Foxglove

Being the delightfully daffy creatures they are, they have no thought of danger, and if left to follow their whim would take themselves into all sorts of perils.

Thus the 'keeper on his rounds includes a process known as "dogging-in", which is the gamebird equivalent of rounding-up sheep. Any dog may be used so long as it is quiet and biddable, but the wrong sort of dog would cause a disaster, for the pheasants must not be chased willy-nilly, or even disturbed overmuch.

The dog or dogs should set the birds moving on foot rather than have them taking to their wings, gently moving them away from the furthest points of their straying and back to safety.

Today, the gamekeeper being busy, my dogs and I are fulfilling this task in the morning.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette October 8