Innehållsförteckning för May 2021 från The Field

IT is a human condition to hark back to halcyon days when catches of salmon were bountiful, whether that was in the 1960s, ’70s or even the Noughties. The issue is that salmon are like the weather, you get good years and bad years. To get an overview of what is actually happening you need to step back from the riverbank and look at the Atlantic. The clear view from around the north Atlantic, wherever salmon roam, is that from the mid-1980s – when figures were first collected from all countries – there were between eight and 10 million salmon at sea; today, that figure is between two and three million, with no indication that the decline is slowing. So do we give up? The answer must surely be a…

BACK TO LIFE With the end of pandemic restrictions finally on the horizon, Fielders have been pondering what they are most looking forward to. For some, it’s grouse shooting, for others, the Game Fair or the smell of gunpowder. But it turns out that a good number have been missing the simplest things: a pint in the pub, lounging in the countryside (clad in tweed) and the banter and camaraderie of a day out in the field. PICTURE PERFECT The photograph of an elegant lady tackling a ditch while hunting side-saddle in Ireland sparked much admiration on Instagram, with many people praising her poise, her “perfect position” and, of course, the “brilliant horse”. Many also wondered who the “daredevil” equestrian might be: their collective sleuthing eventually yielded results and the…

I became a father a couple of years ago, which, as most parents will attest, is a journey of exhaustion, elation, frustration and (most recently) half-finished apples strewn around the house. One of the aspects of parenthood I have always looked forward to is the opportunity to introduce my child(ren) to my passion for fishing. I have already started introducing my son, Ted, to rivers, ponds and their inhabitants. The first steps were a handful of short fishing excursions with him in a rucksack on my back during a paternity-leave trip to New Zealand. He gurgled away behind me while I wandered happily up the river, spotting trout and even managing to catch a couple. He’s now two and a half and we’ve moved on to netting minnows and juvenile…

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to understand the biomechanical and mental process involved in shooting better. At another level, I am intrigued by the ‘Zen’ of shooting. However, I discovered decades ago that it is not a simple subject. Thirty years ago, I distilled what I had observed as efficient into a simple, holistic system for shooting clays, which I called ‘positive shooting’ (search for the term on YouTube and you can see a younger version of me demonstrating this). It advocated developing a disciplined mindset and a personal shooting routine – one that would be applied consciously as part of pre-shot preparation or ritual. Three components were required for the perfect shot: sustained visual contact, balance and rhythm. Practically, it boils down to this…

THE British Sporting Art Trust (BSAT) acquired this portrait of John Ferneley Senior (1782-1860) in 2011. It was painted by his favourite son, Claude Lorraine, in 1866, six years after the artist’s death. The green leaves suggest spring or summer but Ferneley wears an overcoat against the cold of the north-facing studio in Elgin Lodge, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. His hair is brushed forward to protect his baldness. Ferneley built Elgin Lodge in 1811 and named it after Lord Elgin in admiration of the beauty of the Parthenon frieze that was presented to the British Museum in that year. It was demolished in mysterious circumstances in 1982 after planning permission for development had been refused. At one time, Elgin Lodge had been considered as a potential home for the BSAT. The…

IT’S May and the sun should be shining. Hurrah! Boris has produced a ‘roadmap to recovery’. Double hurrah! Although I wonder how many in these days of computerised talking maps can navigate a paper map, let alone a BJ-inspired ‘happy days are here again’ roadmap. But, let’s not carp. Talking of which, the fishing season is here again and I for one cannot wait for my first trip to the bank to go mano a salmo trutta (brown trout). So, after a long winter of tedium, I’m putting all my negativities aside and I am going to be super-duper positive this month. I will even avoid my ongoing: ‘Why are people paying so much for antiques at auction?’ puzzlement. That said (sorry), I discovered the definitive answer to that question…

FIDJI FABRIC You don’t need to be dining with a cactus to feel summery. This hand-drawn shoal of fish is digitally printed to reproduce the fine brushstrokes. Bright and abundant – as we hope our days fishing will be this year – it is an antidote to the winter past and, hopefully, a taste of tropical things to come. Manuel Canovas at Colefax and Fowler Price: £98 per metre, 100% polyester, 135cm wide Tel 020 8877 6400 manuelcanovas.com Colour chart SANDERSON NIGHT FISHING Dark but not stormy, the oil-based eggshell finish is resistant to condensation and steam, so ideal for conservatories and kitchens, drying rooms and fishing huts. £47 per 2.5 litres Tel 020 3457 5862 sandersondesigngroup.com SHELL FABRIC Many have been feeling like hermits of late but Fermoie’s 100%…

THE country has always been part of my life. We live in the Leicestershire countryside and my formative years were spent poking around in streams with my sister, jumping on our ponies with only a headcollar for guidance to race each other up the field, riding with my mother and acting as a human gundog to my father on his shoot days. I would stand by him on the peg, in my waxed jacket and cap, toes slowly turning to ice, scampering off to retrieve birds, proud as any well-honed gundog. There would always be a cherry bakewell in Pa’s pocket, for elevenses, and the warm glow of retelling the day when I arrived home with a brace of birds for supper. Storytelling has always been my thing. After university…

WE can call the BMW X5 a lot of things but shy and retiring would not be on that list. In gleaming white – which somehow made the Botoxed black front grille stick out even more dramatically – it dominated the farmyard. It’s a big old beast. Size has its advantages, of course. Getting in is a doddle and the seating position is nice and high. The view out is good, with only the ‘B’ pillars taking some seeing round at acute junctions. The seats themselves are superb, worthy of being unbolted and added to the household furniture, although they do seem to consume a lot of interior space; the back is surprisingly tight. So far, so good, and what we’d expect from the big BMW. Closer inspection of the…

SPORTING COMPANIONS WITH ITS WIRY COAT AND CONFIDENT MANNER, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A BAD HARE DAY FOR A BORDER TERRIER The Farming Community Network (FCN) helps farmers and their families deal with issues ranging from animal disease to mental health. The charity’s 450 volunteers operate a helpline from 7am to 11pm every day (03000 111 999, help@fcn.org.uk). FCN has also launched a website, FarmWell (farmwell.org.uk), which provides information on business resilience and personal well-being. The charity relies on donations and fundraisers, so every contribution is welcome (fcn.org.uk/#support).…

THE 2000 Guineas is the first of five Classics in the flat-racing season. It was first run on 18 April 1809, although it is usually run in May alongside the second Classic, the 1000 Guineas, which was founded five years later. While the former is reserved for colts, the latter is exclusively for fillies. Despite its 19th-century date offering a rather obvious clue to the race’s provenance, its name is also a bit of a giveaway. After all, it refers not to a herd of guinea pigs but to a currency, the guinea, replaced by the pound by 1816. Guineas are still used as the recognised currency for the bloodstock industry, with one guinea valued at one pound and five pence. The extra five pence? That, in the racing industry,…

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This is a Grade II-listed, Georgian-fronted, country house with a cottage, just under 10 miles from Shaftesbury, with views over its own fields and the Stour Valley. Chisel Farm House dates from the late 18th century and was fully restored by the current owners in 2008, with a substantial extension added; there are six bedrooms. The mature formal gardens include a kitchen garden and greenhouse, swimming pool and tennis court. There are equestrian facilities with three stables, a tack room, feed store and barn, plus pony paddocks and a field shelter. The Dairy House, in need of updating, has four bedrooms and a partly walled garden. The property comes with nearly 14 acres of land. It is available as a whole or in four lots. Agent: Savills and Rural View…

While some people have spent the past year of lockdown perfecting their knitting skills or learning to use Zoom, thousands of others have been busy house-training puppies. Demand for dogs went through the roof in 2020. In May, the Kennel Club reported a 237% rise in searches for puppies on its website. With dogs in such high demand, it is no surprise that the price of puppies exploded. A quick scan reveals golden retriever pups for £4,000 each, so-called silver labradors for £4,500 and even cockerpoos for £3,750 per pup. With the pandemic restricting travel, many people have turned to the internet to find puppies, however, the worry with many of these sites is that unlike sourcing a pup from a registered breeder or a friend, you don’t know how…

To many, and this includes those who ‘hunt to ride’, they ‘ain’t nothing but a hound-dog’, a friendly face at the meet and then a pack in the distance, their presence only occasionally acknowledged by the huntsman’s cheer and horn. To the hound purists, however, they are the very foundation of the hunt, both on and off the hunting field, and no one, save the huntsman, his Masters and staff, take more pride in them than their puppy walkers. Like the hounds themselves, puppy walkers come in all ages and from all backgrounds. Some have done it on their farms for generations, others, wishing to show more commitment to their hunting, have brought them home perhaps as a companion to young children When Claudia FitzHerbert, the granddaughter of Evelyn Waugh,…

GREEN DREAM Q Having been deprived of various country sports last year, I turned to the garden and grew vegetables. I struggled with the tomatoes and am hoping to improve this year. In preparation, is there a way you might recommend for ripening green tomatoes? CT, Hereford A Green tomatoes will keep and ripen using a traditional method. The trusses of fruit should be laid in boxes, between sheets of newspaper and kept in a warm, dry room, preferably around 15°C to 20°C. It should take about 10 to 14 days for the fruit to ripen; check regularly as the tomatoes will ripen at different speeds. TROUT CAVIAR Q I have heard that it’s easy to make caviar using trout roe. Would you or your team have a recipe and…

ONE of the biggest drawbacks of using a flintlock gun on the sporting field was weather proofing. As readers will well know, you cannot guarantee the weather will be benign when out on a shoot. Modern sporting guns can easily deal with such inclement weather but for the flintlock of the 18th and 19th century it was a different story. The biggest drawback was having to use loose priming powder; priming powder could easily get damp and not work, or be blown away by a gust of wind as you are about to shoot. Solutions to this dilemma were eagerly sought and several innovative designs were offered by the gunmaker. One of the solutions for weatherproofing was to enclose the mechanism, either inside the gun or by providing some sort…

THIS month’s test looks at a 30in B Rizzini ‘Grand Regal’ 28-bore. I must admit a bias before proceeding: I am great fan of 30in 28-bore over-and-unders and use two myself. I am also a fan of Battista Rizzini’s guns. He is an important figure in modern Brescian gunmaking. He has developed a major industrial concern at Marcheno, making full use of high tech but, unusually, he has also developed the benchcraft capability of his works, bringing in new talent through acquisition of other firms. Edward King, who has imported Rizzini guns through ASI of Snape since 2010, notes: “Rizzini are in a great position now because they have invested significantly in recent years bringing nearly all the gunmaking process under their own roof. Their guns, although principally made by…

AS much as I enjoy a garden filled with bright flowers, neatly mowed lawns and a bit of creative topiary, it is always the beds and pots filled with fresh and fragrant herbs I love the most. Visually, I am always impressed how herbs can add not only colour but structure and form to the garden. Plants such as dill and fennel create soft, flowing shapes that shimmy in the breeze while stiffer sprigs of thyme and oregano feel almost architectural. Brushing past them releases delightful aromatics and I like to include herbs such as rosemary and mint in my flower vases for the table. Besides looking and smelling attractive herbs have, of course, played a more practical role for thousands of years, both in medicine and the kitchen. This…

Hedgerows look set to take centre stage in Britain’s nature recovery plans after the introduction of incentives that promise to support their revival. Since World War II, hundreds of thousands of hedging miles have vanished. According to Crispin Truman of the CPRE, the Countryside Charity, “they have a huge role to play in dealing with climate change and in boosting biodiversity – they are wonderful habitats for birds, mammals and insects.” Another advantage, says Paul Hetherington of BugLife, is that, “allied to larger patches of good habitat, they can create functioning wildlife corridors”. In 2019, the Climate Change Committee recommended extending hedgerows by 40% by 2050. Now, the Government has announced two initiatives that should kickstart the process: the Local Authority Treescapes Fund, which makes £2.7m available in 2021 to…

The free trade deal with the EU, which came into force on 1 January, isn’t working for the British gun trade. According to a survey of Gun Trade Association (GTA) members, carried out by our sister title Gun Trade News, seven out of 10 businesses have had import or export troubles with Europe or Northern Ireland. “The issues relate to the new environment the UK faces dealing as an EU outsider,” says GTA CEO Simon West. Respondents mentioned stock held up at customs, delayed deliveries, huge difficulties in obtaining licences and even incorrect duties being applied by carriers. The survey was not an indictment of Brexit – although some businesses decried it, others showed appreciation for it – but a desperate call for the Government to simplify red tape, invest…

NETHER HALL OLD NEWTON, SUFFOLK This is a Grade II-listed former manor house, next to the village church, in partially wooded grounds. The property has five bedrooms and there is a large pond in the garden, which is just under three-quarters of an acre. Both the sitting room and dining room have large, open, inglenook fireplaces, while the kitchen has a red-brick fireplace with bread oven. Outside is an office with a decking area. Agent: Bedfords Tel: 01284 769999 Guide price: £850,000 WORSTED LODGE BABRAHAM, CAMBRIDGE SHIRE This is an eight-bedroom farmhouse that has been completely renovated. The bedrooms are across two floors and outside there is a large, walled front garden with a courtyard, a double-bay cart lodge, storage bar and rear gardens. A detached old granary is available…

Each and every rod has different reasons as to why they fish. For some people, fishing is really no more than an excuse to be in a beautiful place with old friends. Others fish to find peace or as an escape from the pressures of the modern world. Some have a fascination with the fish or the act of casting and catching. As a result, any list of favourites will likely resonate with that particular rod and perhaps not with others. Some like mown banks and others would leave nature to her own devices. The prospect of a dry spate river can be anathema, while some would rather play golf than fish on the Tay or Tweed. I would never prefer to play golf. One of the great joys of…

Anyone who has held a chrome-bright salmon beneath the surface, observed its gills pulse as it regains its strength, and then watched as it glides effortlessly back into the current will know that the spell they cast is irreversible. But what is it about this species in particular that makes it so beguiling? “For me, it is because they are truly wild,” says Earl Percy, president of the Atlantic Salmon Trust. “They are a physical reminder of the health of the marine ecosystem and its importance to all of us.” Legendary cricketer Lord Botham is another passionate fly-fisher whose enduring love affair with salmon runs deep. “They’re just a magnificent fish,” he says, with the reverence generally reserved for creatures such as horses or big cats. “A fresh-run salmon is…

DO: Take plenty of clear photos of your pet, including any distinctive markings. DO: Ensure your pet is microchipped and registered with up-to-date information – and take note of the microchip number. DO: Pay attention to your surroundings and know where your dog is at all times when out walking. If someone is following or watching you and your dog in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, call the police. DO: Ensure gardens, yards or dog paddocks are secure so no one can gain entry and a dog cannot squeeze through any fences or hedges. DON’T: Leave your dog unattended in the garden, the car or outside shops, if you can help it. DON’T: Post pictures of your pet on public social media pages, and review your social media…

THE announcement of the cancellation of Badminton Horse Trials, due to take place this month, caught the equestrian public by surprise, having expected it to run this year ‘behind closed doors’. Quite aside from the fans who miss watching the action, it’s a particular blow to owners for whom getting a horse to Badminton is a lifetime’s ambition, and to British team selectors. “It leaves a gaping hole for us – it would have been a great chance for some athletes to go out and put themselves right in contention for the summer’s Olympic Games,” laments Richard Waygood, performance director of Britain’s eventing team. It was to improve our Olympic prospects that the 10th Duke of Beaufort dreamt up the horse trials in the first place. After a somewhat dismal…

For all its rigid class structures and prejudices, the 19th century was a time when native talent, recognised and supported by a wealthy and influential patron, could blossom from obscure rural beginnings and go on to great achievement. Joseph Paxton, born the seventh son of a modest family that farmed at Milton Bryan, in Bedfordshire, was a classic example. Young Paxton showed an enterprising spirit from an early age, launching his quest for employment with a cheeky deception: he declared himself to have been born in 1801, two years earlier than his real birth year. As a result, he was taken on as a gardener’s boy at Battlesden Park, near Woburn, seat of Sir Gregory Osborne Page-Turner, when he was only 15. During the next five years, he absorbed every…

COLD and difficult wading as the evening gathers is making you think of calling it a day, when suddenly a salmon breaks the water, massive and muscular, beating upstream through the dusk. For Chris Sharp, such moments are the reason to paint. He says: “The subtle colours of the salmon are always different. I have developed the use of a glazing medium in my work; there are layers and layers of colour in the glazes, which gives a translucent effect. It has a fluidity to it which is what I want to capture – and, of course, we all love to look at a fresh salmon.” Secretly, however, Sharp still hankers after the battle-scarred old red salmon of his youth. “I was brought up in the various game parks of…

ONE of the familiar sights in the British shooting field, at least on driven shoots, is that of a picker-up walking with half-a-dozen dogs at heel. It’s something that we take for granted, but it’s a relatively new phenomenon. Half a century ago, few people worked more than a couple of retrievers at the same time, but the growth in commercial shoots and the demand for bigger bags led to handlers recruiting more and more dogs to their teams. A 500-bird day requires a lot of dog power, so five or six pickers-up, together with 20 or 30 dogs, is quite normal. No one knows quite what the longterm impact of the pandemic on shooting will be, but it seems likely that there will be a sizeable number of commercial…