This is the first year I’ve really understood what it means for the wildlife to mow two hectares of wild meadow. All the tiny things, rodents and reptiles that chose to live hidden in tall plants and grasses have been exposed to a baking sun and a whole host of new predators. It’s a world destroyed for them. And it’s almost a month earlier than usual because of the heat.
A fabulous poem, Jane. When we lived on the farm, we used to get the harvest mice take refuge in the loft after the combines had been through. Made me think of Burn’s ‘To a Mouse’ if you know it.
Thanks Debbie. I know the Burns poem, and they are lovely little things. Rosetta is out there all day gorging herself on field mice, wood mice and shrews. There’s another cat hunts here too, and a couple of dozen egrets. Then at night, the foxes come round. The poor things get no respite. Our loft is visited by cats too often for it to be much of a safe haven :(
Oh Jane, this is so wonderful and full of ache. Loved it! xx
This is the first year I’ve really understood what it means for the wildlife to mow two hectares of wild meadow. All the tiny things, rodents and reptiles that chose to live hidden in tall plants and grasses have been exposed to a baking sun and a whole host of new predators. It’s a world destroyed for them. And it’s almost a month earlier than usual because of the heat.
A fabulous poem, Jane. When we lived on the farm, we used to get the harvest mice take refuge in the loft after the combines had been through. Made me think of Burn’s ‘To a Mouse’ if you know it.
Thanks Debbie. I know the Burns poem, and they are lovely little things. Rosetta is out there all day gorging herself on field mice, wood mice and shrews. There’s another cat hunts here too, and a couple of dozen egrets. Then at night, the foxes come round. The poor things get no respite. Our loft is visited by cats too often for it to be much of a safe haven :(