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CAMPAIGNS • COMMENT • CULTURE • COMMUNITY COUNTRYSIDEWINTER 2013 £3.50 (when sold) ALLIANCE countryside-alliance.org.uk Wildfowling Magic and mystery in the wetlands HUNT ALLIANCE CLASS VICTORIES Naval links with Campaign rural traditions success in 2013 Cheers! Toast Gower Brewery’s Rural Oscars win PLUS NEWS EVENTS PHOTO GALLERIES RECIPES { WINTER WONDERS} ’Tis the ... The magazine of SEASONTHE BEST OF CONSERVATION, FIELDSPORTS AND FARMING Contents PLUS WINTER 2013 TRY A RABBIT RAGU RECIPE Page 39 EDITOR’S LETTER elcome to an issue packed with good cheer. W This winter we celebrate the historical links between the Royal Navy and hunts (page 12), Tim Bonner’s deep love of wildfowling (page 18), the history of coursing (page 33), conservation and shooting on Northumberland’s Whitfield Estate (page 16), Nick Sotherton’s 12 appreciation of the grey partridge (page 37), award-winning Welsh beer (page 23), a love of farming by IN THIS ISSUE Emily, our Young Countryside Alliance correspondent (page 41), and Charlie NEWS AND CAMPAIGNS 29 Conservation Jacoby’s countryside on page 50. A shocking Dutch case that demonstrates 04 News what happens without wildlife management We also give ourselves a slap on Reactions to the RSPCA’s militant stance; the back, taking you through our Scottish air weapons licensing; promoting 33 Coursing own campaigning year (page 34) and hunting; BBC bias, and more Reflections on an ancient pastime looking back on all we have achieved. FEATURES 34 A year in campaigns There are frustrations, of course, and Working hard on your behalf in 2013 12 Hunting and the Navy 2014 will see us continue to tackle Charlotte Cooper explores the intriguing 37 In praise of… the grey partridge threats to our sports, especially in links between hunting and HMS Ledbury This wonderful bird has real family values, writes Professor Nick Sotherton the political and media arenas. We 16 Conservation will keep on addressing the unhelpful Why Whitfield Estate is a model example of GE T I N VOLV E D attitudes from some quarters of the how shooting conserves the countryside 39 Recipe of the quarter 18 Wildfowling Wild rabbit ragu with penne “Next year will Tim Bonner recalls the simple pleasures of 41 Young Countryside Alliance a day spent shooting below the sea wall Emily Churchill, aged 13, on why she loves see us continue 20 Farmers’ Hunt helping her Grandad on his farm to tackle threats to Following the Grove & Rufford Hunt 43 Feedback 23 Rural Oscars Letters and quotes of note our sports” Gower Brewery’s award-winning ales 45 Photo galleries 24 Relaxing the Hunting Act? Wine auction and fishing fundraiser BBC (page 11), striving to see your David Thomas wants the Act amended to 49 Events world represented as you know allow hill farmers to protect their stock Find a winter event near you and love it. We will also be going 26 Hunting 50 My Countryside hell for leather on the twin issues of An anthropologist’s view of the tradition Charlie Jacoby of the Fieldsports Channel broadband and mobile phone signal. Which reminds me, if you do have decent broadband, keep an eye on Membership hotline Regions By post Advertising 020 7840 9300 Find your local Countryside Alliance, Remy Schiele, our Facebook page on Boxing Day representative on page The Old Town Hall, Advertising Manager 24-hour legal hotline 49 or visit countryside- 367 Kennington Road, 020 7079 9366 – we’ll keep you updated on meet Chairman 0871 919 3505 alliance.org.uk London SE11 4PT [email protected] Kate Hoey MP Insurance hotline photos from across the country. And Countryside Alliance Fax Countryside Alliance Editor Jill Grieve 0871 919 9172 Ireland 020 7793 8484 magazine is published if that doesn’t bring good cheer then info@countrysidealliance four times a year Chief Sub Editor Campaigns ireland.org Website on behalf of Marianne Smedley 020 7840 9250 nothing will. 02892 639911 countryside-alliance. the Countryside Merry Christmas to you all. Creative Director Events and fundraising org.uk Alliance by James James Houston 020 7840 9298 Scottish Countryside Pembroke Publishing, Alliance Email 90 Walcot Street, Publisher PR and media info@scottishcountryside info@countryside- Bath BA1 5BG. Jill Grieve James Pembroke 020 7840 9220 alliance.org 0131 335 0200 alliance.org Tel: 01225 337777 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 3 MORE NEWS Sign up for our regular Grass e-route newsletter: www.countryside-alliance.org/ca/grass-e-route News Round-up of the stories that matter to you Welcome from our Executive Chairman We at the Countryside Alliance have enjoyed a busy and rewarding autumn. Both Hunting Newcomers’ Week and Shot for the Pot enjoyed strong support while the Countryside Alliance Awards attracted thousands of nominations from those keen to celebrate rural communities, This unfortunate photograph was produce and businesses in every part of a bad year corner of our islands. Our quest to in the media for the RSPCA inform, include and enthuse the general public about the countryside and all that goes on there continues CHARITIES with great energy. A reshuffle has brought new faces to Defra and we are in The RSPCA’s bad year close touch with Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and his Supporters lose faith in animal charity’s increasingly team. There is plenty to talk about, militant stance after a series of public criticisms including the possible changes to the Hunting Act (page 24). We attended the Party Conferences riticisms of the RSPCA’s These incidents and Freedom and enjoyed cross-party support C increasingly political stance have of Information Act requests by the for our phone signal report peaked in the press this year, Countryside Alliance, which exposed (page 34). We also continue to with even the charity’s own board how the RSPCA has privileged access to liaise at European, national and concerned the negative publicity criminal records, caused a rash of stories devolved level on the many issues is jeopardising support. in the press. facing shooting. The charity was the subject of The adverse press does seem to Our work with the devolved investigations by the Charity Commission have rebounded on the RSPCA. assemblies has kept our teams busy: after comments made by Chief Executive First, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in Wales we have been working Gavin Grant, on Newsnight seemed to Justin Welby, declined to become with the Angling Trust to protect condone direct action against farmers a vice patron and then, in a leaked anglers’ rights of access (page taking part in the badger cull. Then Radio document, the RSPCA’s own deputy 7). Meanwhile, in Scotland airgun 4’s Face the Facts programme also asked chairman, Paul Draycott, revealed licensing plans have seen us make whether the charity had become a bully. an estimated £3 million budget strong representations in your deficit this year and questioned the name (overleaf). “The Archbishop of charity’s strategy. As we leave 2013 behind we can The Charity Commission is again feel optimistic about next year Canterbury declined reviewing the RSPCA’s use of donors’ (weather dependent!). I wish you a to become an RSPCA cash and role as a private prosecutor. sporting Christmas and New Year. We predict many more column inches Barney White-Spunner, vice patron” on this subject. Executive Chairman 4 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIAncE | WIntER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk Partridge family We celebrate the laudable qualities of the grey partridge on page 37 SHOOTING The Quarter OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE Labour PAST THREE MONTHS SEPTEMBER attacks gun Party Conference season got licensing underway with key Parliamentarians IN OCTOBER the Labour opposition speaking at Alliance made a statement saying that shotgun fringe meetings certificate holders should have to “prove about mobile phone signal. Labour MP their suitability” to own a firearm in future firearms, is being undertaken by the Chi Unwurah is pictured on our stand. Outlining Labour amendments to the Anti- Home Office and ACPO, with the full Fishing 4 Schools had a great month, Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Bill, support of the shooting associations. with a successful fundraiser (page 47) and Shadow Crime and Security Minister Diana These new proposals from the Labour a story in the Telegraph, describing the Johnson said her party wishes to strengthen Party are, therefore, completely unjustified importance of getting youngsters out of firearms licensing, with an increased fee and together will be seen as an attack on the classroom and onto our waterways. for licences and to “shift the onus to the the legitimate shooting community. The winner of our Reader Survey applicant to prove their suitability”. The suggestion that over 600,000 hamper was announced as Janie Blake The Countryside Alliance and its shotgun certificate holders should have from Gloucestershire. supporters well know that firearms to ‘prove their suitability’ to own a licence holders understand gun shotgun is of concern. Although Labour OCTOBER ownership in the UK is a responsibility, does not say how these assessments of A reshuffle saw not a right. We generally accept the fitness would be made, it can only be George Eustice MP justification for some of the strictest gun an unjustified burden on a law-abiding (pictured) and Dan control laws in the world. minority and threaten the future of an Rogerson MP appointed A review of police guidance to industry that is worth £1.6 billion a year as Defra Ministers. strengthen the test of ‘fitness’ to possess and employs 60,000 people. Our Game-to-Eat campaign encouraged thousands to take part in Shot for the Pot Week and serve up British game. Hunting Newcomers’ Week also took “HUNTING IS OUR FAVOURITE LESSON” place with hunts across the country holding special events to enable YOUNGSTERS FROM the hunt, begun by the season.