I'M sick as a chip. I've been nurturing a grape vine all summer. I've tended it to the book, cutting branches back and exposing the growing bunches for them to ripen by removing leaves around them.

I wish I hadn't bothered.

I had about 20 bunches developing nicely when I checked on Thursday evening. When I looked again on Friday every single grape had vanished, just empty stalks were left dangling.

I don't know who the culprits are for sure, but I lay the blame at the feet of the sheppies or blackbirds who also stripped the elder tree of its berries.

Anyone else suffered the same fate?

So much for attracting wildlife into the garden. No winter fat for them now!