I wouldn’t claim to be an especially gifted gardener – I plant, rip things up, and start again on a regular basis – but there’s no questioning my enthusiasm. My aim has always been to weave together several key elements: beauty, a variety of fruits, and a garden that’s welcoming to wildlife. Add to that a constant desire to learn – as well as to have as little lawn to cut as possible (I’m happy pruning and weeding, but the brushcutter tortures my back) – and you have my horticultural mission in a nutshell.

When it comes to wildlife, we have it in abundance. Over time, I’ve learned more about our wild visitors, especially the bird species, some of which I can now recognise by call and song alone. I’m especially pleased that the forest surrounding our garden attracts red-necked (jaco) parrots.

My wife is in charge of the herb and vegetable garden, and her enthusiasm for agoutis is slightly less than mine – mainly because they have a tendency to uproot the crops she’s worked so hard to grow. There are so many agoutis these days that they often seem quite indifferent to our presence, trotting along and sniffing the ground for anything edible, or carrying food away to bury and store for later.

Here are a few photos from Orange Field: