Water-lily

Locket's maternal misfortunes looked set to continue in May. She gave birth early, to a pretty heifer calf, in the water meadows beside the Avon. When we returned next day we couldn't see the calf immediately--Locket had obviously hidden her among the rushes. Then we heard a bleat from a neighbour's field--or was it from the other side of the river...? No, from in the river! Poor little Lily had gone under the bank-side electric fence, and was all but submerged, hanging on to the steep bank by her front tiptoes. Richard went in (up to his waist) and hauled her out, very chilled, but otherwise none the worse. We spent the next hour rubbing her dry. Photo below of Locket with Lily a few days later.

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