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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Kate Blincoe

Country diary: Rabbits, rabbits, everywhere

A rabbit runs across a meadow at Nene Park, Peterborough.
A rabbit runs across a meadow at Nene Park, Peterborough. Photograph: Paul Marriott/REX/Shutterstock

It’s a golden, early evening on the farm. After heavy rain, the sun is out and the air is thick with humidity. A jackdaw sits on a grey horse, plucking hair from its back. This brazen klepotrichy will help the bird gather the very best nesting materials, and the horse doesn’t seem to mind.

There are rabbits everywhere, grazing on the pastures, and as I walk, I cause a ripple effect along the edge of the woodland. The adults freeze, assessing the risk, before they dash to cover. The inexperienced baby rabbits don’t notice me until I’m close. Then, instead of pausing, they panic and throw themselves chaotically into the undergrowth.

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