Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2019 i The Field

RARE PLANT SAVED Since a team from the Plantlife-led Back to the Brink project drove a five-tonne tractor armed with a muck grab over a colony of rare marsh clubmoss in Dorset, a thriving colony of 12,000 plants has re-established in the disturbed bare ground. Resembling a tiny spruce tree, the plant has declined by 85% over the past 85 years due to loss of heathland habitat. THELWELL ON SHOW An exhibition of Norman Thelwell’s iconic cartoons is on at the National Trust’s Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire until 22 April. Titled Thelwell: Laughter and Landscapes, there are 80 works on show from the family’s private collection, many of which haven’t been shown in public before. They include wartime sketches and detailed landscapes of the Test Valley, where the artist lived…

1 CROMBIE COAT EJ CHURCHILL BY CROW & JESTER Dashing houndstooth tweed with suede collar, part of a new range designed by Sir Edward Dashwood and Robert Fenwick. Classic tailoring for formal field events. 870 01494883227 2 TRAVEL BACKGAMMON SET OKAPI Handcrafted from genuine blesbok leather in South Africa, ethically sourced, in three different sizes. Vibrant colour combinations. 200 02031764572 3 COTTON JEANS PURDEY Five-pocket jeans, useful for town or country, in chestnut or tobacco. Purdey embossed leather patch. 150 02074991801 4 DOG BED THE SHEEPISH DOG Handmade in tweed or Irish blanket wool, filled with Irish wool, for a bed that is natural and stylish. from113cushion, £139 snug 35309842614 5 LADIES’ CASHMERE ROLL NECK OXFORD SHIRT COMPANY…

ESTATE AGENTS love a topical theme. You can be certain, come Wimbledon, we’ll receive a volley of properties with tennis courts. Valentine’s Day prompts romantic, wisteria-clad cottages, while Brexit triggers homes with bunkers to store canned meat or properties in the sun-kissed county of Nirvana – depending on your politics. I usually baulk at such predictable marketing but with Strutt & Parker’s ‘end of dry January’ selection I made a worthy exception. Along came a clutch or properties with wine cellars bulging with bottles and stored and stacked as if Bacchus himself was the architect. The wine store at Hay Carr, Lancaster, may as well be a viticultural library, such are the serried ranks of wine. In a tough market I know where my haggling would start and it wouldn’t…

GALLOW HILL FARM BURNHAM MARKET, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK This is an opportunity to purchase a residential development site, together with agricultural land, on the outskirts of the North Norfolk village of Burnham Market. There is full planning permission for the renovation and extension of Gallow Hill Farm House, as well as the conversion of the traditional barns into two residential dwellings and further accommodation. The land is ring-fenced with exceptional views and includes a chalk pit and arable and pasture land. Burnham Market is 21 miles from King’s Lynn. The property is for sale as a whole or in four lots. Agent: Cruso & Wilkin Tel: 01553 691691 Guide price: £2m for the whole…

IF 1,1 is the second row of Pascal’s Triangle, what is the seventh row? Well, I haven’t a Scooby and the answer – apparently 1, 6, 15, 20, 15, 6, 1 – does not enlighten. Fortunately, that does not mean I’m an utter lemon at University Challenge, an old-fashioned arts education arming me sufficiently to beat fellow duck-flighters as we sat watching Paxo do his stuff after we’d eaten our teal. Maths, however, remains personally puzzling, which may be a benefit when it comes to shooting. I may think I’ve been Ripon’s shade on a particular drive, do a rough tally and then discover a disconcerting number of empty cases in my right pocket – then another handful in my breeks. At which point my momentary flirting with champagne-popping status…

Thirty-eight breeds of dog listed by The Kennel Club are recognised as gun-dogs. The official gundog group includes Munster-landers, large and small; German pointers (in three different hair types); Slovakian rough-haired pointers (one hair type); Braques d’Auvergne; and, of course, that pub quiz winner, the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. Doubtless, if there are duck to be tolled, the Nova Scotia is your ideal gundog. Or if you are shooting in a marshy area in Spain, then the Spanish water dog is obviously the only breed to have – though if you cross the border into Portugal, you would have to switch to a Portuguese pointer. “It all depends on the terrain, the type of shooting and local traditions” This cornucopia of furry willingness tells us something about gundogs –…

ARKLE This magnificent steeplechaser needs no introduction. He was a true champion and came to be known simply as ‘Himself’ and would receive postal tributes addressed to ‘Arkle, Ireland’. He won three consecutive Gold Cups, the Irish National, Whitbread and Hennessy Gold Cups and romped home in the Gallagher Gold Cup to smash the course record by 17 seconds carrying 16lb more than his rival, Mill House. In Ireland, handicappers had to change the rules to take account of his supremacy, however, he still managed to win, even carrying two stone more than his rivals. This charismatic Irish national hero remains the brightest star in steeplechasing’s firmament. BLACK BEAUTY Anna Sewell’s novel, written in 1877, is part of our cultural heritage, a universal. Written in the ‘first horse’, it is…

Otter pups cannot swim without being taught by the mother. Otters can ‘see’ in the dark by using their whiskers. Otters have the thickest fur of any animal on the planet. The human head has 300 hairs per square centimetre; an otter has 60,000 per square centimetre. An otter can cover up to 30 miles in a single night. An adult dog otter will usually weigh 25lb to 30lb, roughly the same as a cocker spaniel. Otters can hold their breath for three or four minutes underwater. An otter can leap a one-metre fence with ease. Pups stay with their mother until they are 12 to 14 months old. The male is solitary, spending less than 1% of his adult life in the company of other otters.…

DEVELOPING a breech-loading rifle had fascinated sportsmen and challenged gunmakers throughout the latter part of the 18th century. But it was not until the appearance of the Ferguson rifle that an effective system became viable. The experimental rifle designed in 1776 by Captain Patrick Ferguson was the first of its class to see British military service and subsequently to be adopted by a number of far-sighted sportsmen, including King George III. Inspired by the German Jaeger rifle, it was lightweight, well-balanced and, crucially, could be loaded at the breech. One complete turn of the trigger guard unscrewed a vertical screw-plug, opening a circular port on the top of the breech. A ball was then pushed into the breech, followed by a powder charge, before the breech was closed and the…

2016 VIÑA VENTISQUERO ROOT: 1 CARMÉNÈRE (£7.50, Morrisons) Richly flavoured example of Chile’s signature red grape from the Colchagua Valley. 2017 THE SECOND FLEET RIESLING (£10, Lidl) From cool climate Tasmania, deliciously crisp, vibrant and lemony. 2018 VANDENBERG CHARDONNAY (£10, Co-op) A soft, mellow and elegantly rounded Chard from the Adelaide Hills of Australia. 2016 MOMO MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR (£11.50, Wine Society) From filmmaker Michael Seresin’s estate, a delectably sophisticated Kiwi Pinot. 2015 CHATEAU STE MICHELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON (£14 if you mix six, Majestic) A Cab of real breeding from Washington State’s oldest winery. 2016 BODEGA RUCA MALEN CHARDONNAY (£14.50, Corney & Barrow) A cracking example of how fine the whites of Mendoza, Argentina are.…

THE FIELD’s annual Macnab Challenge Dinner, this year kindly sponsored by Blaser, brought together sporting sorts from all over the country and farther afield, including Belgium, South Africa and America. Those Macnabbers who had tested their mettle and found success were invited to the celebration dinner at the Savile Club, in company with Field friends and family. The menu was suitably Scottish, with haggis, venison and a whisky cream-laden pudding, all consumed whilst plotting next year’s Macnabs. Look out for the MacAfrican... or at least an attempt. The season’s conditions had proved tough but eight successful Macnabbers shot, stalked and fished their way into The Field’s Macnab Club; ranging from a brace of young bucks to a second Macnab, a lady Macnabber and a pair inspired by reading about the…

HAY CARR ELLEL, BAY HORSE, LANCASHIRE This five-bedroom, country house was built in 1750 with additions in 1850. It was once owned by the Sandeman Port family. The cellars are accessed via a wine store and tasting room. The property has recently been refurbished. It comes with 54 acres. Agent: Strutt & Parker Tel: 020 7318 5095 Guide price: £3.95m MANDALAY BASSENTHWAITE, KESWICK, CUMBRIA Mandalay has extensive wine cellars, with quarry-tiled floors, accessed from the reception hall. The five-bedroom country house sits within the Lake District National Park and was extensively rebuilt in 1997. It comes with just over four acres. Agent: Finest Properties Tel: 01434 622234 Guide price: £2m SWALLOW HOUSE SHIPSTON ON STOUR, WARWICKSHIRE This is a Grade II-listed, seven-bedroom house, dating back to the 1650s and one…

FREEMANS FARM BARDFIELD END GREEN, THAXTED, ESSEX This six-bedroom, Grade II-listed Georgian property extends to nearly 11 acres. It has a stableyard with four loose boxes, paddocks, an all-weather arena and a hay store. There is also a swimming pool and tennis court. The hamlet is just over a mile from Thaxted. Agent: Mullucks Wells Tel: 01799 520520 Guide price: £1.65m BRACKENTHWAITE FARM YEALAND REDMAYNE, LANCASHIRE A six-bedroom property with 64 acres, Brackenthwaite Farm has extensive equestrian facilities, including seven stables, loose boxes, tack and storage rooms, and stone barns. It also has four holiday cottages. The farm is in the Arnside and Silverdale AONB. Agent: Carter Jonas Tel: 01539 263105 Guide price: £2m for the whole BEECHES FARM BRAEHEAD, FORTH, SOUTH LANARKSHIRE A four-bedroom, traditional stone farmhouse with a…

SO, we’ve hit spring and I ought to be talking daffodils and sunshine, but here I am typing and all I can think of is hunting. Because now it’s all packed up and I have no good excuse not to be working every Thursday, my mind is creeping back to what a bloody good season it’s been. This is the first year I’ve actually subscribed to hunt. Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase is my local pack and I’ve tinkered around with them since I was a kid careering through the middle of hedges rather than making it over the top. It’s not because I’m tight (honest), but as a grown-up it’s jolly hard to commit because: a) there’s this little thing called work which likes to mess the best of…

Buying a shotgun at auction offers the opportunity to either acquire a great gun at a significant discount to its probable price in a shop – about 30% to 50% less on a ‘good’ day when the auction gods are smiling – or, at the other extreme, make a complete twit of yourself should you end with an unsuitable gun, a knackered dog or, simply, pay too much. Someone who knows about these things told me about being out with a chum who had recently bought his gun at auction. The fellow was right-handed. Did he know that the gun was built for a left-hander? No, he emphatically did not. With auctions: caveat emptor – buyer beware! That said, and as specialist – as against small regional – auctioneers are…

A CLOSE KNIT QI am struggling to find a pair of breeks that have a knitted cuff instead of the buckle, Velcro or button fitting round the knee. Can you help? MH, Cambridge A Knitted cuffs on bespoke breeks, Plus 4s and Plus 2s can be made by Carters Country Wear in Helmsley, Yorkshire. Knitted cuffs are an ideal alternative to the traditional button as they offer a comfortable and tailored fit for either a large or very slim leg. Jeremy Shaw of Carters Country Wear regularly travels to London, Leeds and Manchester for fittings and can travel to one’s place of work. A knitted cuff can also be added to a favourite pair of plus 4s or 2s, if preferred, at an approximate cost of £40-£50. For further details,…

THE VINEGAR CUPBOARD As someone whose husband could not be keener on rollmops, pickled eggs, gherkins, et al, I thought I was pretty clued up when it came to vinegar. Reading Angela Clutton’s impressive tome I realise there is much to learn. Clutton has grasped that condiment cupboard corker and given it some rightful time in the spotlight. Her book is a true work of reference, covering the history and science of vinegar, with culinary ideas and tasting notes, from fruit versions to grain, balsamic and the familiar wine incarnations. Clutton divides the vinegars into four categories but is adamant that not having the exact vinegar required is no excuse – simply use another type in its stead. Accompanying the vinegar voyage of discovery are 70 genuinely useful recipes, ones…

New research by the BTO shows that the route a cuckoo takes to migrate is an important factor in its survival from the UK to tropical Africa. Nearly all the birds (97%) tagged in the cuckoo monitoring scheme that took the eastern migration route via Italy survived. But only 56% of those that took the western route via Spain made it across the Sahara into West Africa. Plentiful food in the Po Valley in northern Italy was considered essential in providing fuel for the 2,500-mile flight. “There are likely to be several factors driving the decline of the cuckoo in the UK, but the choice of route taken during the southerly migration is likely to be an important one,” said the BTO’s Paul Stancliffe. Cuckoos arrive in the UK this…

MOST VIEWED Bounding hound Pictures from the February issue Blencathra hunt report have been popular online. This shot of Colonel clearing a fence, taken by Duncan Ireland, caught Fielders’ attention. “Perfect shot,” admired one. “Loved hunting with them in September. Great shot,” added another. Fielders were also delighted to see Blencathra huntsman Barry Todhunter pictured, the pack’s seventh huntsman since 1826. “Best huntsman in the country,” commented one. “The legend...” added another. INSTAGRAM Breeksit This super outtake by Hamish Mitchell for our January issue Ballynatray shoot report prompted an in/out debate amongst Instagram Fielders. “Breeks should be tucked into the socks,” declared one. “Outside is the formal way,” countered another. “Out, then have nice wool garters to hold them up,” added onemore. Othersweredistracted by another concern. “Those mustard socks are…

A LEGACY can take many forms but when it comes to land and estates, nothing beats trees. To celebrate a new-born child, an anniversary or any notable occasion, planted trees leave a memory forged in the landscape. The Tories have tapped into this, not least in their party logo, with Philip Hammond’s announcement last year for a £60m tree budget and the Government’s pledge to plant 11 million trees in its 2017-22 term. Specimen trees bring a certain romance but true splendour comes from larger tracts of woodlands that are rich in wildlife, offer terrific sport and a stable income with resilience for future generations. However, in these dynamic times it’s not simply about planting more whips in the hope they’ll turn into mighty oaks; woodlands and forests should be…

ANYTHING WITH SHORT BARRELS  is currently deeply out of favour – 25in/26in especially – making old Churchills a bargain for such superbly built guns. Expect up to 50% discount on equivalent 28in-30in guns. FOREIGN GUNS WITH SHORT BARRELS (eg AYA) are even better value, often fetching in the low hundreds (£s). Nick likes good old German guns, which are superbly engineered and not properly appreciated over here. SECOND XI FOREIGN SIDELOCKS  such as the AYA no 2 (the same as a no 1 but with less fancy engraving). Good examples fetch in the mid/high hundreds (£s) for an excellent gun – a 50% plus discount to the more fancied no 1. MANY GOOD SCOTTISH GUNS  can be underrated. Scottish gunsmiths had to work far harder to make much finer-looking guns…

A FEW years ago one of my shooting friends made up his labrador bitch to Field Trial Champion (FTCh), a remarkable achievement for a man with just one dog and no previous experience of gundog competitions. He was justifiably proud of the achievement but also remarkably modest about it. He found that most of his shooting friends had no idea what it took to make up a FTCh, with several even unsure about the difference between a test and a trial. He also discovered that many of the triallers he met had little or no interest in shooting, despite their passion for working gundogs. To understand trialling today one needs to look back at its history. The very first field trial with live game was held for pointers and setters…

NOW, being the sophisticated reader of The Fieldthat you are, I accept that your watering hole of choice is unlikely to be a branch of JD Wetherspoon. Said pizza, burger’n’booze chain is clearly the choice of many, however, given that it boasts some 900 thriving outlets across the UK. “Wetherspoon’s Brexit-influenced decision is to take all European wines off its list” What’s also clear is that the good patrons of JDW are shortly going to have to change their drinking habits. And I’m not talking here about the chain’s notorious adoption of oversized pint glasses several years ago – an initiative sparked by a desire to promote the full British pint and sod the froth on the top – and its even more notorious swift rejection of same (thanks to…

I MET up with a doctor friend of mine in our local bread shop. “You’ve been getting a bit too serious over the past few articles,” he said. “Now, I know it must be difficult to find a ray of sunshine amidst the stygian gloom but that it why I turn to the back page. I need to smile. So what are you going to write about next month? You’re not going to be miserable again, are you?” “Dr Hollings, though a prince among doctors, has thrice consecutively been winner of their shoot’s Chris Packham award for conservation” I pondered, confessing that I had been somewhat preoccupied by an article I had read in The Times back in January titled ‘The Pheasants Revolt’, which shone a very bright light upon…