One of these days I will compile a list of the fascinating things I have seen in car parks. Last weekend, on the road with my ceilidh band, we pulled into a market town for a fry-up. Leafless with winter, tall lime trees towered over the parked vehicles. Taking in a deep breath of cold air, we noticed a snag of shaggy greenery near the top of one of the limes. Being northerners none of us had seen mistletoe before – it grows most abundantly in the Welsh borders and cider counties of the South-West – but we knew it could not be anything else. What was it doing in a Yorkshire car park? Having been a largely sedentary plant for centuries, lately mistletoe has been on the move. And it is all due to the changing habits of a little warbler with a big voice, the blackcap. Once migran
18 February 2016, The Tablet
Glimpses of Eden
Get Instant Access
Continue Reading
Register for free to read this article in full
Subscribe for unlimited access
From just £30 quarterly
Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
The full weekly edition in print and digital including our 179 years archive.
PDF version to view on iPad, iPhone or computer.
Already a subscriber? Login