Just before Christmas, Jacob and I took a short trip to the Island of Reichenau on Lake Constance. As is the case with many of our journeys, we set off by train as we made our way southwards. Out of the train window, the snow-covered hills of the Black Forest drew our attention away from our books. Every now and again, a castle or fortress would glide into view and before we knew it, we had reached Reichenau.

We walked from the mainland across the causeway towards our destination. Our first impression was very positive as we strolled past plenty of NABU signs. NABU is the German equivalent of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and their notice boards tell you what birds to look out for and about the local ecosystem…