The Field March 2020

ALL reviews commissioned by government can be regarded as political and the Werritty report, published on 19 December, is no exception. Faced with a barrage of conflicting views on grouse-moor management and suspicions about illegal raptor control, the Scottish Government asked Professor Alan Werritty to lead a review, which included in the remit to “advise on the option of licensing grouse-shooting businesses”. After exhaustive evidence taking, site visits and deliberation, the review panel concluded that there was no clear case for state licensing of grouse shooting at this stage and that, ultimately, it was a political decision. They found a compromise to help government in the form of a suspension of licensing, dependent on showing an improvement within five years of breeding populations of golden eagles, hen harriers and peregrines…

FROM the start, James Wild seemed destined to become a wildlife sculptor and his art teacher sealed the deal: “At school we had this very expensive welding machine in the art department that no-one was using and the art teacher told me to go and use it. He showed me how to work it and I made two horses’ heads with anything I could find, just offcuts lying around. So the medium found me. People liked the horses’ heads and I got two orders.” Which meant that Wild had to reassess his ideas about life and the all-important gap year: “I thought, instead of going to work in a pub to fund my India trip, which had been my plan, how about working as a blacksmith and selling what I…

Irish grouse moor wins Purdey award The outstanding contribution British shoots make to conservation was celebrated at the Purdey Awards for Game and Conservation on 4 February at Apsley House, London, the London home of the judges’ chairman, the Duke of Wellington. The gold award, with a cheque for £5,000, was presented by Sir Nicholas Soames to the Irish Grouse Conservation Trust for its work in restoring the sub-species Lagopus lagopus hibernicus to drivable numbers. Covering 1,000 acres of heather moorland and 6,000 acres of rough moor, grazing and blanket bog in County Antrim, the Trust took over the moor when grouse numbers had fallen to six pairs – with a total Irish population estimated at 140 pairs in 2007. A consortium of private supporters, conservation bodies and government organisations…

GREENER FIELD Field subscribers will have noticed that from the January issue copies have arrived in a paper wrap. This is fully recyclable and part of The Field’s commitment to a greener countryside. WILD TROUT TRUST AUCTION From a wilderness fishing weekend on the Dee to an expedition to fish the Loue with Gerard Piquard, there are plenty of fishing adventures among the 300 lots in the Wild Trout Trust’s auction, which takes place on 20 to 29 March. Tackle, flies, books and art are also included, with prices starting at £20. For a copy of the auction catalogue, visit: wildtrout.org GAME PIES FLY AT OCADO Wild and Game, the company founded by Michael Cannon and Steven Frampton to boost game consumption, now has two of its game pies available…

1 East Devon Point-to-Point Bishops Court, near Ottery St Mary, Devon. Tel 07870 737209. 6-8 Wilton House Antiques Fair Salisbury, Wiltshire. Antiques and decorative arts from 40 dealers. Tel 01722 746728; wiltonhouse.com 7 Duke of Beaufort’s Point-to-Point Didmarton, Gloucestershire. Tel 07974 396766. 10-13 Cheltenham Festival Prestbury, Gloucestershire. Tel 01242 513014; thefestival.co.uk 10-12 BASIS Certificate in Game Management GWCT Allerton Project, Leicester. Predator control, game-bird releasing, shoot and land management. Price £685. Tel 01425 652381 (Lizzie Herring); gwct.org.uk 11 BASC Ladies’ Beginners and Novice Clay Shooting Day Penrallt Hotel, Aberporth, Dyfed. Cost £50 members, £60 non-members. Tel 01244 573029; email wales@basc.org.uk 14 Duke of Buccleuch’s Point-to-Point Friar’s Haugh, Kelso, Roxburghshire (first race 1pm). Tel 07896 089133. 15 Bicester with Whaddon Chase Point-to-Point Edgcote, Wills Estate, Banbury, Oxfordshire. Tel 07768 360308. 18…

MOST VIEWED Gundog Awards 2020 Readers were delighted by the return of The Field Gundog Awards, which launched online this month with new categories and a new sponsor. Now in association with Chudleys, favourite categories, including Best Family Gundog and Naughtiest Gundog, are back and for the first time we are searching for a Precocious Puppy and Best Veteran Gundog. Turn to page 46 for more information and send your entries to gundogawards@ti-media.com INSTAGRAM Shooting snipe Instagram Fielders loved this out-take from our January issue shoot report, which saw the Editor travel way out west to Co Roscommon, Ireland, in search of snipe. Taken by Charles Sainsbury-Plaice, the image shows the Editor’s fellow gun, Jason Doyle, a hunting guide and fieldsports journalist. “What a picture,” admired one Fielder, and the…