comanche 3,297 Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 (edited) Thanks to a gardening friend I was asked to try to track down a couple of rabbits that had managed to breach security in a big country -house garden. Though the place is well-netted it seems someone left the gate open for just one night and the next morning there were unwelcome guests making merry amongst the specimen plants . I was assured that there were no burrows in the garden and that the bunnies would surely be found tucked -up in the shrubbery . I made no promises of success but agreed to run the dog about with the hope of driving the wayward critters into a long-net but just in case I stuffed a few nets into a bag and took some basic ferreting gear along with me. This proved to be a wise (ok,lucky ) decision. It was a big garden with similarly big shrubberies non of which interested the dog but I thrashed clumsily through them anyway . Eventually the dog made a mark at the end of a stone path and I unearthed the tinyest of gaps . Not big enough to qualify for the title of bolt-hole but I opened it a bit with my fingers and popped a net on it anyway . Then ,thanks to the dog ,I found a couple of rather old and dry-looking holes tucked in the centre of the nicely groomed yew hedge running alongside the path . It was a pretty enough spot but not a place that I wanted to have to dig to a lie-up in . I doubted that chopping my way into the hedge and chewing up the roots of the perfectly formed and well-established yew bushes with a spade to retrieve a ferret would have made me popular . I wasn't sure if such an entity existed but to be on the safe side I offered a prayer to the great God of Clean Bolting and with just about every digit and bodily apendage crossed and knotted I popped the ferret in . One rabbit bolted pretty sharpish from under the hedge quickly followed by a second .I was about to congratulate myself on getting away with a bit of quick success when I realise that the ferret was onto something that did'nt want to move . It was only about a foot down though . This was a good thing.Unfortunatly it was under the path . This was not a good thing !. I was just considering my chances of pulling a few slabs up to retrieve the wayward animals and relaying the path hoping that the owner would put the lack of pointing down to frost damage when the rabbit shifted towards the tiny hole the dog had originally marked . The hole was still too small for it make a clean break though.Moving unacustomedly quickly for me I grabbed the spade ,spuddled-out a lump of turf and grabbed it before it could engage reverse . The gardener was over the moon and the owner gave me £25 so it all worked out very well in the end but it could have gone so wrong . PS . I do now definatly believe in the God of Clean Bolting but I reckon he (or she ) has a cruel sense of humour ! Edited November 9, 2010 by comanche 1 Quote Link to post
longnetter 32 Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 It could have gone very wrong In fact, it probably should have Quote Link to post
comanche 3,297 Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 (edited) It could have gone very wrong In fact, it probably should have Yep. I've only just managed to uncross my fingers .How come I never seem to come across those lovely clean banks with neat little bunches of a dozen or so holes that are in all the books ? Edited November 9, 2010 by comanche Quote Link to post
longnetter 32 Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 It could have gone very wrong In fact, it probably should have Yep. I've only just managed to uncross my fingers .How come I never seem to come across those lovely clean banks with neat little bunches of a dozen or so holes that are in all the books ? Thought that was just me Quote Link to post
cúagusgiorraí 57 Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Excellent story there and a very good successful job you did. I really like the look of your dog there Well done Quote Link to post
bobcullen79 1,495 Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 Nice one mate,result. Quote Link to post
The one 8,592 Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 Thats what its all about ,you got to take the rough with the smooth Quote Link to post
rascal_2005 79 Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 It could have gone very wrong In fact, it probably should have Yep. I've only just managed to uncross my fingers .How come I never seem to come across those lovely clean banks with neat little bunches of a dozen or so holes that are in all the books ? you would get bored!! haha Quote Link to post
johnny boy68 11,726 Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 Well done good result you got there Quote Link to post
ferrettom 0 Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 (edited) well done mate loving the dog Edited November 10, 2010 by ferrettom Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 good job mate Quote Link to post
pigeonphill 69 Posted November 11, 2010 Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 is that a 4th rabbit i see peering out of the far end of the hedge looking out thinking you an't got all of us another great read never disapoint all ways look forward to seeing your write ups, all the best phill Quote Link to post
KittleRox 2,147 Posted November 11, 2010 Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 good post, £25 as well,lucky bxxxxxd, Quote Link to post
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