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C A M P A I G N S • C O M M E N T • C U L T U R E • C O M M U N I T Y COUNTRYSIDESPRING 2016 £3.50 (when sold) ALLIANCE countryside-alliance.org.uk RURAL COLLEGES Which course? LIVESTOCK WORRYING Police advice on dog control THE HUNTSMAN’S A KEEPER’S LIFE HUNTSMAN Managing the Honouring Rhug Estate George Adams on his retirement CONSERVING CARNACARNA A WestWest CoastCoast 2016 success sstorytory is election year Scottish and Welsh parties The magazine of set out their stalls CA COVER SPRING.indd 3 23/02/2016 14:44 CELEBRATE THE COUNTRYSIDE 22-24 JULY 2016 STONELEIGH, WARWICKSHIRE THE UK GAME FAIR IS SET TO BE THE SHOW FOR REAL FIELDSPORTS ENTHUSIASTS SHOOTING, FISHING, HUNTING, GUNDOGS & ESTATE MANAGEMENT – WHATEVER YOUR INTEREST, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR YOU TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM l @UKGAMEFAIRf UKGAMEFAIR #UKGAMEFAIR #WELEADOTHERSFOLLOW #GAMEFAIR UK Game Fair - Blaze.indd 1 18/02/2016 11:54 PLUS WHICH Contents GAME FAIR? SPRING 2016 Full listings on page 49 EDITOR’S LETTER pring 2016 will be a busy one for all of us. Several elections S are taking place, including for the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament and 28 we have candidates from the main parties Conservation on the Graham Rob contesting seats in Wales and Scotland Isle of Carna setting out their rural policies for you on Photo: p16. Alongside their views we bring the views of a Welsh gamekeeper (p20), a ➺ IN THIS ISSUE Scottish farmer and fi sherman (p50) and news of the conservation efforts of one NEWS AND CAMPAIGNS 30 Livestock worrying family on the Western Isle of Carna (p28). 4 News and Campaigns The facts, the law and common sense We also bring you a feature on the recent Boxing Day, the Law Commission and dog 32 Presenting the hunting debate land reform legislation in Scotland (p22) microchipping regulations Animal welfare consultant Jim Barrington on his that is sure to echo for some time to come. 9 What’s in a name education mission Elsewhere in this diverse issue we bring Tim Bonner ponders the outcry when named 35 The art of gunmaking you features from the European Firearms animals perish Drew Boxall on the traditional skill of gun engraving Directive (p11) and the skills involved in 11 Firearms Directive 36 Chalking it up engraving a gun (p35) to the threats faced Jack Knott outlines our views for shooting’s future John Slader on angling’s role in allaying threats by our chalkstreams (p36), the perils of FEATURES to our chalkstreams naming a wild animal (p9) and the range 12 Over 30 years’ service to the Fitz 38 Equestrian heritage of choices faced by teenagers keen on a George Bowyer marks Fitzwilliam Huntsman Ann Bullen’s illustrations are familiar to all career in the countryside (p25). George Adams’ retirement 41 Game recipe “We have candidates 14 The universal language of fi shing A spring woodpigeon recipe Taking Casting for Recovery’s message to Italy featuring gingerbread from the main parties 16 Devolved elections 43 Supporting hunt staff Candidates outline their rural policies for you The Hunt Staff Benefi t Society’s unsung work contesting seats in 20 A Welsh gamekeeper’s story GET INVOLVED Wales and Scotland Conservation success and challenges at 45 Feedback Rhug Estate Letters to the Editor setting out their rural 22 The future of Scotland’s land 46 Flying high policies for you.” Scottish Land & Estates on new land Our Falconry for Schools project thrills reform legislation youngsters wherever it goes Other positive work in progress includes 25 A land based education 49 Events Falconry for Schools (p46) bringing Liam Stokes offers advice to teens interested in a From Badminton to Peterborough, the dates feathered friends to the classroom and my rural career you need to know own recent trip to Italy to try to help Italian 28 Carna believe it 50 My Countryside lady fl yfi shers develop an Italian version of Scotland’s West Coast project offers the ultimate The passions of Mike Forbes, rural businessman, our inspiring Casting for Recovery fl y fi shing digital detox farmer and Scottish fl y fi shing international programme for ladies with breast cancer. The magazine also includes news, 24-hour Countryside Alliance Fax Countryside Alliance events, letters and a unique pigeon recipe legal hotline Ireland 020 7793 8484 magazine is published 0871 919 3505 [email protected] four times a year from our Game to Eat campaign. I hope Chairman 02892 639911 Website on behalf of Simon Hart MP Insurance hotline countryside-alliance.org the Countryside you enjoy this issue and that you vote 0871 919 9172 Scottish Countryside Alliance by BPG Media Chief Executive Alliance Email 01476 859849 where you can, buy British and continue to Tim Bonner Campaigns infosca@scottishcountry info@countryside- www.bpgmedia.co.uk 020 7840 9250 sidealliance.org alliance.org support our rural economy and way of life. EditorJill Grieve 0131 335 0200 Events Advertising An osprey on the Rothiemurchus Estate by Aviemore on Speyside, on Speyside, Aviemore by Estate on the Rothiemurchus An osprey Publisher and fundraising By post Charlie Coups BPG Media 020 7840 9298 Countryside Alliance, Bethan Watson Jill Grieve, Editor 1 Spring Mews c.coups@bpgmedia. Membership hotline PR and media Tinworth Street co.uk Follow me on Twitter @CAupdates 020 7840 9300 020 7840 9220 London SE11 5AN 01476 859838 Cover photo: photo: Cover Laurie Campbell www.lauriecampbell.com by photographed www.countryside-alliance.org.uk SPRING 2016 l COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 3 3 Contents se OK.indd 3 23/02/2016 10:55 ➺ MORE NEWS Sign up for our regular Grass e-route newsletter: www.countryside-alliance.org/ca/grass-e-route Review Round-up of the stories that matter to you Welcome from our Chief Executive 2016 is an important year for the countryside with the devolved Welsh Assembly, Scottish Parliament and Police & Crime Commissioners elections in the offi ng, alongside many local council elections. The Countryside Alliance, ever vocal, has created manifestos HUNTING outlining our key issues for the rural communities of Wales and Scotland, Hunting rides high as well as priorities for rural police. Please keep an eye on our website for updates on polling as well as despite extreme weather the chance for you to lobby your candidates and ask them to back Polling across England, Scotland and Wales our manifestos. give reason to be cheerful “Digital UNTS WENT INTO the Christmas Meanwhile our own survey of hunting engagement has period buoyed by the collapse of in England and Wales showed that 83% H the last Hunting Act prosecution of hunts have the same number or more swiftly become involving a registered hunt. Three subscribers since the Hunting Act. In a central part of days into a scheduled 10-day trial December we also did some polling of at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court, the Scottish voters ahead of Lord Bonomy’s life and we have private prosecutors, the League Against review of the framework surrounding the embraced it.” Cruel Sports, withdrew all evidence. Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) The court had sought confi rmation Act 2002 (due to end in late March), and Digital engagement has swiftly from absent LACS acting Chief Executive found that not a single one of the 1,041 become a central part of life and Rachel Newman, a qualifi ed solicitor, that people surveyed raised hunting as the we have embraced it as surely as she had advised expert witness Professor most infl uential issue which will affect have all political parties, with great Stephen Harris not to disclose a close the way they vote. Compared to 16 other success. Thousands of you took personal relationship between himself issues, hunting was the least infl uential part in the recent European fi rearms and LACS Head of Operations Paul with just 2% saying hunting would have e-lobby run through the umbrella Tillsley. Professor Harris had also the decisive impact on their vote in sporting organisation FACE and we been accused of embellishing May’s elections. hope thousands more will join us his experience of hunting whilst The media was fi lled with images of in lobbying politicians ahead of giving evidence. Rather crowds supporting their the elections. than answer these very “83% of hunts local packs on Boxing While email and social media serious questions LACS have the same Day giving the lie to are a big part of our future they are withdrew charges. dubious LACS claims a means, not an end in themselves. On the back of this, number or more that the Hunting Act is For the Alliance that end will always an editorial in The Times subscribers.” well supported. be a living, working countryside in early December In January, former where we are all free to take part in stated: “Britain’s last outstanding hunt nursery nurse Megan Thornbury was given all legitimate activities. prosecution collapsed in a £100,000 sink 80 hours community service after she Tim Bonner of ignominy. Country sports enthusiasts was convicted of three separate assaults Chief Executive are justifi ably calling for at least seven on hunt supporters in Herefordshire, Follow Tim on Twitter related convictions to be reviewed.” including one on a 15-year-old boy. @CA_TimB 4 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE l SPRING 2016 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk 4-5, 7, News mb AH OK.indd 4 22/02/2016 13:26 SPONSOREDSPO NSO RED BY t: +44(0)1488 689 788 e: [email protected] For all your sporting requirements www.roxtons.com SHOOTING The Quarter The Law Commission’s OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST THREE MONTHS Wildlife Review DECEMBER fact, make the law more complex and ● We welcomed Defra’s risk making essential management commitment to “rural practices unlawful.