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Comment
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Susan
Aug 4, 07 - 4:09 PM |
Rabbits on Troopers Hill
As a lot of you will have noticed when comparing photos over time, trees are making good progress in invading the heathland areas on Troopers Hill. Small oak trees and hawthorn, in particular, are coming up everywhere.
A theory for why this seems to be happening so rapidly is the lack of rabbits on the Hill nibbling away at the grass and all the seedlings. I did have a phone call to say the reason why one landowner sold Troopers Hill was because the Council had told him he had to deal with the rabbit problem on Troopers Hill. The problem was that there were a very great many rabbits. He was unable to "deal" with them so he sold the land.
I have not seen any rabbits on Troopers Hill in the 9 years that I have lived here.
Does anyone else remember rabbits on the Hill? If so when, were they numerous, when did they disappear and was it from then the bare slopes start to grow seedling trees?
All memories much appreciated.
Susan
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Ian
Sep 27th, 2007 - 3:41 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
I remember seeing rabbits on the hill. The last sighting has been since I have owned my dog 13 years now. There were burrows near the allotments on the field edge I guess they prefered the produce of the allotments rather than the grass and palnts found on the hill. I guess my last sighting may have been about 11 years ago.
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Roger
Oct 14th, 2007 - 11:46 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
Since there is a history of rabbits on the hill, how about a carefully controlled release programme?
Yes, I know there are foxes and dogs are walked on the hill - but I could show you a roundabout in Aztec West full of wabbits, surely they could survive if some care was taken
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Jules
Oct 15th, 2007 - 1:35 AM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
Hi Rog,
The allotment holders are gonna just love you!
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Liz
Oct 15th, 2007 - 2:58 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
Great idea Rog. My grandmother made the best rabbit pie in 5 counties. I'll post the recipe if anyone's interested.
Postal Area (eg BS5): BS5
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Roger
Oct 15th, 2007 - 6:42 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
I think it's allowed to keep rabbits on allotments, can't see the problem there :-)
Liz, thinking of rabbit in that way reminds me that the wild gourmet tv show on Tuesday (16th) is doing peking squirrel......
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Liz
Oct 16th, 2007 - 2:05 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
They had squirrel at the organic food show at the harbourside last year, but they'd sold out by the time we got there.
Actually I *do* eat rabbit, and lovely it is too in a stew with a bit of white wine. I wouldn't mind trying squirrel and hedgehog but I expect they're a bit gamey.
Postal Area (eg BS5): BS5
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Jules
Oct 16th, 2007 - 5:24 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
The Countess of Mar threw a culinary issue into the debate.
Her concern was over a long-lost wartime delicacy - squirrel pie.
Could promoting the dish assist in the quest to deplete numbers of the grey menaces?
Amid laughter in the Lords, the Baroness replied:
"I personally can see that squirrel pie along with hedgehogs baked in earth are delicacies enjoyed by some people and I am quite sure that if a cookery book writer were to find a range of these recipies
they would get invaluable assistance from the Countess of Mar."
According to Foresty commission figures, the red squirrel population in England and Wales has declined by more than 75 per cent between 1959 and 1991.
Hedgehog spaghetti carbonara (serves four)
500g spaghetti, 30ml olive oil, 250g lean hedgehog, 1 medium onion (chopped),
125ml water, 60ml dry white wine, 4 eggs, 60ml double cream,
100g grated parmesan cheese
• chop hedgehog into small chunks
• beat eggs and cream together in a bowl. Add half the parmesan cheese
• put pasta in boiling water
• put onions and hedgehog chunks in pan with olive oil on medium heat until
onions are almost clear
• add wine and reduce heat
• drain pasta when cooked, combine it with egg, cream and cheese mix
• add meat, onions and wine without draining fat and mix thoroughly
• garnish with remaining parmesan
• serve immediately
http://www.jerrysbaitandtackle.com/Recipes/Squirrel/Pie.htm
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/martin/wildrecipes/list.html
Personally... I'll stick with watching Nigella lick spoons!
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jules
Oct 16th, 2007 - 9:04 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
Liz,
You seem to be very topical!
Just watching C4...
http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/wild-gourmets/
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Roger
Oct 16th, 2007 - 11:55 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
watching TV online or offline requires a TV licence
if you wish to 'play the system' then the system WILL catch you out, very easilly with respect to online distribution.
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Liz
Oct 17th, 2007 - 11:59 AM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
Hey! I've got a tv licence! Wouldn't be without!
Postal Area (eg BS5): BS5
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Liz
Oct 17th, 2007 - 12:06 PM |
Re: Rabbits on Troopers Hill
Baked Camel
1 large camel
2 large lamb
4 large turkey
20 large carp
200 medium seagull eggs
400 large dates
banana leaves, as needed
Cook the eggs, peel them.
Scale the carp.
Fill the carp with the dates and the eggs. Fill the turkeys with the carp.
Fill the sheep with the turkeys.
Fill the camel with the sheep.
Dig a large pit.
Place about 500 kilos of charcoal in the pit and light it.
Wrap the camel in the banana-leaves and place in the pit.
Cover with earth and bake for two days.
Serve with rice.
Postal Area (eg BS5): BS5
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