up our new members, take payments and raffle tickets - as well as keep our equipment like drop nets and baskets," Robert explained. "It's also where we get out of the wind - last winter we had eight storms, and having a place to warm up is vital." The eviction has been a looming concern for some time. "The council had looked at taking the hut back a year or two ago," Robert said. "But we showed them our licence from 1984, signed by then-Mayor, Mrs Ruby Parsons. It says that either side must give 28 days' notice - and now, they've done just that." The official eviction notice was dated May 19, and would have seen the club out by June 19. However, after discussions with the council, Robert said that they've now agreed to continue on a month-by-month basis, at least for the time being. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here "I don't know if anyone is actively interested in taking over the space - it just seems like they see an opportunity with it," he said. "There are already three coffee shops on the pier, one owned by the council - do we really need another one?" Despite the uncertainty, the club remain hopeful that they can stay, at least through its upcoming RNLI competition. "It would be beneficial to everyone if we could keep the hut, especially for that event," says Robert. "We've always had a good relationship with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, and even before them with the old Penarth Urban District Council. One of our former mayors, John Flanagan was a club member. We hope to be here to stay." Rob Thomas, Vale of Glamorgan Council Chief Executive, said: "The small hut at the seaward end of the pier could potentially be used for commercial purposes, adding to the visitor attraction of the pier. Article continues below "Advertising it as an opportunity for a concession will allow us to find out if there is an interest from potential operators. "We are, alongside this process, in discussion with the Sea Angling Club and colleagues will continue to engage with them about potential alternative provision. It is only right that we review all sites such as this to ensure they are used effectively, especially when there is an opportunity to enhance the visitor experience."
