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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Kate Blincoe

Country diary: The hay harvest has begun, and the air is vanilla-sweet

Hay baling: it’s a high-risk crop as you leave it on the ground where it requires days to dry out.
Hay baling: it’s a high-risk crop as you leave it on the ground where it requires days to dry out. Photograph: Kate Blincoe

Like sentinels guarding a spot, three red kites slowly stir in the sky. My eyes trace downwards to a cloud of dust swirling up like a portal. A neighbouring farm has started cutting the long grass to make hay. As the habitat is razed, wildlife will be scattering – voles, mice, deer, hares.

A roe deer jumping the windrows at High Ash farm.
A roe deer jumping the windrows at High Ash farm. Photograph: Liz Dack
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