Country diary 1918: worms crushed and mutilated beneath feet of passers-by

15 February 1918 The ground was seamed and lined by their tracks until it resembled the photographs taken from aircraft of trenches at the front

Yesterday morning, and to a lesser extent this morning, worms were unusually active; the influence of spring had penetrated underground and sent them to the surface to feel rather than see the improved conditions. They crawled in thousands over the footpaths; they were crushed and mutilated in hundreds beneath the feet of passers-by; the ground was seamed and lined by their tracks until it resembled the photographs taken from aircraft of trenches at the front. These extensive peregrinations must have begun at an early hour.

Related: From the archive, 19 May 1984: Here's hoping the Guinness worm will turn