Yes, they keep stock in and out of fields but five-bar gates serve another purpose — they are wonderfully meditative things to lean against when out for a walk or mooching with a gun.
My favourite is down by the pond. I say pond, but locals reckon that because it’s about an acre or so in size it’s big enough to be called a lake. Perhaps I should run an internet search to find out when a pond actually becomes something else. Or do Sporting Gun readers already know the answer? If so, please tell me. Until then I’ve a mind to take the words pond and lake, split ’em, rejoin the letters and call the place a ‘poke’. It’s a neat little solution and I like the ring to it. But what of the gate?
Rarely a day passes when I don’t rest my elbows and chin on the top rail to take in the poke and the wild flower meadow around it. Both were created by big sister about 10 years ago, since when they’ve matured and become home to an abundance of flora and fauna that hadn’t existed before. The transformation has been remarkable.
Regardless of season there’s always something of interest to see and hear about the place. A recent morning was no exception. At first I thought the commotion in the middle of the poke was one of the otters struggling with a bigger carp than he’d bargained for. But no — it was a hare, of all things.
Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Sporting Gun.
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Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Sporting Gun.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Thermal spectrum
Paul Austin explores both ends of the thermal market with latest high-end release from Zeiss alongside a surprising entry-level offering from Xinfrared
Roe, rucks and new ground
Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them
Tales from a lifetime of foxing
Join Mike Powell as he explores the evolving world of fox shooting, drawing from a career that spans seven decades
Fox rot about Charlie
Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane
The sniff of success
Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion
Adventures of Nick & Ted
A new chapter in the histories of Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter has Nick Ridley reflecting on the dogs he has trained over the years he has been associated with the magazines
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Vet's advice
Gundogs Q&A
No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts
Stop-start!
Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice