Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Oliver

Young country diary: Smashing the frozen river so the animals can drink

Oliver in an icy New Forest
‘In the river there is normally a waterhole that ponies drink from, but not today.’ Photograph: Family handout

It was a sunny day, and the sky was blue and clear. It had frozen in the night and there was ice everywhere. My family and I decided to go to the New Forest for a walk with our dog, Jet. The New Forest is home to many animals and a few people too. But on this day, we saw none. We were alone.

There was a gentle river flowing next to the path. In the river there is normally a water hole that ponies drink from, but not today because it was solid ice, as smooth as glass. I used my foot to break the ice so the ponies, donkeys and pigs could drink. To make sure, I dropped a big sheet of ice on the water hole. The breaking ice sounded like Lego smashing in a room with no furniture. My favourite part of the day was the small puddles – each one was like a little garden frozen in time. The ice was transparent and created a window just for us. The river was paused at the surface with grasses, leaves and bubbles bent from the water that was not flowing.

That day felt like an apocalypse of ice. We go there lots, but on this day it was completely different. I really enjoyed exploring the new world.
Oliver, nine

• Read today’s other YCD piece, by Jenna: ‘My excellent fungal find – the winter mushroom

• Young Country Diary runs every fourth Saturday of the month in the Country Diary column

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.