The quail is a game bird and part of the family Coturnix – the same family that partridges belong to. They are in fact closely related – partridges are bigger, however, and brighter in colour. Quails are mostly coloured brown, tan or grey. Quails have a longer wing-span than partridges and are therefore stronger flyers. They are migratory birds and often fly long distances – such as between Africa and Europe.

Most of us have at some time or another eaten a smoked food product such as smoked salmon, kippers, smoked chicken, bacon, and I could go on. Even non-meat products are not excluded, for example smokehouse almonds.

Smoking food as a way of cooking and preserving it has most likely been around for only slightly less time than we have been using fire for cooking.

In truth, it isn’t that easy. First of all, chemical sprays don’t always work. And even if they work once, it doesn’t mean they’ll work the next time. It’s been proven that pests can develop immunities to chemicals, so next time you might have to buy a stronger spray.

The three most popular varieties are red (Ribes rubrum), black (Ribes nigrum), and white currants. The black and red varieties are more popular than white currants. The deciduous shrub grows to a height of about 1.5m (5ft). They grow between eight and thirty flowers on branches that are at least a year old. The fruits are usually ready to be harvested in mid-summer.