What is a leveret?

“What is a ‘leveret’? Just two weeks ago, re-reading “The Feast Of July” by H. E. Bates, I had to look up the reference to eating “leveret stew”.

A “leveret” is a young hare. In the historic setting of Bates’ story, hares were numerous, before intensive farming methods, when harvests were gathered by man and horse, leveret and hare were poor man’s steak.

I have never seen a hare in over sixty years of life, although until today hadn’t known they are active at dawn and dusk, so never looked for them at the right time.

Thanks to a gift of the book, “Raising Hare” by Chloe Dalton, my whole appreciation of the delicate balance of nature here in the British Isles, sometimes hangs on a “hare’s breath”.

When Chloe, a city-dwelling professional with a high-pressure job, finds a newly born hare, (a leveret), endangered, alone and no bigger than her palm, she is compelled to give it a chance at survival – despite being the least likely caregiver to this wild animal.

Raising Hare is the story of their journey together. It chronicles an extraordinary relationship between human and animal, rekindling our sense of awe towards nature and wildlife. Their improbable bond of trust reminds us that the most remarkable experiences, inspiring the most hope, often arise when we least expect them.