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I’m not going to ask the question why so many rural pastimes take place in the depths of winter because of course I do know the answer really. I understand the history behind it and how the breeding seasons of various species interlink with shooting and hunting seasons – at least both historically and traditionally.

But really, couldn’t things be adjusted slightly to make fieldsports slightly more pleasant? Winters spent outdoors are definitely good for welly sellers and waterproof retailers; as we all know, no one can be a true country person if they don’t have at least one (!) set of waterproofs. No wonder that children’s puddle suits are such good sellers in the UK; they’re not a luxury, but a necessity.

We frown at people who won’t venture out in poor weather; fair weather folk are unlikely to fare well in the countryside in British winter. Whether you’re a farmer, fisherman, keen shot or equine aficionado, a refusal to brave the rain and wind means you won’t have much fun – or if it's your job, much income – at all.

But can you just imagine how much better pretty much everything would be if it didn’t happen in midwinter? It’s not just the weather, but the light (or lack of it!) too. When the hunt meets at 11am and light is fading at 3.30, there are very few hours in which to make the most of the hedge-hopping and hound-watching opportunities which trail hunting offers. Plus, how much more flattering would your hunt coat and breeches be if there was no need for thick thermals and woollen waistcoat trussing you up underneath your nicely tailored navy or scarlet?

When it comes to riding more generally: I know people love them, but the Equidry is potentially one of the most offensive ‘fashion’ items ever invented. The equine version of the equally terrible DryRobe – designed for cold-weather watersports enthusiasts but swiftly adopted by supermarket shoppers up and down the country – the Equidry would have no place in the world if we didn’t insist on running riding events in midwinter, come sleet or hail.

There are a few opportunities to make the most of the good weather that the UK climate is kind enough to offer us; those rare summer days when you head off to a Sim Day and are able to shoot in (depending on your fashion choices) shirtsleeves or a tweed skirt rather than thermals and breeks can feel like a breath of fresh air.

But somehow, it feels a bit wrong to be shooting in bare legs (or arms). I have been on many a hunt ride or hound exercise in late summer or early autumn when it’s simply too hot to wear a hunt coat, but somehow it doesn’t feel the same. You shouldn’t be sweating as you cross country after hounds – you should be struggling to feel your fingers! (And I have to admit, this is coming from someone who inspired a whole series of letters in Horse and Hound after a picture was published of me on autumn hound exercise with no coat – quelle horreur! I am happy to continue this discussion in the comments...)

Equally, others have argued that, for similarly odd reasons, catching a fish feels that much more satisfying if the water is freezing in your rod-rings.

It’s a nice idea to be able to make the most of the British summer – and daylight! – and combine it with the best fieldsports that these isles have to offer us. But at the same time, perhaps half of the joy of a day’s hunting, shooting or fishing is the combination of a thermos and thermals. After all, so many of the traditions that go hand in hand with fieldsports are weather related.

If fieldsports were summer sports, there would be no need for tweed; no tradition of wellington boots, or of the kind of drinks that warm your very cockles, whether that’s a whisky mac, a hot toddy, a bullshot or simply a much-needed cup of tea combined with a buttered crumpet in front of the fire. What about knitted shooting socks; waxed jackets, and the baggy keepers’ bloomers (sorry, plus fours) which were designed to stop rain running into a gamekeeper’s boots on a sopping wet shoot day. If we only shot in summer, it’s highly likely none of these would even have been invented.

In theory, it’s all very nice. But actually, the summer just wasn’t really made for fieldsports – and surely part of the joy is dealing with the weather and then, finally, stripping off your sodden tweeds, thermals and boots and coming in for a nice hot bath and a proper tea at the end of the day.

The only thing is… how does this theory apply to farming? Perhaps farming is the one thing that’s always nicer when it isn't raining? After all, for most people, fieldsports are a hobby, and there’s normally a nice warm house, bath, bed or fire at the end of it. What if it’s day in, day out, with no let up?

With this in mind, I asked one of our friendly in-house Scribehound farmers what his views were on my thesis.  James Robinson gave me his response "sitting about 6’’ from the fire, doing my best to thaw my fingers out after a particularly cold morning milking". And, to an extent, he agreed with it.

"I reckon we need the cold, wet weather to truly appreciate the warm balmy days of summer", he said. "Farming has so many highs and lows, and the vagaries of British seasons are most certainly part of that. Not numerous, but definitely true today."

Camilla Swift

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