"The fox is a beautiful animal, splendid colours from ruddy brown to silver, see a silver fox on a moonlit night, there's a magical sight. I suppose see it in your chicken run, having savaged your hens then it's a different matter."

I have seen that, as has my mother and my grandmother, etc and we still all see (or saw in past generations) the fox as a beautiful animal and don't blame it for managing to find ways in to what ultimatley has been poor protection for the birds. My mother still keeps hens and we did our best to save the lives of some cubs only a matter of weeks ago...

McTattie my well have a point. The Welsh countryside I lived in from about 7 till 13 an later from 18 till 38 had no fox hunting (with hounds - once in a while, a fox was shot) but my mother describes her part of rural Shropshire as being almost feudal with the "lord of the mannor".

It seems to me from the stories I've heard her tell that the real village kids used to have fun with the fox hunting. They hated the "sport" and their game was trying to put the hounds off the scent - rebellion from children - the only ones not afraid to "voice thier opinion". I wonder if this happened in other parts of the country?

Another side to the country I know is little secrets, e.g. friend of my mother could take us to spots where there are badgers that only trusted members of the community know about. There are so called "country people" and people who know the countryside and country life.

Jon