THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

It Is a salutary measure of the totality of elimination of a species such as polecat that it has not only been successfully exterminated from most of Britain but, over the passage of little more than 100 years, has almost been eradicated from public consciousness.  Relatively few people are aware of the existence of this animal, even by name, let alone the fact that it was numerous throughout Britain until three of four generations ago.  The depth of loathing directed towards the polecat in the years before it was finally eliminated from England and Scotland was unmatched by the strength of feeling towards any other species of vermin.  Its name was even used in Shakespearean times as a term of vitriolic abuse. 

Lovegrove/Silent, 2007