Groundhog day

Tessa Waugh is feeling “flat” – albeit thankful to be fed, watered, and sheltered – and will be glad to see the back of 2020. On the upside, rose hips abound, life is busy – and there’s a shiny new fence

- Tessa Waugh

FROM one side of our house you look out of the window, over the red rose hips that stud the hedge at this time of year and the sheep pens and out on to open hill. Cattle are grazing there now, occasionally a deer will trot into view or, if you’re really lucky, a fox. Beyond the old threshing barn on the other side of the sheep pens, there is a stone wall that extends vertically up the face of the hill to a height of 1,135ft.