MOST equestrian yards and studs have box hedging somewhere. At this time of year the myriad of flower colours cheer my mood and the gentle fragrances wafting as I pass bring my imagination to exotic places. Providing a backdrop to these floral delicacies however are often stout and sturdy hedges. Dark green, different heights, small at the front, tall at the back, like castle walls protecting and sheltering their clan.

Lately though, I noticed a change in these guardians. Beautiful in their own right, these green hedge pillars and boxes will see me through the dark, wet days of winter, when the flowers have gone. At first, it was only one hedge, then I spied more. And more! The elegant hedges have brown patches, exposing the little leaves masticated and coated with sticky threads. This called for further investigation. It didn’t take me long to discover an interesting caterpillar with stripes along its body the colour of sap green and black, munching the leaves of the box tree hedge. He wasn’t alone, however, and I could see how quickly he and his many comrades were consuming the defenceless hedge. In fact, on a quiet evening I could hear them chewing!