Deep lanes & badgers

Walking in the deep and quiet lanes near the village is a reminder of just how long these thoroughfares have been in use, joining up local hamlets, farms and houses. When meeting another person even today, it's natural to fall into conversation. This week a man walking his dog, like me, remarked on the badger setts which are to be found in the sandy sides of the hollow, and he mentioned the extraordinary strength of a badger's jaw, which can crush a man's arm. Back in John Clare's day, badger baiting with the local dogs was a cruel sport, and there was never any doubt about the strength of the grinning badger which would fight to the very end: 'When midnight comes a host of dogs and men Go out and track the badger to his den, And put a sack within the hole, and lie Till the old grunting badger passes by. He comes an hears - they let the strongest loose.... .....He turns again and drives the noisy crowd And beats the many dogs in noises loud. He drives away and beats them every one, And then they loose them all and set them on. He falls as dead and kicked by boys and men, Then starts and grins and drives the crowd again; Till kicked and torn and beaten out he lies And leaves his hold and crackles, groans, and dies.' John Clare, published 1820