Chas found an adult dead fox up against the fence in the small field where the American stud males live. The fox looked extremely healthy, apart from being dead of course. It was in good condition with a shiny coat. This field is badger fenced and we assume the males must have cornered it and killed it. The mesh on the fence is much too small to allow a fox through but in extremis you would have thought it could have jumped to freedom.
As I am far too weedy to dig a big grave for it I decided to give it a funeral pyre.
In between all that excitement I made apple, pear and plum jelly which set beautifully and while I was out feeding the animals I picked a bucketfull of elderberries, haws, hips and sloes. I shall call it Vulscombe Hedgerow jelly. I was very jealous to hear that Thomas had been to a pine forest and picked loads of giant ceps. I’ve never found a cep.
Had a phone call who has got back to Bolivian civilisation and a phone after his trek into remote parts. There are no maps, they got lost but all was well when they got to the place where you hire a guide and little pack ponies for the trek. Next on his agenda is a mountain climb.