Picture special: Chicks hatch inside hosereel

A pair of robins has chosen a hosereel at the Down 2 Earth garden nursery as a nesting place

A PAIR of robins has chosen an unlikely nesting place - right in the middle of a garden centre.

Customers at Down 2 Earth garden nursery, at Lower Henwick Farm off Turnpike Road, Thatcham, were astonished to see the parents flying in and out of a hosereel on a post at head height.

Inside are three newly-hatched chicks.

Owners Dylan and Cindy Collins discovered the nest three weeks ago.

Mrs Collins said: “I almost cried when I first saw the chicks, they were so very small. The parents don't seem to mind us bustling about and they're in and all all day with food. Robins are usually very sensitive about having their nest discovered but they're obviously so used to us that they just go about their business.”

For pictures by NWN photographer Phil Cannings, click on the additional picture link below.