Back after a long layoff.

Hi, everyone. It has been a long time since I have been on here. I kind of became disillusioned with the garden last year as the rain fell and the weeds took over. However, I am now three weeks into a new hip and raring to go this season.
Now a mystery. I have a large timber workshop/potting shed with a concrete floor and last week my good lady asked me what the pile of earth on the floor was for. I went and had a look and I am mystified. It is a fine gritty loam, about 4" deep and there must be about 15 - 20 litres of it. It had buried the blades of my lawn tools which stand there.
I can only imagine an animal is responsible. There are a couple of tiny open bits at the bottom on one side and I know I have mice living in the garden but I wouldn't imagine a hedgehog able to get in. There is no compost stored there now so it has not come from a burst bag or such.
Has anyone any ideas as to what may have brought this in?

 

Hello @Jocko
… good to meet you (I’m new here) … congratulations on the new hip. My garden was sadly neglected last year as my son was unwell, so I’ll join you on the ‘garden reclamation work’ this year.

Could you show us some photos of the pile of earth, the inside of the shed and anything outside that might hold some clues?

 

Something fell from the roof? Something knocked a full plant pot from a shelf and ran off with the pot? Have you had grand kiddies round that knocked something over and didn't want to tell you? Could it be ants or termites digging from a crack in the concrete? I don't know any animal that would bring in soil for a nest.

 

Ants crossed my mind too @Jenny_Aster …

 

Any idea of the time span from nothing to what you have now? I agree re some pics could be useful

 

I wondered where you had got to.
Nice to see you back.

 

Jocko. Join the rest of us with new hips (and knees).

I can't imagine what is on the shed floor if no one has been in there.

 

Rats

 

Welcome back Jocko.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome.
No one has been into the workshop bar me and my wife, it could have developed over almost 6 months (the last time I used the lawn tools) as normally I don't put the light on when I go down the back.
Madge thought it could be ants as the garden is moving in them and the heap is where the original cement floor and the later added extension join. They could have built a nest under the floor and this could be the spoil removed. However, when I had a closer look today there were some bigger bits of stone among the dirt and when I moved the tools there were no ants evident.
I have attached a couple of photographs.

 

Good to see you back on here Jocko.

 

Obtain a Nipper rat trap.
Remove any seeds, tubers, birdfood etc.
Superglue a single peanut to the bait point.
Handle trap as little as possible. Set trap.
and disturb soil as little as possible.
Leave overnight and check daily.
Repeat.