High summer – and there’s a rabbit in the field of oats

IT is amazing what a mixture of rain followed by warm sunshine and long days can do for the cereal crops. The dog and I regularly walk a footpath through a field of oats – and the growth spurt they have put on over the past couple of weeks means the spaniel can often disappear in a tunnel created by the fast-growing plants.

We are, I hasten to add, following a footpath which runs diagonally across the field, although it is tempting to follow the tramlines made by the tractor instead. And I suspect the fertiliser the farmer spread just a few weeks back is also responsible for the luxurious growth the plants have put on. It won’t be long, if this weather keeps up, before it is beginning to ripen and, before you know it, the combines will be running and summer will be turning to autumn.

High summer is the time for maximum green growth. The grass is almost growing again as soon as you put the mower away. In a few weeks, as we pass the longest day and plants move into their seed-bearing phase, the hedges and banks start to look a bit tired.

Late summer stubbles are nicer to walk, in the dry, than early morning cereal fields covered in green plants, each leaf of which seems to hold at least half a pint of water. The dog comes back from early walks at the moment looking as if she has been for a swim.

A daily walk across the fields highlights the progress as the year turns. And one thing largely absent from my walks hereabouts of late – rabbits – have put in an appearance again.

Diseases have taken their toll on the bunny population, causing a crash in numbers, but the big rabbit I saw nibbling at the edge of the field looked in rude health. Nice to see him.

Diseases have taken a toll on the bunny population