[ANHBUC]

Thanks for that bygrace, never heard of fossicking before.  Are you based in Cornwall by any chance?  What a great word.   

Sorry ANHBUC, not Cornwall (though I'd dearly love to be!). Live in Wiltshire now, but grew up in Hampshire. My parents always used the word (also Hants people) - I had no idea it wasn't general vocab!! 
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It was originally a word meaning prospecting for gold and other precious stones!  Wish my hens would fossick something precious for me.  I suppose worms and bugs are precious to them.