As I started to open the door of the polytunnel I heard a frantic flapping and flying and crashing into the sides of the structure. I peeked through thinking that one of the hens had not been shut into their hen house last night. It wasn’t a hen.

It was a delicate grey, collared dove who had wandered into the tunnel but had forgotten the way out.

I opened the door and stood back and out she flew. Then I opened up the hen houses and spread corn in the yard and the hens came out to peck, unaware of their nighttime visitor.