LUCKY CLOVER

When Natasha Terry, 45, from Gosberton, found a terrified baby hare, she had no idea how easy it was to fall in love with nature...

She was only a few days old

Watching the kids tear the garden, I was determined that we would all make the most of the sun.

In April 2020, we had been in lockdown for about a month, and I was grateful we had a garden large enough for the kids to run about in.

Suddenly, my youngest daughter, Eliza, 11, stopped.

Fixated on the small patch in front of her, she'd grabbed a perfect four-leaf clover.

Look what I found, Mum!' she called.

Well done!' I said. "They're lucky so make sure you keep hold of it.'

Soon after, Eliza, her brother Blake, 14, and big sister Daisy, 16, went inside, so my husband Mark, 50, could mow the grass.

Yet not long after he started, my phone rang.

"Tash,' my husband said ne down the line. 'I can hear crying-you outside and bring a bucket.'

I guessed due his urgency meant he couldn't come to the house and get me.

Heading into the garden I wasn't sure what I would find.

What's going on?" I asked.

'Listen, Mark replied.

The sound of whimpering led us to a baby hare crying out on the lawn.

She was tiny and all alone.

'Do you remember we found a dead hare in the garden yesterday?" I said.

Could be her mum?'

Maybe,' Mark replied. It doesn't look like she has anyone.'

The day before, while doing a little gardening, I had found a dead female hare tucked up by the hedge.

Living in the countryside, this was nothing unusual-but finding this baby on the lawn, tugged my heartstrings.

Gently scooping the tiny ball offur into the bucket, we took our new friend inside.

Country life meant orphaned animals were not unusual, so I knew to call the local wildlife rescue centre.

'I found an orphaned baby hare,' I said down the phone. What should I do?'