Country Life

In the grand scheme of life

THE 250-year-old cottage that has been my home for 40 years is surrounded by a host of animals. There are badgers in a sett at the edge of the field behind us, where it touches the woods that run down to the stream. This is on the north-facing side of the hill on which we’ve perched all these years.

To our east is the start of the deer-haunted woods, a remnant of the ancient forest of Anderida. In summer, our garden and its sheds and stables are home to swallows. In winter, the robins grow tame for crumbs. All about,

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