As visitors to the nursery shop some of you may already be well acquainted with January’s Employee of the Month – MILLY, a.k.a. MILDRED, MILLICENT, MILDEW and when she is very bad MALIFICENT. An 11 year old Border Collie, she is due to turn 12 on April 21^st the same day as the Queen’s actual birthday. This may go some way to explaining Milly’s delusions of grandeur and slight annoyance with the Queen for pinching HER day.

A tad bossy, Milly is the Head Girl of our canine team. Happy to scold any misdemeanours, both four and two-legged, she is also a keen trainer. If you have ever inadvertently picked up a tennis ball in the Sales Area and thrown it for her, only for it to be returned straightaway with encouragement to chuck it again, you will have realised after 10 minutes that she is actually training you. Our warning to customers ‘ Don’t throw the ball unless you are ready to commit longterm’ is borne of painful experience.

Described as an ‘independent spirit’ by her bestest human Hilary, our Nursery Manager, she has a tendency to disappear and not come back when called, pretending that she was investigating something that Hilary should have known about all along.

Any idiosyncrasies? How long have you got? She is a Collie – says it all. Hates loud noises, squeaky noises, reflections of light, telephone, printer etc… anything essentially non-human in the office.

Party trick? Pirouetting on the spot – honestly she should be on Strictly, she hits the mark correctly every time. It is her way of playing and delights/baffles other dogs in equal measure.

To Sheep or Not To Sheep? Now this is an odd thing. On the lead she will give sheep the ‘Collie Eye’ trying to submit them to her will and move them on. Off the lead in a field of the woolly beasties, she totally ignores them. Go figure???

But it does not deter her from trying to herd everything from ducks that land in the stock area to Clyde, our sadly departed cat. Clyde, rather like Queen Victoria, was not amused.

Best moment? Dropping her ball at the feet of a scarecrow in the stock area – difficult not to applaud her ambition.

Worst habits? Filching Rosy's raspberries. Oh and ripping apart cuddly toys.

Favourite walk? Anywhere with an active rabbit population, this girl loves Rabbit Poo!! Alternatively a vista of sheep she can eyeball.

Favourite food? Mmmm difficult to choose just one but maybe the fish from Hilary’s weekly fish and chips but that’s a secret