Over The Farm Gate

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Modern man understands the science behind natural phenomena – but some of the old myths still cling on, especially in the countryside. Our new columnist, Eryl Jones, looks at the stories around some of the most common rural creatures

Earth was already an ancient planet when human beings first made an appearance, and so were the natural phenomena that were part of its make-up. As our forefathers evolved into something resembling modern man, myths and legends, adages and proverbs, soothsaying and prognostication all became part of our history simply because they couldn’t explain these happenings. And mysticism has found no more fertile home than the countryside. Farming, weather, wildlife and plants have all proved rich subjects for flowery thinkers. Stories have been given more legs than a centipede.

The full moon is front and centre as the source of many a rural shaggy dog story, and I know there are still “Does the a few shepherds who think it affects expectant ewes. “Full moon tonight, there’ll be a lot of lambs,” I’ve heard them say. How so? Does the extra extra light help ewes locate their light help them locate their newborns? newborns?” Or is there an increase in gravity that acts as an aid to drag the lambs into the world? Well, seeing as how the bond between ewe and lamb is based more on scent and sound than sight, the light thing doesn’t sound very plausible. doesn’t sound very plausible. Would a ewe have the sense Would a ewe have the sense to point her rear end towards to point her rear end towards the full moon in order to the full moon in order to utilise the extra pulling utilise the extra pulling power? Hardly likely, is it? power? Hardly likely, is it? I’m sure you’ve deduced by my sarcastic tone that I am not a subscriber to I am not a subscriber to this nonsense. In any case, this nonsense. In any case, misguided shepherds have missed the most obvious point. The whole of the moon is still there, even if it’s a new one. You just can’t see it. One possible explanation for this eccentric belief is that in the days before explanation for this eccentric belief is that in the days before torches, when the shepherd’s only artificial illumination was a dodgy hurricane lamp, he probably just witnessed more lambs being born by the light of the full moon. As a last word on the subject, unlike cows and humans, sheep have a very reliable gestation period – almost 100% give birth a day either side of their due date. Full moon or no full moon. barnacles – hence their name.

Are more lambs born on a full moon?

Hatch of the day

The countryside is full of this “what we don’t know, we’ll make up”. For example, the barnacle goose is migratory, overwintering here and breeding inside the Arctic Circle. Our non-travelling forefathers couldn’t understand how they bred, so deduced that upon their return come springtime, they must have hatched from barnacles – hence their name.

But no animal is steeped in more mythology than the brown hare. Believed to be a harbinger of doom and to have the ability to morph into human form, it has a truly mystical status in the countryside. None of it true, of course – just early man’s inability to explain the hare’s lifestyle. Its inordinate speed and “mad” behaviour in springtime, as well as its crepuscular existence, gave it that shadowy, malevolent reputation. In fact, early depictions of the crucifixion in this country often pictured a hare as part of the tableau. But of course the hare hasn’t a malicious hair on its body – it is just a wonderful creature living in tune with its habitat.

Mad… but not dangerous

DID YOU KNOW?

The brown hare is Britain’s fastest land mammal

Boar war

On the other hand, there is nothing spurious about the menace posed by the wild boar, which is secretive, intelligent and highly dangerous. Escapees from game farms have successfully bred in the wild, and herds (or “sounders” to use the correct collective noun) are now established over most of southern England.

Such is the threat that in the Forest of Dean, notices abound telling you not to travel alone. Which is a polite way of telling you that if you are on your tod and some mischief befalls you, the wild boar will have no compunction whatsoever in having you for tea. If you go down in the woods today, you may become pig supplies.

Eryl Jones was brought up on a small Welsh farm and studied agriculture in Aberystwyth. He became farm manager on a large estate and later farmed on his own account. Eryl does voluntary environmental work with Denbighshire Council and has a passion for the rural way of life.