Deck the halls

The farm's latest venture into pig breeding derails Tessa Waugh from fully appreciating the abundant boughs of holly she has transferred from her hacking routes to her home

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I DOUBT these facts are ever cited in the climate change debate, but I'd like to add them to the mix anyway. It's widely reported that sustained periods of dry weather have not been helpful for trail-hunting this season, but the holly this year is bounteous. I've been spotting bushes laden with dense clusters of berries while exercising the horses since the beginning of November.

Just recently, when the temperature dropped, the birds began tucking in. I set out to cut branches to bring into the house. This single exercise was enough to ignite any latent joy in the season.

“I feel really Christmassy this year,” offered Emily, who works here, as we tacked up one morning and I had to agree.