Why the best plans are laid in advance

Rural Britain is looking lush and green, though it feels like we are quite some way behind our usual schedule. It’s a complete contrast to this time last year, and the upcoming harvest will definitely be getting off to a later start in certain areas.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen laid winter barley like in the days of old. New shorter-stemmed strains, growth regulators and accurate nitrogen application has made shooting vast laid patches a thing of the past — or so I thought.

I went weeks without shooting, as birds held on the buds. But, to my relief, the pigeons have recently come flooding back. Though it was less of a relief for the farmer.

“Telephone wires start to warp under the weight