Anyone read 'Raising Hare?'

[FizzingAda]

I heard this serialised on R4 and bought the book. During lockdown a woman finds an abandoned leveret, and saves its life, and they have a sort of relationship, the hare actually has two litters in her house, though it can come and go as it pleases. It's unsentimental and full of interesting observations,and the writing is beautiful and uplifting. It will stay with me for a long time. The hardback has lovely drawings too.

I did get the book for my birthday and I have read and loved. The author has put somewhere an email that you can copy and send to your MP regarding the hare course. I did this but as usual with our local MP not even an acknowledgement. I've signed the petition

I went to a local gardening fair and there was a gorgeous print of a hare so I now have that. Just need to get it framed. I also got a beaded hare from the Royal School of Needlework shop at Hampton Court.

Still obsessed with deer, otters and beavers but hares have joined the list

Thanks, have signed it and shared.

I might get this book as ot sounds great but can anyone tell me if anything bad happens (scarred by Watership Down)?

Spoiler - there is a death of a leveret, but it's very gentle. There is nothing graphic, although it talks a little about the hunting of hares In the past. It's a actually a very affirming read and there is sn't anything that should keep you awake at night with bad dreams 🙂

Haven’t RTFT but have you read Starve Acre?

Funnily enough I did comment on this upthread. I have read it but didn't really approve of the hare being such a baddie! It is is quite a good story though and interesting about hare folklore.

I think they have made it into a film recently too.

@FizzingAdaphotos as promised, 1991/92ish.

Feeding.

Growing up.

Almost fully grown.

Haven’t read it, but have a vague recollection that it may have been serialised on radio 4, though I might be thinking of something else.

Your photos are wonderful 💖. What is the story of the hares and how you came to raise them - would love to know. Did you release them eventually?
thanks so much for sharing, that must have been a memorable experience.

They were born in a plant nursery in a built up area of Merseyside and their mother died.

I only worked part time and was used to DH bringing home various wild orphans in another rural industry so it was suggested I adopted ‘the rabbits’.

The littlest one wasn’t quite right at birth with deformed ears and died after a few weeks, the other thrived and was such fun.

We knew ultimately we couldn’t keep her as we also had two sighthounds and keeping them apart was tricky, a slow release close to home too risky with dogs and a major motorway not far.

We contacted Carla Lane who we knew had an animal rescue place in Sussex close to where I used to live and she agreed to take her to manage a slow release.

We did stay in touch and had updates for a good few years afterwards.

Sounds like a good read, thanks.
Also a hare fan, only seen one twice

Thanks so much for sharing this, what a lovely experience. I'm glad your hare had a happy life with Carla Lane, she did a lot of good work. Maybe there's a book in you!

I loved this book. So jealous she got that experience. Really lovely. The hare photos are great.

This photo has made my day 🩷

Just realised , the quote doesn’t show the photo.
Its the one of the hare standing on the back of the sofa, looking out of the window.
Thankyou @stayathomegardener for sharing. What an experience that must have been!

I bought the book yesterday and couldn’t put it down. I adored the story, the writing and the illustrations. So much so I’m already partway through a second read! It isn’t often I enjoy a book so much I immediately start it again after finishing it

I have signed the petition for a close season on shooting hares; I had no idea they had so little legal protection and it seems a shocking oversight when their numbers have plummeted so much.

I hope to see a hare in the wild someday, and I loved the photos and story from @stayathomegardener I’m sure it was hard work but what a magical experience.

Thanks @CatChant.

Can you share the petition here so I can sign it please.

It’s this one - https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/724795

@TonTonMacoute linked to it earlier.

I have signed the petition! I thought they were already protected! All the time.
I have been lucky enough to see the occasional hare. I live near open farmland and woodland, every time they take my breath away. Same as when I see deer.

Another hare-obsessive here. I’ve started the book.

I see them a lot - just after my dad died, I looked out of my bedroom window, and there was one on my drive! I live on an estate in a small market town, so not where you’d usually expect one.

They’re a sort of talisman for me. They remind me of deer more than rabbits.

Back to this thread to report i loved the book, an easy gentle read, bought it last week at the airport. Thanks for the recommendation

Im definitely putting this on my list to read now. We have a group of hares that play on the field opposite our house and I love watching them out of my bedroom window in a morning.