Helpston's wildlife

Partridges

If Clare would miss the calls of the quail and corncrake from today's countryside, he might also wonder at the call of the red-legged or French partridge [click to listen], which wasn't introduced to this country until 1790, and probably hadn't reached Cambridgeshire during Clare's lifetime. This game bird is now a common sight and sound on fields around Helpston, particularly during the shooting season, when many birds are put down for game, and coveys of twenty or more are not unusual. At times they even venture into village gardens.

The native grey partridge [click to listen] is much less common these days around Helpston (although one or two pairs can still be found each year) and indeed it overall population has fallen dramatically in recent years. Clare was certainly familiar with this game bird, writing

They are often found by pasture boys at play

And by the weeders often taen away

The boys will often throw the eggs abroad

And stay and play at blind eggs on the road