Planting Damsons & A Tree Monster

To atone for my sins of cutting down two trees over the last couple of weekends I planted three damson trees today.
I think these will be the only damson trees I'll plant on our smallholding as there is only so many damsons you need (although that said I know what I'm like with fruit trees!)
 

The three varieties of damson - Merry Weather, King of the damsons and Langley bullace



I quite like the moody sky in the background (10ft whip of a tree nearest in photo)

 Last weekend I cut down another tree. It was a horrible fast growing fir so don't feel too bad for it. Whilst cutting the branches off I noticed something furry about half way up.

Sitting pretty

 I had no idea what would sit there whilst I was hacking all around it with a chainsaw. I poked it gingerly with a stick (this was before all the branches were gone you understand) nothing. I climbed up to inspect and came face to face with this:

It made me jump when I first saw it.

 

Evil eyes?

I've no idea how long he's been up there but he looked a bit sorry for himself.

He's still attached to his branch even now pooor little guy didn't want to leave it - just his branch is now in the wood pile!