The pheasant is not a native species to Britain but was introduced from Asia, probably by the Romans. In the winter pheasants inhabit woodlands with shrubby understory or, where there are no woods reed-filled ditches. In spring, they disperse to woodland edges and hedgerows. At the end of April pheasants nest, usually in woods, hedge bottoms and cereal fields. They lay around 12 eggs, incubating them for 25 days. Chicks hatch from mid-May and are tended by their mothers only. During the first few days, chicks need to eat high protein meals of insects. Pheasant shooting provides a significant contribution to the rural economy - around £600 million per year employing over 25,000 people.

The fox is at the top of its food chain and has never naturally been hunted. Its survival depends upon the availability of food in its territory. If too many fox cubs are born then there will be too much competition for food, some mouths will not be fed and therefore means that population is controlled by nature and is self-regulating. Remove a fox from a territory and another one will quickly take it's place, eager for the newly available food. Foxes use scent for their main communication. The big bushy tail (brush) helps to spread this around!
The red fox is a solitary hunter that specializes in the capture of small prey. Hunting, like most activities, is done primarily at night although the fox is not strictly a nocturnal animal. Changes in food supply such as during winter months can force a need to hunt during the day, and individual animals may indeed prefer to do so. Thus, foxes can be seen searching for food at any time, although they favour dawn and dusk when their prey is most active.