 
During the time I cultivated my English vineyard in Milton Keynes in the late eighties and nineties, I had always fancied looking after both sheep and geese-both I was to learn - were to run rings round me, -never mind - I always had a soft heart with creatures big and small. The sheep were Jacobs. Said to be direct descendents from Biblical sheep, and were by repute the gentlest of sheep-yet both Sally and Ruth managed to give me the run-around if they possibly could. The geese were no better.One day I was approached by the television company ITV if they could film a general interest /documentary programme about security on vineyards and my use of geese on the vineyard ,as guardians to achieve this with my precious crops.
Security for the land was always in my mind. How to achieve this? Many tales recall how ancient Rome used geese to warn the inhabitants about intruders. The cackle of geese would so alarm the citizens and they would make the necessary preparations. So I thought what was good enough for Rome must surely be good enough for Milton Keynes.But what sort of geese? There are many varieties of geese across the world, then some one told me how in China, geese were used in the paddy fields to guard both the crop and also fertilise the water/mud which the rice grew in. Chinese geese who are large birds are quite formidable, also have the characteristic of feeding -at as it were -at a low level-so when at large in a vineyard, when eating -they seldom look up, so wouldn’t be tempted to eat the grapes They would as it were be my guardians to achieve this with my precious crop by earning their keep by eating the grass and other insects and keep in addition people away. 
So I choose Chinese geese. I found a breeder of well-bred geese in Oxfordshire, who initially sold me a gander and two female birds. Even as youngsters, the geese were fairly headstrong, and needed to be taught who was in charge. However, I wasn’t sure about foxes in China and I had no previous experience with geese concerning how they tackled foxes. Woughton has had for 20 years more than its fair share of foxes. They are urban foxes. These foxes were street wise- I even found a lady in the village feeding them regularly so no wonder they had no wish to roam. I have seen old photos of when the Whaddon hunt met in Woughton complete with hounds and red-coated huntsmen -to hunt these blessed foxes. Who now live protected and secure and were quite unafraid of humans and dogs. but have an appetite for ducks and other small birds on Grand Union Canal..My geese whom I called Tung, Ching and Chow became the nucleus of a small family of 12. Tung was a “Tartar “. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you- he was not afraid of anyone-dogs slunk away when he was on the scene. He kept the females and younger males in order. I could tell his loud “honk “from a distance as he paraded the others in a single file after him across the land. Visitors stood at the gate, and called across-“is it safe? Can I come in? “ 
Strangely the geese and Sally and Ruth when ever their paths crossed, presented no problems. It was a sort of truce, the size of the Jacobs could have been intiminating, but as they were so soft and gentle, literally they couldn’t say “ boo to a goose “Tung in particular was soon trying to increase the flock,and there son appeared goose eggs all over the Vineyard. Geese I discovered are not very good mothers, they laid their eggs all over the place, and appeared to forget where they were!. This proved quite lucrative, as I discovered that there was quite a sizeable market for gooses eggs. In fact my wife used them in making cakes, their size double a hen’s egg, and very yellow yolks.The foxes became even more cunning, and would lie in wait for the baby stragglers as the flock processed across and through the vines, quickly pounce and carry the infant goose off. I found again they mauled the goose, rather than proceed to eat it, and quickly lost interest at the lack of flesh in the goose, and just left it to be found… The sheep, I discovered completely lacking in 'nouce', they would eye the grass adjacent to their field, where the geese were eating. They would take a run at the livestock fence.. a massive leap, and there they were,close to the geese.Somebody told me later, that Jacobs were very similar to goats in their jumping skills. 
The seasons passed, the geese began to be fussy eaters, I daily fed them with mashed potato, they started to leave it uneaten, I discovered they liked the potatoes cooked, then they began to leave the skin on the side of the bowl! For me that was the last straw, I was determined not to pamper to their fussy moods, so they had cooked potatoes with the skins on - tough. I found they wouldn’t eat any old vegetable cast-offs as people had told me, oh no, they simply ignored them.. Such is life. I could write pages on my experiences with these lovely creatures, I respected them, perhaps by “ humanising them “, I made them part of my extended family. When two babies were born with twisted feet, I made tiny splints each side of their ankle to strengthen them, this helped the babies to remain upright, and grow into adults. Perhaps I should have got out more . The grapes developed in the Autumn sunshine ready for picking, the cider apples developed a deep red colour ready for pressing, the sheep were ready for shearing-their wool was so warm when knitted as a pullover!The geese became extremely family orientated, and good at their role as my “watch-dogs”… Life was a very pleasant happening in Woughton on the Green in deepest Milton Keynes… . |