Dear January

The first month of the year is probably most people's least dear, coming as it does after festivity and indulgence. It seems a long way to the summer holidays.

To see deer in the woods feels just right in January. It's necessary to remember that even to those of us who have spent a good part of our time over many years enjoying aspects of the countryside and its wildlife this is a comparatively new phenomenon. Real wildlife and large animals occupying the woods was not a feature of my walks until the last ten years.

This morning there was a large party of red deer comprising hinds and younger animals. Timid as they are it's still possible to get close to them with care.

Not so the roe deer which were not far off and quickly disappeared.

It needed extra persistence to get this close: