Spider cocoon

We went up to the allotment and put in a long shift, although it didn't seem to look much different when we had to stop due to exhaustion. I suppose some crops will struggle through eventually. Picked a few more broad beans and about half a kilo of rocket (the latter simply from weeding one of the borders).

I was rearranging some protective mesh that was lying over some brassica or other when I noticed this little mother, fiercely guarding her egg cocoon. If I'd left her exposed to the skies like this, no doubt she'd have clung on until she was picked off by a passing bird. So after taking a photo I turned the mesh over again to leave her to brood in peace.