At this time of year we have to start being extra watchful – our lambs are vulnerable to attack from this silent killer..

Not everyone is going to agree with this thesis – but I’ve been rescuing sheep from bramble patches for decades, and often I’ve come across the remains of sheep that were killed in this way, and it makes perfect sense to me. After all, why shouldn’t brambles be carniverous plants?

Arguments against include – they can only catch sheep, and the sheep will probably be eaten first by something else before it rots away. My response to the first is – only sheep seem to be vulnerable these days, but possibly baby wooly rhinos and other species that are now extinct might also have been victims at one time too.

And my response to the second is that unless the body is carried away whole (which is impossible) then there will always be plenty of bits left behind – intestines, liquids, wool, bones, blood, etc. – all excellent plant food..