Foxglove

The path takes us wide and slowly, sometimes with a kingfisher to flash past, or an egret on the far bank, a slate-grey heron lifting heavily from the grass bank, or mallard nesting cunningly beside the rife. You would never see the duck, but the drake's bright colours give the pair of them away.

Limping beside me is a dog with a heavily bandaged leg. The other three legs demand exercise, so we are going for a slow walk to refresh and cheer up the injured one.

Happy dogs heal faster than dogs that are upset and frustrated at not being able to smell the sweet air and feel the earth beneath their feet.

Thus I am here, on a side of the river that I do not normally take a dog, because here there are water voles and I do not want to disturb them. The heron, rats and sundry other beasts will give them quite enough harassment; it's a short life and a merry one for a vole.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette April 16