With sporting seasons at an end and precocious weather persisting, the first sights and sounds of spring warm the heart of a countryman, writes Sir Johnny Scott
THE wheel of the seasons changes in March, leaving a melancholy vacuum in the lives of sportsmen; hunting finishes, shooting is over, the grey geese have gone, fishing has barely started and winter is reluctant to loose its grip, reducing point-to-point secretaries to sobs. And yet, regardless of how precocious the weather may be, March is the harbinger of warmth, fertility, regrowth and plenty. As daylight lengthens towards the Vernal Equinox and flows into our woodlands and hedgerows, a green haze appears as bare branches begin to bud and leaves unfurl. Wild daffodils, daisies, wood anemones, coltsfoot, dandelion, celandine, primroses and marsh marigolds bloom. Gorse bushes become a riot of gold on hillsides, hedgerows are festooned with drifts of tiny white blackthorn flowers and on a warm day after a shower of rain one can almost sense the grass growing.
This story is from the March 2018 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2018 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The apple of your eye
With scores to choose from in the UK, there is a delicious apple variety for everyone - and now is the ideal time to start thinking about planting one
Art in the field
Being able to study her subjects as she races alongside them has informed Belinda Sillars work, as she explains to Janet Menzies
A silvered sword from the Saxon armoury
With weaponry from the electoral court, the more silver on show, the higher the rank of the owner
Nicole Moore
The Shooting Girl With An Afro blogger explains her passion for fieldsports and outlines the importance of sharing skills and knowledge with newcomers
'Probably the greatest detective in the world'
For 100 years, on page and screen, Hercule Poirot has captivated audiences around the globe with his supreme intellect and peculiar eccentricities
View from a Bridgerton
They were the 18th-century version of a drinks trolley and now hunt tables are popular once again, partly due to Regency-period television dramas
A brush with history
Britain is world renowned for its contribution to hair care and grooming, and, as its oldest firms will testify, heirlooms come in many forms
Practically perfect
From modest origins, the gilet has evolved into a sporting wardrobe staple, combining function and fashion to become a status symbol in its own right
Best laid plans
The ancient craft of hedgelaying is playing a central role in efforts to restore the balance of nature on our farms
Under the spell of spaniels
Our favourite working breed comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, all of which have successfully carved out their own special niche in British sport