Foxglove

The sun came out to pretend warmth and the icy wind tested our tweeds, but the rabbits were in the mood to bolt, and the ferrets worked them well. Without the dog, we would have missed many, for the nets only held for a heartbeat, not being pegged, but it was long enough for an animal with her experience.

After half the day, though, we had all had enough, even the ferrets, our strength sapped by the cold.

The prolonged rain that followed had the rabbits out of their underground homes, or else drowned if they stayed. We could lamp, though the going was deep. It was hard walking for us, and far harder running for the dog, and we did not want to give her so much work.

Driving on the land was out of the question, and so, therefore, was night shooting, if we wanted to make the numbers worthwhile. Walking with the shotgun by day was fairly productive, especially with a dog to do the finding, flushing and retrieving.

*Foxglove has now published a book entitled, appropriately, Foxglove's FIELD OF VIEW.It is full of anecdotes from previously published columns and delightfully illustrated with colour, black and white photography.

Copies of FIELD OF VIEW can be bought by mail from Kingswood Press. Please send a cheque for 26 for each book ( 22 for the book and 4 for postage and packing), payable to Kingswood Press to Kingswood Press, Fen Farm Cottage, Fen Lane, New Bolingbroke, Boston, Lincolnshire PE22 7JQ, ref WSG01