Netting the cherries (aka me vs the blackbirds)

This year I have my first proper crop fruiting on my Morello (sour) cherry, Prunus cerasus 'Morello'. I know from previous experience from when I lived in Oxford, that blackbirds are rather partial to Morello cherries. In fact, they seem to know the exact second they are ready to eat. I lost a large crop to them and learned that in future I would net my cherries as they were turning red, if I wanted to beat the blackbirds to them.

As you can see, the fruit on my young (c. 4.5 years old) tree are turning red!

I'm sure the other day I saw a Blackbird eyeing off my cherry tree. That prompted me to action. That ball of mesh that I've been meaning to sort out for like 2 years, might just come in handy. So I lay it out on the ground and held it down with heavy pots so I could straighten it out. I then measured it. 2m x 2m - perfect. Using some string, I tied it to the slatted fencing, with the end result thus:

My cherries are now protected. I've assumed that blackbirds, being large birds, wouldn't be able to cling onto the thin mesh to peck at the cherries.

Let's hope that assumption is right(!), and that netting the cherries in time means I get to make Morello Cherry jam this year.

Ok, a small jar of jam...

Fingers crossed I've outwitted the blackbirds.