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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. Mrs Austen newcomers to experience hunting first The Elms School near enthusiastic former explains: “Each group hand. CA Race Days took place at Ffos Malvern hit the headlines headmaster, Clive Ashby. gets to go out twice Las and Wincanton. in September when their Mrs Austen has taken a term and we arrive

Classics teacher, Sarah charge of the young at second horses, so NOVEMBER Austen, took them autumn entry and now a group the field tends to have hunting with the Ledbury. from the Elms goes thinned out by then. The The hunting The school has a out with the Ledbury children love it.” season got long connection with each Monday during Joint-master Louise underway just as Daly tells us: “The the Countryside The Elms School volume of laughter and Alliance Awards has a long chat is deafening, but closed to nominations. connection with the Ledbury they always behave Barney White-Spunner presented the impeccably. Hunting annual Purdey Awards in London. is a very important Cheltenham Countryside Race Day education. We had took place on 15 November, raising vital one faller on Monday funds. Other events of the month were who forgot to put his our Wetherby and Towcester Countryside legs forward, but he’ll Race Days and the Heythrop Hunt & The Portman by Jo Gardner remember next time.” Countryside Alliance Christmas Fair at

Batsford Park, Gloucestershire. Photo:

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 5

News

Doubts have been cast over new Scottish 10 weapons controls things to do this winter SHOOTING Fuller event listings on page 49

1 27 Nov: Annual Wetherby Countryside Scottish air weapon Race Day, featuring Race for Repeal. 2 licensing update Boxing Day Meets will take place across the UK on 26 December. Visit www.mfha.co.uk for a listing. THE SCOTTISH Government’s consultation September, with SCA Director for Scotland on plans to introduce a licensing system Jamie Stewart in attendance. Convener David 3 for weapons drew a robust rejection from Stewart MSP and committee members asked Support your hunt at your local Point- the Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA). interesting and perhaps naive questions to-Point. Visit www.pointtopoint.co.uk The SCA urged all shooters to sign which were well answered by Dave Ewing, 4 an online petition, support a Facebook petitioner, with additional evidence from Our weekly e-news, the grass e-route, campaign and respond to the consultation. Tom Parker SACS and Dr Colin Shedden goes to 65,000 each week. Sign up on When the consultation closed, 87% of BASC (Scotland). Despite this, the First our website to stay in the loop. respondents had rejected the proposal. Minister introduced a licensing bill. 5 The Scottish Government claimed the Serious doubts have been cast over Support us by buying Christmas cards, replies were not representative of the wider new controls after senior Scottish police 2014 calendars and gifts at www. population, with almost three-fifths coming warned licensing would be too expensive countrysidemarketplace.co.uk from England, and around a fifth from and unwieldy. The Association of Scottish 6 cut-out coupons in shooting magazines. Police Superintendents has now asked the 29 January: ‘End of season game Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill insisted it Scottish Government to reconsider the plan to supper’ at the Cholmondeley Arms. Email is “simply not right” for airguns to be held license all air guns north of the border, partly [email protected] without licence. Democracy in action... because there are so many in Scotland that The petition was presented to the the extra cost and burden on police would be Parliamentary Petitions Committee in considerable at a time of shrinking budgets.

WELSH ACCESS REVIEW SPARKS CONCERN

THE WELSH Government will review access legislation and guidance in Wales, Culture Minister John Griffiths has said. The review will form part of possible new legislation that will see an increase of access to both land and water in 7 Wales, particularly to increase outdoor 23 February 2014: Countryside Alliance Point-to-Point at Badbury recreation opportunities such as walking, The Countryside Alliance Rings. Email alison-hawes@ cycling, canoeing and wild swimming. meeting in Builth Wells countryside-alliance.org There are elements of the proposals that we welcome, for example, the SACC – Sustainable Access Campaign 8 simplification of legislation to allow the Cymru, a group set up to oppose 7 March: Sandown Countryside Race re-routing of footpaths from farm yards, unnecessary legislation. A subsequent Day. Contact michelle-nudds @countryside-alliance.org a process which is currently complex, meeting with the Minister in mid- costly and time-consuming. However, we October enabled us to air our concerns. 9 have great concern for the implications The proposals will be put forward in a 7 March: Thrusters Ball at Botleigh of wider open access proposals. Green Paper due out in December and Grange Hotel, Southampton. alison- [email protected] The Alliance held a meeting in Builth we urge members to submit a response. Wells in September to discuss the See www.accesscymru.org or email 10 proposals and from that meeting derived [email protected] 11-14 March 2014: The iconic Cheltenham Festival.

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 7

News

Research into the effects of fracking on the countryside is needed

RESEARCH FRACKING AND ITS IMPACT ON THE COUNTRYSIDE OVER THE last six months the However, the Countryside issue of fracking has become one Alliance does recognise the huge of the most talked about issues benefits that fracking could bring in the country. With legitimate in terms of sustainable energy for concerns being raised about water the UK, creation of jobs and lower abstraction, water contamination, bills for consumers, but these flaring, light pollution and rig benefits need to be balanced with HUNTING density, it is important to fully the impact fracking could have on investigate the potential impact the countryside. If fracking goes Promotional pack shale gas extraction will have on ahead in the UK we need to ensure helps hunts liaise the countryside. This is why we it is conducted in a manner that with media have commissioned independent respects the countryside research focusing on environmental and ensures those benefits are PUBLICITY AND liaising with concerns and industry regulation. felt by all. the media are all part and parcel of running a modern hunt, so the Countryside Alliance has put GAME-TO-EAT together a new online media and promotional pack to help. The Game is the spicy pack has been designed to give some advice to hunts when faced with the pressures of dealing with story at the KT the media and includes interview COUNTRY LIFE, the Rukshana Hoque, tips, press release writing tips Daily Telegraph, the welcomed guests and local newspaper contacts by Spectator and Shooting and enthused about region. The pack also includes Times mingled with the project. The an activities section, which Kennington’s Vicar and central message: his wife, game dealers game is plentiful, highlights suitable activities, such The KT team with as a hunter trial, children’s meet and members of the seasonal and works Barney White-Spunner and a morning puppy walking, to Indian restaurant world beautifully with organise throughout the season at the Kennington Indian spices. and suggests ways in which to Tandoori (KT) in late Ten recipes At the KT, guests promote these activities. The pack October to celebrate our created by the tucked into achari grouse, came in useful for hunts during Game-to-Eat campaign’s collaboration are now venison shatkora and Hunting Newcomers’ Week in spiced game project being rolled out across more. Kowsar said the late October. The pack can be with the restaurant. the country at tasting dishes are now on the downloaded from the hunting Barney White- events and several menu, so get booking! page of our website: Spunner, with KT venues have held special More game recipes: www.countryside-alliance.org owners Kowsar and game events. www.gametoeat.co.uk

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 9

News

BBC BIAS News in brief WORKING HARD TO BE HONEST AND FAIR, AUNTIE PROMOTE RURAL LIFE IN LATE July, the Countryside Thanks to all who fed in information Alliance team met with members of for this meeting, it was invaluable Supporting the independent panel tasked with and we look forward to hearing the rural firms carrying out a review for the BBC panel’s thoughts in due course. The Countryside Trust of the impartiality of the Skip forward a few weeks to an Alliance Awards, BBC’s rural coverage. approach in late September from aka the Rural the advertising team at BBC Oscars, attracted Countryfile magazine asking if thousands of we wanted to publicise our online nominations for shop, the Countryside Marketplace, in their Christmas gift guide. We small rural businesses sent over copy and all seemed across England, Scotland and to be in order until a call saying Wales. Regional Champions will be that the advert had been passed announced in January. on to someone “high up” for “compliance” and they had vetoed MEP meets with SCA taking advertising from us as we SCA Director Jamie Stewart are involved in political lobbying. met Paul Wheelhouse MSP When asked “do you mean Minister for Environment and hunting?” the ad person said he Climate Change. The Minister “expected so”. If proof was needed was grateful for industry that the BBC, and Countryfile in support to Scottish Natural particular, like to offer a sanitised version of the countryside that Heritage as it continues to bears little resemblance to the define and refine wildlife reality for farmers and others living management in Scotland. there, this is it. BBC Trust review panel, please take note. Was our Fieldsports’ future face advertisement (pictured left) Congratulations to Fergus Payne, honestly that political? winner, and Cheyenne Korbutt- Brown, runner-up, for success in the inaugural Fieldsports Magazine Really Wild Future SHOOTING Face of Fieldsports 2013. The NO RISE IN FIREARMS LICENSING FEES Countryside Alliance helped to judge the category – read more in THE COUNTRYSIDE time, given that the last been working with the Fieldsports Magazine. Alliance welcomed review of fees was in 2001. police and Government a clarification from However, the purpose of on this subject for more EC’s firearms fudge the Home Office in firearms licensing is to than a year. The European Commission September that there ensure that the public is branded the 80,000 responses to will be no immediate protected. As this public its firearms consultation “not rise in firearms licensing benefit is gained by the representative of a cross section fees. The Association of imposition of the licensing of the general public”. European Chief Police Officers had system, it is only fair that Hunting Federation recommended that fees a proportion of the cost FACE, of which for shotgun and firearms should be met from the the Countryside certificates should almost public purse. Alliance is double in price, from £50 This is welcome news now to £94 in October and bears testament to a member, and up to £109 by 2015. the hard work of shooting is pursuing The Countryside groups who, along with this amid Alliance accepts that the British Shooting concerns the costs will increase over Sports Council, have consultation was a fudge.

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 11 HUNT-CLASS: THE NAVAL CONNECTION A fox’s mask, a spur and horns: these are just some emblems that adorn the Royal Navy’s anti-mine vessels, but why do they have a hunting theme? CHARLOTTE COOPER finds out

HAT CONNECTS HMS Ledbury and seven other ships a small town in make up the hunt-class, vessels that live Herefordshire, up to their name by using high-defi nition a W pack of foxhounds and a Royal sonar to search the world’s sea beds for Navy minesweeper that’s recently mines and lost explosives. returned from a mission to the And this connection, which began Mediterranean? The answer is the almost 100 years ago, is the basis for name Ledbury. incredible links of friendship between

12 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE | WINTER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk FEATURE HUNTING’S HERITAGE

Commanding Offi cer of the time, and COs change very regularly, relations are generally very strong. At the Chiddingfold, Leconfi eld and Cowdray (CL&C) hunt this means CO Richard Rees and his crew are invited to hunt balls, puppy shows, point-to-points and many other events. The CL&C’s George Grammar said: “The ship has recently undergone a refi t, so reciprocal activities were curtailed, but we are all greatly looking forward to visiting the ship and welcoming them to our events this season.” And serving crew from HMS Quorn enjoy Facing page: HMS regular visits to meets and the kennels. Ledbury and its crew (inset). Above: Lieutenant Commander Simon relationships Pressdee, CO of HMS Ledbury, likes between the hunt, hounds and serving to keep his sponsor hunt up to date crew are very strong with onboard activities with a regular newsletter. His most recent covered the three months his crew spent deployed in hunting and the Royal Navy that are as “WE ARE ALL GREATLY the Mediterranean and then to Norway strong today as they were in 1916. LOOKING FORWARD TO and the Baltic. The Ledbury crew is due There are 176 registered packs of VISITING THE SHIP AND to visit the hunt kennels in December, foxhounds in existence in England and WELCOMING THEM TO OUR once they have returned to the UK. Wales today and this numerosity means that EVENTS THIS SEASON” “It’s a three-way relationship, between when the Royal Navy was searching for a the ship, the hunt and the town of name series for its new minesweepers in the Ledbury,” said Donald Haden of the First World War, the hunt-class was born. hunt. “I continuously have to remind A Naval spokesman said: “The Ships’ service. The hunt theme also has an the town council that the ship is named Names and Badges Committee has the obvious connection between the name after us not them, but if you look at the responsibility of naming vessels. The and the mine-hunting role of the ships.” ship’s emblem it’s crossed hunting horns hunt theme was chosen for the wartime and a cutlass on a background of red vessels on the grounds that there were An honourable history and brown – to represent the hunt’s red a large number of hunts. Other wartime Originally 20 ships bore the names jackets with chocolate collar.” vessels were named in a similar manner, of hunts, from the Atherstone to the hence the large number of Flower Class Zetland. Over the 97 years since Shore leave Corvettes, Town Class Destroyers etc. commissioning, these ships have been When the crew of HMS Ledbury are in “The committee also considers other replaced and newer vessels given the town, it’s an excuse to party and the criteria such as promoting links with same names, and today eight of those offi cers and ‘ratings’ have been involved communities, the geographical spread names are still are in service. in rugby, football and cricket matches of names and opportunities to revive Although the level of connection and, of course, visits to the local Westons names with an honourable history of between hunt and ship depends on the cider factory.

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 13 FEATURE HUNTING’S HERITAGE

Sea dogs: The hunt-class HMS Ledbury’s crew welcomes minesweepers the hounds HMS Atherstone – the “Crazy A”, as it is fondly known, is currently deployed in the Gulf. HMS Brocklesby – the Brocklesby has recently returned from an exercise in the Mediterranean, with Cattistock and Ledbury, where it was singled out as the most effective mine warfare vessel in the Royal Navy. HMS Cattistock – like the other hunt-class ships, Cattistock is made of glass-reinforced plastic and is therefore non-magnetic, which makes her more resistant to mines. She’s off to the Gulf later this year. HMS Chiddingfold – the newly refi tted “Cheery Chid” is waiting for her next deployment. She played a starring role in Dartmouth Regatta in August. HMS Hurworth – Commanding Offi cer Ben Vickery is a hunt-class regular, having also served on Ledbury and Middleton. HMS Ledbury – the oldest of the hunt-class ships, Ledbury was commissioned in 1981. Her new commanding offi cer, Simon Presdee, took over in September HMS Ledbury Crest, www.shipcrest.com HMS Middleton – following three years in the Gulf, Middleton is Photos: undergoing a refi t. HMS Quorn – the last of the eight to be commissioned, in 1989, Quorn is currently deployed in the Gulf.

Sailors from HMS Atherstone, whose “THE SHIP’S EMBLEM IS The Cattistock Christmas Service is crest is a fox’s mask, also are invited to CROSSED HUNTING HORNS regularly enlivened by the uniforms of take part in local events, including the AND A CUTLASS ON A those serving on HMS Cattistock. “They Atherstone Ball Game, held on Shrove BACKGROUND OF RED AND are very good at coming to village Tuesday each year – which “makes BROWN – TO REPRESENT THE events and inviting us to visit them,” said rugby look soft”, said former hunt HUNT’S RED JACKETS WITH Annabel Levaux, liaison offi cer for the secretary Jane Harvey. CHOCOLATE COLLAR” hunt. “Last year, I had a day on board “When they visit they are lodged at and got to sit in a gun carriage. It was farms all over the hunt country and are great fun!” always absolutely delightful, if a little warships. Jane’s most cherished memory HMS Hurworth has a hunting horn bemused,” said Jane. is of a cocktail party on board HMS donated by its hunt which must enliven Hunt masters and committees also get a Atherstone at Salford Keys two years ago life on board, the Ledbury has a fox’s privileged view behind the scenes of the and Donald remembers a close brush mask in the offi cers’ ward room and with royalty at an event in 2005, when HMS Atherstone once received a side of CHARLOTTE HMS Ledbury was part of an International Hereford beef from hunting farmers. COOPER Fleet Review, to celebrate the 200th “The connection between the Navy is the Alliance’s Head of Media anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. and hunts is such a wonderful and Relations and spent six years “The Queen sailed past in an Icelandic important thing,” said George Grammar writing about equine matters at icebreaker and all the sailors saluted her of the CL&C. “We hope it continues for Horse & Hound – it was an amazing sight,” he said. another hundred years.”

14 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE | WINTER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk

FEATURE CONSERVATION

Preserving moorlands: shooting benefits local wildlife through conservation Photo: www.verityjohnson.co.uk Photo:

The estate offers over Model example 150 shooting days exemplified JACK KNOTT looks at the harmony shooting, conservation and love of wildlife bring to Whitfield, a gem of a sporting estate in Northumberland

ITH PHEASANT, days shooting a year and head keeper, partridge, grouse, Stuart Maughan, is in charge of the whole wildfowl and rough operation. It is not the large number of shooting all available, days that is truly impressive but the fact WWhitfi eld Estate, just west of Hexham in they are happy to organise you anything shooting. Sometimes the orders come from Northumberland, is every part a great from a hundred brace day on the moor above, but in most cases it is for their own shooting estate and, stretching to over down to one man and his dog, rough personal joy and love of the countryside. 16,000 acres, it is top class in every single shooting for the pot. Everyone who turns discipline. The estate manages over 150 up to shoot is treated in the same manner, Predator control with respect and leadership from Stuart One such effort towards conserving the JACK KNOTT and his 10-man-strong team. land is the long-debated predator control. is part of the Countryside Understandably, these are busy months There is no doubt that predator control has Alliance’s shooting for Stuart, yet he, like so many other benefi ts reaching further than simply that of campaign, working hard gamekeepers around the country, is the game Stuart protects. A prime example on Game-to-Eat and promoting Shot for the Pot putting in countless further hours of work of this at Whitfi eld is that whilst there are conserving the land beyond the call of predator controls in place to protect the

16 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE | WINTER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk CONTACT WHITFIELD The Estate Office is open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm. FEATURE Call 01434 345273 or email [email protected] CONSERVATION

Clockwise from top left: a red grouse in flight; head keeper Stuart Maughan; gundogs and handlers in the beaters’ wagon; grouse shooting on the moors

“IT SEEMS STUART DOES benefi t stretches further than the success of great British countryside. By no means NOT FEEL IT IS HIS JOB BUT the game birds to other struggling species is this a competition as to whose land is HIS DUTY TO BRING RED such as passerines. Anyone who has seen the most environmentally friendly, but in SQUIRRELS BACK TO THE LAND a hopper in mid-winter will know it is all honesty, if I saw a red squirrel in my WHERE THEY ONCE THRIVED” covered in songbirds. House sparrows, garden it would bring a smile to my face nut-hatches and yellowhammers have all every single morning. benefi ted hugely from the over-winter The Whitfi eld estate does not stop the feeding on the estate and, as of January, giving back there. Every year, they hold red grouse, the black grouse have also Natural England have included the practice a highly impressive clay pigeon shoot to reaped the rewards. Although numbers of in stewardship schemes to persuade and raise money for the Countryside Alliance black grouse have struggled in the previous encourage farmers to take up the option. so we can continue helping and rewarding two years owing to horrendous winter those who do fantastic work in and for weather, a healthy population of 20 grey Benefi ts to non-target species the countryside; people who are sadly hens is more than impressive, especially in At Whitfi eld there is one further sometimes forgotten, or even vilifi ed, by England. There is a strict ban on shooting conservation example that sums up other organisations and media outlets. them at Whitfi eld, resulting in no income their brilliant and successful countryside I have no doubt that gamekeepers such for the estate, however, the pride that Stuart management plan: the red squirrel. Stuart as Stuart have more knowledge about has when talking about them and, more explains that he does not feel like it his job their land than any scientist will ever be obviously, when visitors spy them from but his duty to bring back red squirrels to able to record. For this reason they should afar is something money cannot buy. the land where they once thrived. be congratulated not slandered when it Alongside predator control, which Although in this case, help is given comes to helping this countryside’s wildlife continues all year round, the team at from external sources such as the National thrive once more. Whitfi eld decided 20 years ago that over- Lottery Fund which matches all funding winter feeding was incredibly benefi cial put in by the estate. The bottom line is, FURTHER INFORMATION to help the game birds through the controlling the number of grey squirrels to With 15,000 acres of sporting terrain to choose ‘hungry gap’ from January onwards. This help the revival of the reds has absolutely from, the Whitfield Estate is able to offer great practice has fi nally come to the attention no benefi t to the estate, it is only driven sport throughout the shooting season. For more information go to www.whitfieldsporting.co.uk of Natural England, for once again the by their own beliefs and love for the

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 17 FEATURE SHOOTING Photos: Tim Bonner Below the sea wall TIM BONNER argues that for a minority activity wildfowling boasts a rich artistic history. He explains the appeal of heading below the sea wall

HERE ARE no great books literature on any country sport. Then hunting migratory species like wigeon, about game shooting. Plenty of course there are the wildfowling teal and pintail in the shifting tidescape of authors have followed Sir artists with the aforementioned high of an estuary. Ralph Payne-Galwey’s lead in amongst them. The wigeon is generally accepted THigh Pheasants in Theory and Practice as the iconic duck of the estuary. The and lectured us on how to improve our Refl ections of a ’fowler cock is a fabulous creation of browns, shooting, or our shoot, but there is no Why such a minority activity should have yellows, greys and white and his whistle literary tradition of works which really generated such artistic outpouring is carries proudly across the estuary. For explain the essence of the sport. not surprising for those of us who have me, however, the pintail is the most By comparison with game shooting experienced the world between the tides. extraordinary and charismatic of all the wildfowling is a minority activity. Cynics might suggest that the lack of ducks. As long as a mallard, but fi ner Comparatively few people venture below things to shoot at leaves plenty of time with an elongated neck, the cock has the sea wall in pursuit of ducks, geese for everything else, and it is true that a white belly and throat below a dark and waders and prior to the First World the ’fowler often has the opportunity for chocolate head. As the season goes on War most were professionals hunting contemplation. The real reason, however, his ‘pin’ tail lengthens until he reaches for the market or locals shooting for is the beauty and the challenge of both his full magnifi cent breeding plumage in the pot. Yet wildfowling can boast the environment and the quarry. January and February. a rich history of authors producing For many it is the great grey memorable works from the end of the Ducks and darkness geese which arrive every autumn 19th century and books like Peter Scott’s Nearly everyone who has ever stood Morning Fight and BB’s Dark Estuary beside a fl ight pond waiting for the “WHY SUCH A MINORITY on wildfowling are some of the fi nest arrival of ducks and darkness has felt ACTIVITY SHOULD HAVE the fi rst stirrings of the wildfowler. Even GENERATED SUCH ARTISTIC TIM BONNER is the homebred mallard of the shires have OUTPOURING IS NOT Director of Campaigns at a wildness and unpredictability that SURPRISING FOR THOSE OF US the Alliance and is happy lowland game species can rarely match, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE he never has to choose but the mystery of their arrival on a calm between wildfowling, cricket WORLD BETWEEN THE TIDES” and fishing as his passions inland pond is multiplied a hundred, a thousand, times by the experience of

18 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE | WINTER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk FEATURE SHOOTING

Left: Pod the Labrador proves his worth time and again on the Blackwater Estuary. Above: wigeons in flight. Below: dawn breaks over the estuary

SHOOTING INSURANCE Alliance members enjoy the best all-round country sports insurance package around. To renew your membership call 020 7840 9300.

“I STOPPED SHOOTING wildfowl had such a choice of feeding OUT OF MERCY TO THE and roosting grounds that there was The next generation DOG WHOSE COAT WAS hardly a quack or a whistle on the of wildfowler… TURNING WHITE AS THE SEA estuary. The weather remained wet and The age at which to start a child WATER FROZE ON HIM” mild through to the end of January, but shooting is down to an intimate then in February winter suddenly arrived. knowledge of their character and Thankfully the season for ducks and behaviour. As parents we are the geese is extended until 20 February only people who can make that from their breeding grounds in below the sea wall and there was just a judgement. The answer might be Iceland and Greenland which draw chance that something could be salvaged eight or 18. For my son, Tom, who them to the shore. Certainly there is from a long, largely fruitless season. has always been a sensible lad, it was no experience in shooting that creates the First the boy and I had a nice little at the bottom end of that range. To adrenaline of a skein of geese on the wing tide fl ight when he killed three teal with instil a proper culture of respect for a and heading in the general direction of his 20 bore then, on a day so cold the fi rearm and generate real enjoyment your ambush in the grey light of morning. sea was freezing, I had an extraordinary in using one, there are few better Many writers record the effects of ‘goose evening fl ight which ended with pintail places to start than with an air rifl e fever’ which include both insomnia and and wigeon piling into my decoys with open scope and a few tin cans. the complete loss of any ability to point a unmolested as I stopped shooting out of Tom is now 12 and is a seasoned gun straight at its target. They also record mercy to the dog whose coat was turning shot, never happier than when on the rare joy of a successful fl ight when white as the sea water froze on him. the Essex Blackwater with his father. the fowler returns to the sea wall with a The image of 20 pintail locked on to the heavy bag and a feeling of satisfaction that decoys as if they were on tracks before can never be replicated in more refi ned I took two drakes from the middle of bird shot is a real achievement and forms of shooting. them will be with me until I die, as will on those few occasions in a season the feeling of contentment as I climbed when the fowler reads weather, tides A diffi cult season the seawall with a heavy rucksack of and quarry right, and shoots straight Last season was even more diffi cult decoys and ducks on my back. enough for his dog to retrieve the birds than most. Biblical rains turned most Yes, wildfowling is diffi cult, but he connects with, the world is a very of the country into an inland lake and that is half the point of it. Every special place.

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 19 FEATURE HUnting Georgina Cranston Georgina

Photos:

“Good morning, everybody,” she said as yet another round of pies and cakes In the footsteps of Surtees were offered by the hosts, Chris and Ian Valentine joins the followers of a farmers’ Suzanne Germany. “The lines have been hunt in Nottinghamshire, during a landmark laid and we will be hunting within the anniversary of R S Surtees’ Handley Cross law. The going will be wet, so please don’t go out on point unless asked to.” Joining the hunt followers on such a cold day provided me with a guilty pleasure. As the blue-lipped riders trotted forth, our his year marks 170 years In March, I had the pleasure to join mobile grandstand piled into heated cabs since the publication of the Grove & Rufford Hunt on the final filled with flasks that warmed the core. Handley Cross, arguably the day of its season, a convivial meet on a most famous work by the farm in Nottinghamshire. The rain and Farming relationships Victorian comic writer Robert snow clouds had parted to reveal clear In the cab with me was joint master John TSmith Surtees. The landscape may have skies and sunshine. Michael MFH. He explained that the hunt changed beyond recognition since the main Local records for hunting go back as committee’s agricultural background character John Jorrocks’ heyday, but the far as the 17th century. However, it was helped maintain momentum following enthusiasm for watching hounds burns as not until 1952 that the Grove & Rufford the 2004 Hunting Act. “We’re fortunate brightly with today’s hunt followers as ever combined to form the current country. that our masters are farming people,” he it did when that crafty cockney rode forth. While some of the grander hunts attract said. “The upkeep of relationships with publicity, the Grove & Rufford is happy the landowners, farmers and gamekeepers Ian Valentine is an to fly below the radar. Joint master Jane is the most important part of my job.” author and journalist from a Strawson MFH addressed the field before Jorrocks wasn’t always so sympathetic to Scottish farming background. the off, underlining the debt of gratitude farmers but, happily, times have changed. Now freelance, he was a writer they all owed to the farmers, keepers John underlined that the hunt still provides and features editor at IPC Media, and landowners who allow the hunt to a service for local landowners. “Our and a GQ columnist for five years pass through their land. terriermen are always on hand to help with

20 COUNTRYside alliance | WINter 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk FEATURE HUNTING

“ALL TIME IS LOST WOT IS NOT SPENT IN ’UNTING. IT IS LIKE THE HAIR WE BREATHE — IF WE HAVE IT NOT, WE DIE”

The hounds’ diet of fl esh is jumping,” he confi ded. “Thankfully, like augmented with pork and beef pies old Jorrocks, I had an eye for a gap.” from Melton Mowbray, making short Once the last wood had been drawn, work of the rejects deemed unfi t the followers and hunt staff congregated for human consumption. “The pies for tea, scones and pork pies – and some smell wonderful,” said June ruefully. fi ne damson gin – in June’s cosy kitchen “Especially at Christmas time with their to refl ect on another pleasant season. cranberry sauce. Some of them have just Enjoying a slice of coffee cake, Martin Convivial hosts: the Grove & the smallest imperfections, but at least recalled his favourite book growing up: Rufford meet on a farm in Nottinghamshire they don’t go to waste.” Wild Lone by BB. “I would read it every school term and twice in the holidays,” he Stalwart of the hunt said. “His imagery has never left me.” A reliable source of useful hunt information At the end of that book, BB evokes any fox problem,” he explained. But the in these parts is Martin Horrocks, a stalwart the passing of the season with trademark hunt also plays an important social role. of the hunt at 85 years old. Jorrocks’ optimism: “The March wind was playing A lot of the farmers still want to see us claim to be “a sportsman all over, and to a merry jest with the winter-weary world. riding across their land and jumping their the backbone” is apt for Martin too, who Begone all signs of autumn’s sadness and hedges. I know one who gets grumpy remains as keen to watch the hounds fallen leaves! Now for a real spring clean if we don’t take on his six-foot hedge – as when he was a boy. When he was at of copse and meadow, street and town.” I suspect he likes to see us all fall off!” Radley College, aged 17, just after the But the last word should perhaps go to We followed the fi eld as it passed the end of World War II, he escorted four- Jorrocks, for whom the arrival of spring red-brick farmhouses that punctuate this and-a-half couple beagles from Oxford to was cause for gloomy refl ection. “’Unting area of Nottinghamshire. We could hear Retford in the guard’s van, changing trains is all that’s worth living for,” he proclaimed the clip-clop of hooves before the fi rst twice (try doing that nowadays!). Yet it in Handley Cross. “All time is lost wot is hounds and red coats appeared above was only at the age of 45, having retired not spent in ’unting. It is like the hair we the skyline, led by huntsman Paul Larby. from rugby, that Martin took up riding. breathe – if we have it not, we die.” The line had been laid that morning by “I wanted to get closer to the action,” This article fi rst appeared in joint secretary June White, by dragging an he said. “It was the foxes I wanted to Shooting Times & Country oil-soaked rag from the back of a quad see. Such wild and beautiful animals. I Magazine and bike. Her family takes an active role in the remember once trying to turn a fox in a is republished hunt, whether hosting the day or helping stand of willow. I was stood on the bank here with to turn hounds if they stray too close to a and the fox ran clean through my legs. grateful main road or village. “You could say we are I can see it like it happened yesterday.” thanks. To more hound than horse,” she said. “Every This year is also the 160th anniversary of subscribe year, we walk four puppies, teaching them Surtees’ other seminal work, Mr Sponge’s call 0845 to recognise their names and to walk on Sporting Tour. During one of his shameless 676 7778. We a lead.” This year, the family has Warlock, ruses, Soapey observes “it is best to let the wish the Grove Wagtail, Wagstaff and Walnut, which were horse go his way, and pretend it is yours; & Rufford and leaning longingly on the wire of their there is no secret so close as that between its supporters enclosure as the pack crossed a nearby a rider and his horse”. This resonates an excellent fi eld. Their time will come soon enough. with Martin. “I was never very good at season.

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 21

MORE INFORMATION FEATURE www.gowerbrewery.com Follow on Twitter @GowerBrewery RURAL OSCARS Ales of outstanding natural beauty Gower Brewery is only a few years old but has already won a Rural Oscar. RACHEL EVANS finds out about the brewery that’s

flying the flag for quality Welsh produce Environment Secretary Owen Paterson MP and Rachel Evans with the Gower Brewery team

N 2012 THE Countryside Alliance Awards, aka the Rural Oscars, Gower Power: true brew added a ‘start-up’ category to its The Gower peninsula in South Wales, line-up. The thinking was that near Swansea, is a beautiful place. Rolling any new rural business prepared green hills, plunging cliffs, the sea, the sand – it’s a feast for the senses. And out toI start out during hard economic times the back of one of the pubs in the area – deserves whatever platform we can give The Greyhound Inn, in Oldwalls – there’s them. I was delighted when the inaugural a little brewery, simply named the Gower Welsh winners, Gower Brewery, went Brewery. Its only been going since 2011, merely two years, but frankly there must on to scoop the UK & Ireland title at be something in the water down there, Westminster in March. This energetic and as both the brewery itself and the beer ambitious South Wales business continues The ales are they are producing is world class. handcrafted to the Review by www.caughtbytheriver.net to go from strength to strength. highest standards The Gower Brewery wanted to fi ll a gap in the market by supplying high- quality locally produced real ales in 11/11/11 – a memorable date for many to feed livestock – a cracking piece of the Swansea and Gower area of South reasons. It took a further three months to recycling. The lamb is then purchased for Wales. The idea of starting a microbrewery create a range of high-quality beers and the two public houses associated with the had been discussed many times. Already test them in their outlets. The logo design, brewery, so everyone benefi ts. Gower running two busy pubs in the Gower, the brand, beer labels and other marketing uses local designers and tradesmen, it the team felt forming a microbrewery items were also worked on, and the has created many jobs in the area and was the natural next step. In creating a products were launched in February 2012. supplies local outlets, including pubs, strong local brand, the business would Ten different ales were created in 12 shops and restaurants, tapping into Wales’ not only contribute towards the local months, including Gower Gold, Gower £5-billion-a-year tourism sector. community and economy, it could also Power – “a powerful Welsh example of The local ethos also sees the team boost tourism and draw more people a true British classic” – and Lighthouse get involved in the sponsorship of the into Gower, including their own outlets, Lager. The brewery now produces local rugby team and hold presentations helping them to survive in tough times. handcrafted ales of the highest standards, for local groups such as the Women’s The business was set up during the using traditional methods and the highest Institute. Plus, the brewery takes part in recession, in an industry supplying a quality ingredients, such as the fl oor- local produce markets and beer festivals dwindling number of outlets. Finance malted barley from Warminster Maltings and carries out educational tours to was refused by all the banks approached, and hops from Charles Faram & Co. help people understand the traditional meaning all fi nancing had to be raised brewing process, inviting tour groups privately. Against this backdrop, Gower Keeping it local from all over South Wales. This year, the Brewery itself was conceived in August Within six months, the Gower Brewery Sainsbury’s Great British Beer Hunt saw 2011. Having acquired a fi ve-barrel brew was supplying nearly every single free bottles of Gower Brewery’s beers stocked plant by October, the fi rst brew was on house on the Peninsula. A sure sign of in Sainsbury’s, bringing well-deserved the blossoming success of the operation national recognition to the Peninsula. was the news that many of the locals, on Congratulations to Gower Brewery – trying the Brewery’s wares, moved away we raise a glass to continued success for from their old favourites to the new your community, the local economy and Gower ales. And this – next to the media for you as ambassadors for Wales. and tourist attention the brewery was receiving – meant the momentum was RACHEL EVANS gathering and a success had been born. is the Countryside Alliance’s The local ethos is, as you would expect Director for Wales. From a farming background, Rachel Gower Brewery celebrate with from a Rural Oscars winner, a top priority. www.andersonphotography.co.uk works hard to promote Welsh Shadow Defra Minister, Welsh The brewery supports the local farming produce and enterprise MP Huw Irranca-Davies community by sending the waste grain Photos:

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 23 FEATURE RESEARCH

“Let us protect our livelihoods” DAVID THOMAS introduces the FWFP’s research into flushing and shooting foxes. He explains why the unjustified limit of two dogs for fox control in England and Wales must go

The limit of two dogs is totally arbitrary

he hunting of foxes has been pack fl ushing foxes from the same coverts. the subject of heated debate Researchers recorded the length of time The Alliance’s position: for many years in the UK. The between the hounds entering the covert; By Barney White-Spunner Protection of Wild Mammals when they started speaking; when the fi rst The FWFP makes an unarguable case, (Scotland) Act was passed fox left the covert; and fi nally when the based on both effectiveness and byT the Scottish Parliament in February hounds fi nished drawing. In addition, animal welfare, for changes to the 2002 and the Hunting Act 2004 came into the total number of foxes that were Hunting Act to remove the limit on the force in England and Wales in early 2005. fl ushed from the covert was recorded. number of dogs they can use to fl ush to guns, and allow them to manage Both Acts banned the hunting of wild The coverts were either recorded the fox population in the same way mammals with dogs, but the exemptions using the pack of hounds fi rst or the pair that Scottish farmers can. We support they contained for pest control differed. of hounds, giving a balanced design and that call, as do all the other members Exemptions in both pieces of hunting leaving a clear three-week gap between of the Council of Hunting Associations, legislation allow foxes to be fl ushed repeats to allow any foxes to return to but we are clear that any amendment must not be seen as an alternative to from cover to be shot as a means of pest their normal habitat and behaviour. the full repeal of the Hunting Act. We control. In England and Wales this can only just do not believe that it is possible to be done by two dogs, whereas in Scotland Flushing foxes amend or adapt a law as fl awed as the there is no limit and that difference is the Of the 80 repeated coverts completed, the Hunting Act into any workable form. crux of the research that was carried out pack of hounds fl ushed over twice the this year by the FWFP. The whole reason number of foxes out of the covert than the for the existence of gun packs in upland pair, with no difference between the pack Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Wales is to reduce the fox population and or the pair going fi rst. The average time it Plaid Cymru, and Defra said that it limit the predation of lambs. When we took to fl ush the fi rst fox out of the covert was studying the research with interest took a questionnaire to markets around was under half that for the pack of hounds and the Prime Minister was apparently Wales, three-quarters of farmers reported over the pair. But the biggest difference sympathetic to our plight. an increase in losses to predators since was the time between the hounds starting Just as in Scotland, Welsh farmers, and the Hunting Act came into force. to speak up until the fox was fl ushed, I am sure farmers in upland areas of The limit of two dogs for fl ushing for the pack of hounds managed to England, want greater freedom to control introduced by the Hunting Act in England fl ush out the fox from fi rst detecting it foxes to protect their livelihoods. We have and Wales was totally arbitrary. There was in under three minutes, the average time provided the research to justify the change no scientifi c or practical reason for the for the pair was just over 13 minutes. and have the full support of our own number and the only justifi cation given Using only two dogs greatly increases MPs of all parties. We can only hope that during the debate over the Hunting Act the amount of time a fox is pursued in the Government will support the farming is that two dogs ‘was not a pack’. the covert before it is fl ushed, leading to community and the rural economy. In Scotland, however, farmers could still greater stress on the fox before it is shot. employ a full pack of hounds and that Further, using only two dogs signifi cantly gave us the perfect opportunity to try to reduces the number of foxes fl ushed, prove that these suggestions were correct. limiting the effectiveness of pest control. So with the incredible support of With this research to back us, the FWFP Scottish packs, Dr Jeremy Naylor* is calling for a very minor amendment and his team set up a study to to the Hunting Act: the removal of the compare the use of two hounds and a two-dog limit. We are not looking for any changes to the purpose for which fl ushing DAVID THOMAS and shooting can take place, nor are we is the Secretary of the seeking any change to the condition which Federation of Welsh Farmers states that a fox must be shot ‘as soon as Packs. He farms at Llandrindod reasonably possible’ having been fl ushed. Wells in Powys We have the support of a cross-party Farmers need the freedom to group of MPs that takes in Labour, protect their lambs from predators *An eminent vet who co-authored, with Prof Roger Harris and and Harris Roger Prof with co-authored, who vet eminent *An others, the Joint Universities Study into deer hunting in 1999

24 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE | WINTER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk

FEATURE HUNTING

ARRY MARVIN is Professor of Human Animal Studies at the University of Roehampton and has a longstanding interest Photo: Verity Johnson G in animals and their interactions with humans. This led to work with zoos and academic studies of bullfi ghting and cockfi ghting in Spain and, more recently, foxhunting and other game hunting. He was initially drawn to hunting with hounds through his studies of bullfi ghting. “In bullfi ghting you bring a wild animal into the realm of humans and perform with it; in hunting the human goes out to search for the wild animal.” This prompted Garry to look at the manner in which hunting is conducted. “What initially intrigued me as the anthropologist is hunting as a complex ritual performance. Foxhunting can easily be understood as a ritual. It’s highly elaborate, there are ceremonial clothes and codes of conduct, there’s music and there is a whole language connected with the event. The elaborated nature of the event immediately suggests to an anthropologist that this is a considerably important event.” One wonders what Garry’s students make of this. “I run a course titled Animals, Culture and Society. In one class I ask students to watch clips from the fi lm I helped make with the Ludlow Hunt. We see the Meet, the interactions between the Huntsman and hounds, and much else. I ask the students to set aside personal views and try to make sense of it as an anthropologist would do when seeing an unusual event for the fi rst time. How might an anthropologist try to understand this event? What elements are signifi cant?” It’s an approach that many people, especially politicians, Community cohesion: would do well to emulate. hunting demonstrates the goodwill of farmers A conservation tool “I run another course in South Africa called People, Wildlife and Conservation, and the students are often disturbed “Hunting is a complex at fi nding out about the importance of hunting as a conservation tool. They are confronted with people who ritual performance” run conservation areas who say they From the poetic to the condemning, descriptions of want hunters there. Many people hunting reflect the range of public opinions about an activity automatically think that hunting and conservation don’t go together.” most have not experienced. In an interview with B R I A N Garry accepts that hunting for FANSHAWE and JIM BARRINGTON, anthropologist Garry outsiders may be disturbing, but Marvin gives an insight into the mindset of those who hunt insists that his students bring their

26 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE | WINTER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk FEATURE HUNTING

“anthropological imaginations” to what lousy huntsmen, Garry was surprised “IT WOULD BE FASCINATING TO they are witnessing, thereby creating an until the huntsman said, “But my hounds DO A SURVEY TO PROVE THE understanding of it. He believes people have.” This was an important revelation SOCIAL INCLUSIVENESS OF who are opposed to such activities have for the anthropologist. THOSE WHO HUNT – IT WOULD a simplistic, albeit understandable, view. To explain this perception of killing, DESTROY THE ANTIS’ NOTION Explaining why people hunt or follow Garry says, “Humans going hunting are OF TOFFS ON HORSEBACK” hunts is complex, because, as Garry not animal predators.” We recognised states, “What it certainly isn’t about is the killing as being hunting’s biggest PR love of killing animals.” challenge but killing is not hunting’s primary aim. It is the huntsman’s hope that is provided by their handlers. One Hunting relationships that the hounds will catch their quarry, of the attractions of watching hunting is Garry points out a basic difference but when it happens death is very quick to observe the communication between between game shooting and hunting and certain – it is a natural animal-to- the huntsman and his hounds. Garry with hounds. “Foxhunting is an animal engagement. spoke further about the respect, even event in which hounds engage with The notion of belonging and the world love, that hunters express for their the fox. There is a complex set of of the hunt has intrigued Garry for a prey. This is something, he says, that relationships between horses, humans, long time. “English foxhunting creates outsiders cannot understand. He added hounds and foxes. Whereas in shooting its own world in which people come that, “he had never heard people say there is one person and the quarry – together – not just the Masters and riders they go hunting because they hate foxes. that’s why foxhunting is so fascinating to but the foot followers. The number of Rather, they respect the fox and see it as try to explain.” days that people are involved in hunt- a noble opponent.” Garry tells of an early interview related events is huge and this creates a he conducted with a West Country closely connected social world. Banning Cultural heritage huntsman who said that he had never hunting threatened communities and Speaking as an interested foxhunting killed a fox, nor had his father, nor his social inclusiveness. outsider rather than as an anthropologist, grandfather before him, despite all being “To make a political rather than Garry suggested that in the debates huntsmen. Thinking they were pretty anthropological point, there is only to retain hunting we had failed anecdotal evidence of the range to portray the cultural integrity of “THERE IS A VERY COMPLEX of people who hunt. It would be foxhunting, its heritage and traditions SET OF RELATIONSHIPS fascinating to do a survey to prove the and social inclusiveness. Jim BETWEEN HORSES, social inclusiveness of those who hunt – compared this to the falconers who HUMANS, HOUNDS it would destroy the antis’ notion of toffs have safeguarded falconry through AND FOXES” on horseback.” UNESCO’s acceptance of their sport Brian suggested that many farmers as ‘cultural heritage’. Garry wondered inferred that they ‘belong’ to their local why notions of heritage, culture and hunt. Garry responded that access to tradition had not been more to the fore private farmland afforded to hunting in hunting debates. illustrated a unique relationship Our fi nal question to Garry was, of goodwill between farmers and “What anthropological advice might hunts – again, demonstrating social you suggest to promote hunting?” He inclusiveness. He suggested many responded, “Present the event in all its A Fernie foxhound with a friend followers, but not the offi cials, “Hunt complexity. People involved in hunting to ride and are privileged to have this have rich knowledge about the event access to land, provided they treat it that has come about from years of with respect.” experience. Much of this is tacit and they do not necessarily tell it openly Hounds and huntsman because it is obvious to them. It is the The conversation broadened task of the anthropologist to tease this into a number of related out, to reveal the world of hunting from issues. Jim asked how Garry the inside. This rich local knowledge, sees the relationship between the local understanding, local experience huntsman and his hounds. Garry and meaning is of great signifi cance replied, “This relationship is central to the debate about hunting. It is to my work around human-animal important to listen to it, and to listen to relations. It is very complex – what it with respect.” is it that allows a certain person (the huntsman) to control up to 30 hounds GAR RY MARV IN in open countryside? Just to see the is a social anthropologist huntsman arriving at the Meet with his and professor of human- animal studies at Photo: Rose Rodgers hounds is fascinating.” Brian said that the relationship was the University of Roehampton, London founded on the hounds’ love of hunting

WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 27

FEATURE conservation

“A cruel experiment” Tim Bonner alerts you to a shocking story from the Netherlands that highlights the need for

wildlife management Ancient breeds of horses have been introduced – but some suffer a cruel fate

magine, if you are amongst “Hard winters saw and film of starving deer calves caused those of us who are unlucky herds of animals lined uproar when it was shown on prime enough to commute into a major against the fence of time television, leading to a national city, gazing from the window of their barren ‘reserve’ debate led by Holland’s ‘animal rights your train at herds of emaciated whilst the weakest party’ which returns MPs to parliament. Ideer, cattle and horses packed collapsed and died” In 2006, a government inquiry desperately against the fenceline whilst recommended a policy of ‘reactive culling’, foxes and corvids pick over the bones of but this only meant daily inspection those that have already died. Ridiculous? during the winter and culling of those Well, not if you live a short hop across land managers would view as proper animals whose welfare was seriously the North Sea in the Netherlands, where concern for the welfare of wild animals. compromised. The aim was to cull 90% of commuters face exactly such sights each Oostvaardersplassen was created when animals ‘while they were still capable of winter from their train into Amsterdam. a polder, or inland lake, was drained in standing’, a policy which maintains a level An extraordinary experiment on about the 1960s and was originally destined of suffering that no UK deer manager 15,000 acres of reclaimed land just 25 for industrial use, but it lay empty in the would find acceptable. And despite miles east of Amsterdam has managed the recession-hit 1970s, occupied only by an the recommendations, the controversy unique feat of uniting the animal rights increasing variety of bird species. This continues, fuelled by last winter’s harsh movement and hunting community in encouraged a successful campaign by abhorrence at the treatment of thousands environmentalists and bird-watchers to of wild animals. The national debate over have the area turned into a nature reserve. this ‘nature reserve’ at Oostvaardersplassen “The Battle of tells us much not just about the very Disease and starvation Baronsdown” strange attitude the Dutch have towards In the 1980s and 90s one of those It has been dubbed “The Battle animal welfare, but, more importantly, campaigners, ecologist Frans Vera, of Baronsdown” – the League the conflict between environmentalists championed the introduction of red deer Against Cruel Sports’ ‘sanctuary’ espousing ‘rewilding’ and what most UK as well as ancient breeds of cattle and for deer on Exmoor has come to horse into the reserve. Like the birds, prominence again and again. Sick Winters are harsh for the small groups of introduced grazing deer have been filmed unable to the animals and many die of starvation animals thrived, but unlike the birds move, in agony, often starving and they were enclosed in the reserve’s fences. suffering TB and other diseases. Management was left to ‘natural processes’ This level of negligence has long so there was no culling of the deer, cattle been indefensible and highlights or horse populations and the inevitable why the Countryside Alliance and its happened as their numbers reached the supporters actively support proper capacity of the reserve. They started to management of the deer population. die in large numbers each winter, mostly It is simple, humane common sense. through disease and starvation, although The situation in Oostvaardersplassen some were shot where they collapsed. will anger many, but whilst suffering Hard winters saw herds of animals lined like that at Baronsdown continues against the fence of their barren ‘reserve’ to occur we must remain alert to the whilst the weakest collapsed and died. consequences of mismanagement in Up to a third of the grazing animals in the the UK as well. reserve have perished in harsh winters

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk winter 2013 | COUNTRYside alliance 29 FEATURE conservation

Left: the reserve may look beautiful but horror lurks beneath the surface. Right: wild horses and deer suffer unnecessarily

conditions which saw 1,684 animals die, 88% of them shot reactively by the Dutch Forestry Commission which manages the reserve. Thankfully, no-one has attempted such an experiment in the UK, although the League Against Cruel Sports’ (LACS) appalling mismanagement of basis. If the RSPB, the National Trust for “The real conservationists its Baronsdown ‘sanctuary’ shows it is Scotland or the John Muir Trust set out to are the landowners and possible to engineer suffering even without reduce deer densities on their estates they stalkers who continue to fences (see page 29). LACS provided will create a vacuum which will inevitably manage the deer” concentrated food on its 300-acre be filled by deer from the local area. The holding until the density of deer made more they kill, the more will come. disease inevitable. Its stalker, Gordon Ironically, Frans Vera’s whole purpose Pearce, blew the whistle in 2002 having in introducing deer and ancient forms of I remember one Caithness stalker telling found 104 dead or dying red deer on horse and cattle into Oostvaardersplassen me, with tears in his voice if not his eyes, Baronsdown in the previous 12 months. was to create a savannah-style landscape that he shot the deer that were still trying Strangely, however, most conservation which he believes existed across Europe to find feed beneath the snow in the groups in the UK that are trying to revert before man began to have an impact on harsh winter of 2010 on the basis that if large-scale habitats back to previous the grazing animal species population by they were that desperate they must be on configurations have a different ‘animal reducing their density. UK conservation the verge of starvation. There are also a rights’ conundrum. To create, or recreate, organisations are trying to re-afforest very few examples of landowners who wooded landscapes in highland Scotland, upland areas replicating the same process have not fulfilled their responsibilities organisations like the National Trust for those first humans used by removing properly and, in extreme cases, the Deer Scotland at Mar Lodge and the RSPB at deer to reduce grazing animal species. Commission for Scotland has the power Abernethy have proposed heavy deer to enter land and carry out a managed culls to reduce the population to a level Rejecting intervention cull where the landowner has not. that allows trees to grow without fencing. So in Holland, and in the minds of Across most of the highlands, In Assynt such a battle is raging now ‘rewilders’, cattle, horses and deer are left to however, deer are managed sustainably as neighbours of the John Muir Trust’s die slow and painful deaths as intervention whilst providing an income which helps Quinag estate are up in arms at plans to is rejected, whilst UK conservationists line maintain the estate infrastructure and the cull deer out of season and remove up to up their sights on thousands of deer in a local community. Culling is pro-active, not a third of the stags on its 9,000-acre estate. cull which is almost equally distasteful reactive. Deer are not culled because they Much of the concern is based on the to many in the rural community and the are suffering, but before they suffer. The importance of red deer to the highland animal rights movement. old, the infirm and the weak are removed economy and the simple fact that, unlike But what of the rest of the UK and leaving the fit and healthy. The landscape Oostvaardersplassen, highland estates are the highlands in particular? Is there is protected, in fact conserved, in the state not fenced and deer management cannot mass slaughter or mass starvation? Well, that both locals and visitors love. There be considered on an estate-by-estate as we know, there is neither, because are no mass winter die-offs as deer starve, for generations most of the British deer nor are the glens emptied in massive culls. TIM BONNER is population has been proactively managed The real conservationists are the Campaigns Director for at a level that balances a healthy herd landowners and stalkers who continue the Countryside Alliance. of deer with the holding capacity of the to manage the deer and everyone He has been writing about landscape. Of course, there are harsh interested in wild animals, their welfare countryside sports for more winters in which even the best-managed and the countryside should be very than a decade herds will suffer some mortality. grateful to them.

30 COUNTRYside alliance | winter 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk

FEATURE COURSING Out of sight TIM BONNER charts the history of coursing, which has united man and gaze hound for thousands of years

WO OF THE most natural activities in the world are hunting and racing, and since time immemorial the fi rst has led to the second. WhenT the inhabitants of what we now call Iran hunted ibex with saluki-type sighthounds 6,000 years ago, as depicted in their surviving pottery, you can be Ancient heritage: a Roman certain that the conversation at the end mosaic depicts coursing of the day would have centred on whose dog was fastest. We can also be fairly sure that those Iranian huntsmen slipped following throughout the UK, although The Waterloo Cup was held their dogs on a passing gazelle from time in Ireland the focus has always been at Altcar until 2005 to time to settle just such an argument. It on ‘park coursing’ of captive hares with was not until the 18th century, however, muzzled greyhounds. in ever-resourceful Britain that clubs were set up to run competitive coursing The National Coursing Club events which would allow competitions In the UK, the National Coursing Club involving more than two dogs. is the body that has always regulated Possibly owing to the lack of ibex, coursing and its rules required hares to competitive coursing focussed on the be coursed in a wild state. That meant brown hare. Those areas where there that any ground wanting to hold a were plenty of them in open country coursing meeting would have to be diffi culties to the restoration of coursing suitable for running dogs became mindful of hare conservation and provide under National Coursing Club rules.” coursing centres. The greyhound had suitable habitat for them to thrive. Unlike Despite this, in the late 20th century been developed for hunting quarry like poaching with lurcher-type dogs, few coursing became a particular target the hare in Britain and the development hares were killed in coursing events and for the anti-hunting movement, both of coursing saw the breed regulated and the Government Inquiry into Hunting at Altcar, where the Waterloo Cup improved. Events involved greyhounds with Dogs published in 2001 concluded: became an annual confrontation, and running a series of head-to-head courses “Because hare numbers tend to be in Westminster, where a series of bills in a knock-out format, with a judge maintained at high levels in areas where designed to ban the sport were defeated. ruling which dog would go through on hunting/coursing occurs, the impact of When the Hunting Act was passed a points-based system, rewarding dogs a ban might well be that, in the absence in 2004, however, competitive coursing for speed and coursing ability. of other changes, the population was awarded a whole section of its own Coursing reached its pinnacle towards would decline in those areas” – and which is draconian and illogical even by the end of the 19th century when the unfortunately they almost certainly have. the standards of that much-derided law. Waterloo Cup, started by the landlord of Popular countryside champion and It is, however, still legal to course the Waterloo Inn in Liverpool and run coursing devotee Clarissa Dickson rabbits, and dogs from the UK also over three days in nearby Altcar, could Wright has commented: “I came late travel to Ireland to take part in hare boast daily attendances of 75,000. to Coursing under National Coursing coursing events. The spirit of those In the 1920s the development of the Club rules and immediately fell in love Iranian ibex hunters lives on, and when method of racing greyhounds with the process, with the speed and the Hunting Act is repealed, greyhounds behind mechanical hares on oval agility of the greyhounds and the clever will surely run against each other on tracks provided an easier way of running deftness of the hare which almost always hares once again. meetings and, with multiple runners, it evaded the dogs and sped away. When was a more attractive betting medium. I became well known I spent much time TIM BONNER is Coursing, however, maintained a strong talking to journalists and realised they Campaigns Director for were misinformed and confused us with the Countryside Alliance. the illegal poachers who are wrongly He has been writing about FURTHER INFORMATION countryside sports for more Visit www.greyhoundstudbook.co.uk referred to as coursers and whose than a decade deplorable practices will cause huge

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 33 FEATURE CAMPAIGNS UPDATE

in the countryside think the Government’s efforts to bring broadband to rural areas A year in campaigns have been poor, with only a quarter It’s been a busy year for the Countryside rating progress as ‘good’. Nearly three in 10 rural dwellers are dissatisfied with Alliance campaigns team. Public Affairs Manager the speed of their broadband connection. JENNY DUNN reflects on our highlights We also sent Freedom of Information requests to all English councils and found that just £3 million out of a total budget of £650 million has been given out in grants to councils so far as part of the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK Sick of no party conferences and was endorsed by (BDUK) project. Our research is available signal – numerous MPs, Peers, MEPs, AMs and MSPs on our website. our push of all political persuasions. The report found, The lack of progress of the for mobile unsurprisingly, that those outside the UK’s Government broadband scheme has been coverage big cities are up to 4.5 times more likely to OUR suffer failed calls on their mobile phones CAMPAIGN for than those who live in the metropolises, 3 in 10 rural good mobile and the team did many media interviews phone signal, and briefings. Mobile signal should be a dwellers are wherever you are service as basic as water or electricity, and dissatisfied with in the country, the nation agrees it is not good enough. has been a We will keep the momentum going and the speed of their huge hit. By the data will be used to create a true picture teaming up with of UK phone reception in rural areas that we broadband RootMetrics, who can use to lobby Government and phone have developed a companies. If you have not yet downloaded criticised by the National Audit Office smartphone app that tests call performance, the app onto your smartphone or tablet just and the Public Accounts Committee, and members of the public have been able go to the iTunes app store or Google Play we have advised that the Government to test any area of the country, with their and download the free RootMetrics app. urgently review its BDUK project. data uploaded into a coverage map. The app was received with enthusiasm: nearly 100,000 samples of mobile phone Demanding Fighting for fairer fuel prices reception continue to pour in each day. We better THE COUNTRYSIDE Alliance has long also published a report, Sick of No Signal broadband argued that higher fuel prices in rural areas (available on our website), that was a hit at access hit motorists unfairly, not least because poor WE HAVE public transport makes driving a necessity. continued our Countryside Alliance research shows that campaign for the rural commute is an average of 25% 100,000 samples better broadband more expensive than the urban commute. of mobile phone coverage in the So we welcomed the Chancellor’s decision countryside. This year we to cancel the scheduled fuel duty rise in reception come have released numerous pieces of the Budget in March. We also welcomed research on the topic. the Government announcement that in each day Polling conducted by ComRes on our they are to seek permission from the behalf revealed that most people living European Commission to extend the fuel

MENTIONS in PARLIAMENT

“I have not always not subject to such a debate on off-gas question during Prime “The RSCPA needs quoted with total robust animal welfare grid households Minister’s Questions to be careful that it approval from Alliance legislation.’” Barry does not move away press releases, but Gardiner MP, Shadow Defra “Why does the Prime “The Alliance believes it from being an animal on this matter it is Minister in a parliamentary Minister believe that is important that there welfare organisation entirely right. It says: debate on horsemeat his plans to restrict is competitive roll-out of and becomes a ‘The lack of mandatory lobbying are opposed broadband if the current political campaigner, country of origin food “The Alliance has long by organisations problems of high prices using the state labelling continues to called for ‘the potential of from the Countryside and poor service in rural prosecuting system place British farmers farming and its by-products Alliance, Oxfam and areas are to be overcome.” as a weapon to at a disadvantage as a significant source so on, right through to Lord Stevenson of promote its political when much of their of renewable energy to Conservative Home?” Balmacara, speaking campaigns.” Sir Edward competition comes be harnessed as a way to Dame Margaret Beckett on the Communications Garnier QC MP, speaking from producers in boost our energy mix.’” MP, former Secretary of Committee Report on in a debate on the RSPCA’s countries which are Jim Shannon MP, in State for Defra, asking a Broadband in the Lords role as a prosecutor

34 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE | WINTER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk FEATURE CAMPAIGNS UPDATE

The rural NSW ran from 25 May to 2 June this year, offering a taste of the Olympic sports of commute is 25% clay pigeon and target shooting to the more expensive public. More than 70 shooting grounds around the country signed up to take part. than the urban Our campaign for lead shot continued with the publication of the Case for commute Lead, which presents the arguments for maintaining the use of lead shot and has rebate scheme to other remote areas been sent to all Parliamentarians. The in the UK with higher fuel costs. Chief Alliance has also joined forces with nine Secretary to the Treasury, The Rt. Hon. other organisations to defend lead shot. Danny Alexander MP, writes about his In July, the group launched a website to commitment to see the fuel rebate extended enable the public to sign up to the pledge to other rural communities on page 43. to Use Lead Legally. The political team also met MEPs in Brussels and discussed lead shot as part of a wider European agenda. Hunting attracts newcomers Our hunting hit of the year was our WE ARE NOW into another hunting publication An Introduction to Fox season and we have been working hard in Hunting. The document is designed our campaign to make sure hunts are to introduce the younger generation “The Game-to-Eat able to promote themselves and also to hunting with hounds, specifically campaign goes attract new people to hunting. focused at targeting the secondary Hunting Newcomers’ Week in late school age range. It had been very well- from strength October saw numerous hunts organise received in all forums, especially from events for those keen to experience a teachers and at shows. to strength” day’s hunting. Meets and events were Both packs are easily accessible tailored to suit all ages and abilities. on our website. For copies of An We put together a new online media Introduction to Fox Hunting please We produced An Introduction to Shooting and promotional pack to give advice to contact Henrietta Rutgers at the booklet as part of our introduction to hunts when dealing with the media. The Countryside Alliance at henrietta- country pursuits series. The booklet explains pack includes interview tips, press release [email protected]. types of shooting, the role of shooting and writing tips and local newspaper contacts conservation, shooting seasons, gundogs, by region. This has already proved to be a the law, the role of the gamekeeper, the very useful document during Newcomers’ A busy year for shooting different quarry species and the importance Week, helping hunts to promote IT HAS BEEN a busy year for of eating game. Separately, our Game-to-Eat themselves and their activities. shooting. We held our first campaign goes from strength to strength National Shooting Week with online recipes, our Shot for the (NSW) Parliamentary Pot week in October and our roll-out reception, which was of Indian game food. “Our hit of the attended by Olympic You can download the Case year was our shooting champion for Lead and An Introduction to Peter Wilson, Shooting from our website and ‘Introduction representatives from also find details of our Use Lead shooting grounds Legally campaign. To order a booklet to Fox Hunting’” across the country email Henrietta Rutgers at henrietta- and Parliamentarians. [email protected]

MENTIONS in THE PRESS

“Tim Bonner, to access lawyers with “Countryside Alliance access to incredibly We don’t think that’s good campaigns director a knowledge of wildlife says the charity’s actions sensitive information enough.” ‘Campaigners for the Countryside and firearms legislation.” look ‘extraordinarily that wouldn’t be challenge countryside Alliance, said the Shooting Times, May hypocritical’ in light of routinely shared with mobile coverage RSPCA had ‘minimal its recent comments on foreign police forces plan’, BBC, August interest’ in prosecuting An FOI request by other culls.” Following or available at border the ‘clear animal the Alliance has our Freedom of controls.” Barney White- “Shooting and cruelty’ exhibited in shown that councils Information request Spunner on the RSPCA, conservation the programme.” have struggled to to The RSPB, The Daily Telegraph, August interests are at risk… Daily Telegraph, January gain public-sector Guardian, June and Countryside funding and most “Originally it was going Alliance Wales said “The Countryside Alliance match funding has now “It lays bare an to be 92% of the 70,000 there was a lack of has serious concerns about come from LAs and unprecedented premises across the understanding of the the proposed changes to not the private sector. relationship, giving a country with no signal. countryside.” Shooting legal aid, and the ability Technology websites, July private organisation Now it’s only 75% at best. Times, September

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 35

FEATURE IN PRAISE OF… IN PRAISE

o f... Mates for life: grey partridges stay together to bring up their young

The grey partridge With both cock and hen working together to bring up their young, this bird has many laudable qualities, writes PROFESSOR NICK SOTHERTON

ANY CONSERVATION organisations have their wildlife icons as their badge or logo of honour. The RSPB have their “IN THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE like many other hunted species, takes avocet,M the Worldwide Fund for Nature MANY GROUPS OF DEDICATED no part in rearing his own young. There have their giant panda and the Wildlife GREY PARTRIDGE FANS ARE I go, human attributes applied to birds. Trusts (well some of them) have their WORKING HARD TO SET But what encourages me most is badger. The Game & Wildlife Conservation THE BIRD ON THE ROAD TO that out there in the British countryside Trust has the grey partridge, the iconic NATIONAL RECOVERY” there are still many groups of dedicated gamebird of British farmland and one-time grey partridge fans working hard to gamebird of choice for nostalgic shooting halt their decline and set the bird on people who still remember autumn over her during those short, frantic periods the road to national recovery. I thank stubbles full of grey partridge coveys. when she comes off the nest to feed. the heavens for this dedicated group, Born and educated in West London especially when they return their grey (within the sound of the M4) and far too A common purpose partridge counts from their farms and young to remember such scenes, I was not After hatching, both parents shepherd the estates to the GWCT’s National Partridge subject to this heritage, but since starting chicks away from the nest in search of Count Scheme (PCS) (www.gwct.org. work at the Trust, researching the insect insect food. Both parents will point out uk/partridge). The PCS is a jewel in food of young chicks, I have fallen in the juiciest insects and work hard to keep the crown of conservation. It provides love with this smashing little bird. the chicks safe. I once saw a huge covey advice, it gives positive feedback and As a scientist, I realise it is of very young chicks cross a road, the encouragement to participants and, entirely inappropriate to indulge in hen in front, followed by a ‘crocodile’ of thanks to its many contributors (more anthropomorphism about animals, giving fl uffy bodies, line abreast with a fussing than 1,000 members), it works. them human characteristics and, worse still, cock bringing up the rear. When she saw Picture the scene if you will, it is just names, but you can’t help but admire this me, the hen went straight into a ‘wounded after dawn on a sparkling autumn morning, bird. Both the cock and the hen raise the wing’ display to direct me away from the the sun is on the backs of a covey of chicks. This is understandable because grey chicks. Come winter, the family group greys and they look magnifi cent. Subtle partridge hens lay more eggs per clutch stays together as a unit, only breaking up colours of orange and chestnut brown, than any other British bird. The average is when it’s time to form spring pairs. camoufl aged striping that is set beautifully 13-16 but 18-20 are not uncommon. We seemed to respond to the national against the stubbles. Next to them a covey During incubation the cock bird is a demise of this bird (numbers fell by 91% of red-legs, bright colours, a bit gaudy constant sentinel, keeping watch over the between 1967 and 2010) by inventing and fl ash… no comparison, but there I go

Illustration: Mary Harris hen while she sits on her eggs. He watches pheasant rearing. The pheasant, in contrast, again – shamefully unscientifi c!

PROFESSOR N ICK SOTHERTON is Director of Research at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 37

GET INVOLVED Recipe of the quarter

VALENTINE WARNER is a chef, best-selling cookery author and { WINTER WARMER} presenter of BBC’s What to Eat Now Wild rabbit ragu with penne

Valentine Warner says: “This is healthy wild meat – the fields, woods and rivers coming to the plate in a wonderful way through the delicious taste of game.” Find many other recipes for venison, grouse, pigeon, pheasant and partridge at www.gametoeat.co.uk

YOU WILL NEED… For the ragu • 1 wild rabbit, all meat cut from bones • 3 tbsp olive oil • 75g cubed smoked pancetta • 1 medium carrot, scrubbed and finely grated • 1 large stick of celery, washed then finely grated • 1 medium onion, finely grated • 3 cloves garlic, finely grated • ¼ tsp dried chilli • 1 tsp dried rosemary • ¼ tsp nutmeg • ¼ tsp cinnamon • 1 bay leaf • 4 tbsp tomato purée • 1/3 tin chopped tomatoes • 1 tsp white wine vinegar • 200ml white wine • 100ml water • 1 thumb-size piece of parmesan rind

To finish • 175g penne pasta • ½ tsp salt • Parmesan cheese

PREPARATION METHOD • In a medium sized sauté pan heat the olive oil before adding the pancetta, it should sizzle gently when entering the pan. Cook it for five minutes before adding the grated vegetables, stir all together well.

• Add the spices and the bay leaf, then cook for a further five minutes before adding the rabbit with the tomato purée. Stir altogether for a few minutes before adding the remaining ingredients.

• Put a lid on the pan and simmer very gently for an hour. Note: adding parmesan rind will give the ragu extra depth of flavour, but remove the rind before serving. Drop the penne pasta into boiling salted water and cook to your preference.

• Drain and mix the penne through the ragu, divide over four plates, adding a good grate of fresh parmesan, if liked. Serves four.

FOR MORE DELICIOUS GAME RECIPES VISIT WWW.GAMETOEAT.CO.UK

SHARE YOUR RECIPES WITH US Do you have a recipe you would like to share with our readers? Please send it, with a photo, to [email protected]

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 39

GET INVOLVED Young Alliance

EMILY CHURCHILL scooped third place in our Young Countryside Writer Competition. A farming enthusiast, Emily lives in Tiverton, Devon

{ FARMING} “I love being my Grandad’s apprentice”

With her passion for farming, EMILY CHURCHILL caught the attention of our Young Countryside Writer Competition judges. Here, she explains why Farming family: farming is a year-round love Emily with her Grandad and his dog, Meg

nyone looking out into the “After breakfast, I go I help shake the fresh straw into the A countryside during the winter pens and this makes the calves jump would not see cattle in the fields, with Grandad in the about with excitement. When a calf tractors ploughing, combines harvesting tractor – there’s a steps on your foot it can hurt! Often, and hear the noise of a silage forager, we have newborn calves and these are and they would think nothing happens special seat for me and fed with a bottle as they need special on our farms during the winter. Grandad’s dog, Meg” colustrum from their mother. This can I’m Emily, I’m 13 years old and my be very tricky and takes real skill. Grandad is a farmer in the village of While Grandad has held the ewe still, There are machinery jobs that I Chevithorne in beautiful Devon. Grandad I have put my hand inside and tried to cannot do, such as yard-scraping, straw- has a mixed farm of beef, sheep, dairy pull the lamb out. I love it and there is chopping, corn-milling and feeding and arable. Grandad learnt how to nothing better then rubbing a newborn silage, but I am very useful for opening be a farmer from his father. My love lamb with straw and watching it and shutting gates. After breakfast, I go of farming comes from being on the take its first breath and stand within with Grandad in the tractor – there’s a farm since I was a baby. I live in nearby minutes of being born. Then it’s special seat for me and Grandad’s dog, Tiverton with my parents and brother. feeding and watering all round. There Meg. While we are in the tractor, Grandad I have spent hours helping my Grandad. is, of course, an orphan lamb to which tells me funny stories. Meg often spots One day, I hope to have my own farm I have grown attached. I have named it deer in the fields and she barks at them and Grandad can come and help me. Minty and I feed this one with a bottle. frantically. If we opened the tractor door School can often get in the way of I am sure she would try to chase them. what I like best – which is being my Feeding time But I’m not sure she would know what Grandad’s apprentice. It’s an even Next job is milking the cows. Clusters on to do if she caught one. earlier start when Grandad is lambing. and clusters off. This takes quite a while Soon all the jobs start over again and Our first job is to put all the ewes that so I go off and feed the calves. When this goes on day after day until the sun have lambed during the night in the they see me they run up to the gate shines. I can assure anyone in doubt, big barn, into smaller individual pens. ready for their milk and I pour it into the during the cold, dark months of winter I carry the lambs in the pen and the calf feeder. Some calves are greedy and the farm is a very busy place. mother follows. Although sometimes try to butt the others out of the way so the mother gets distracted so I make that they can get more milk. I watch to INTRODUCTORY GUIDES a bleating noise and she follows again. make sure this doesn’t happen and let An Introduction to Fox Hunting and An Introduction to Shooting, are both free to On occasions there have been ewes them suck my fingers. I can feel their download from the Alliance’s website that needed assistance with lambing. small teeth forming in their mouths.

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 41

GET INVOLVED Feedback

PLEASE SEND emails to [email protected] and letters to Editor, Countryside Alliance magazine, 367 Kennington Road, London SE11 4PT

{ RURAL VOICES} Your letters Send us your grassroots views

Campaigning for Wellness, friendship, the Countryside Alliance with a plaque better broadband fun and fishing commemorating its ongoing support. SUE HUNTER, National Director, I KNOW THAT your readers are concerned THANKS TO THE generosity of Alliance Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland about the dismal roll-out of broadband members, Casting for Recovery UK & across rural Britain. I know from my own Ireland has just completed its sixth year constituency in rural County Durham that in operation. Providing all-expenses- Trying to lack of coverage is serious and problematic, paid retreats for ladies who have, or agree a and I am completely in support of the have had, breast cancer and introducing lower fuel Countryside Alliance’s campaign to improve them to fly fishing is a unique privilege. duty for rural broadband access for country-dwellers. The positive effect the programme has communities The Public Accounts Committee is right is clear: friendships are formed, there is to lambast the roll-out of rural broadband. a focus on wellness and moving forward, AS A HIGHLANDER, It has been woefully mishandled. First, the and of course a chance to spend time in a I know that cars are

Government scrapped Labour’s target beautiful location casting a fly. Danny Alexander MP a necessity for many to secure universal access to broadband Our plans for 2014 include four retreats of your readers and by 2012. They announced a new target of across the UK & Ireland and the chance people living in rural areas, yet they face rolling super-fast broadband out to 90% of to introduce many more brave ladies some of the highest prices for fuel in the households by 2015, but when the National to our programme. To be able to offer country. As a Government we have already Audit Office discovered they would deliver some light relief, counselling and fly cancelled a series of previously planned the project at least 22 months late, they fishing to breast cancer sufferers is a fuel duty increases, saving drivers 13p per pushed the target back to 95% by 2017. wonderful way of using the countryside litre. Last year we also introduced a 5p per This failure is holding back those in as a form of therapy. We know this is in litre cut in fuel duty for a number of remote the countryside who have so much to keeping with the beliefs Countryside island communities. But now I want to go contribute to our economy. Analysts Alliance members hold dear. The further and extend the fuel rebate to rural estimate that small- and medium-sized Casting for Recovery team is delighted areas on the mainland that suffer from high businesses could reduce their costs by to show its appreciation by presenting prices as well. 54% and boost their sales by 51% if they However, European law means it is had access to the internet. the European Commission who have the The countryside is a beautiful place, final decision on whether the existing but it is also a modern place and needs scheme can be expanded to rural mainland access to essential modern infrastructure. communities. That is why we have used Labour’s vision for One Nation includes the a series of strict and objective criteria to countryside, and that is why I will continue identify the mainland rural communities in to campaign for better broadband for our application to extend the scheme. as long as it takes. Labour would switch It will not be easy to get this agreed with £75 million from the Super Connected the EC, but I will do everything I can to Cities programme to digital inclusion. make this happen for rural communities. HELEN GOODMAN MP, Shadow Minister Friendships are formed on Casting for Recovery THE RT. HON. DANNY ALEXANDER MP, for Media and Communications retreats – and plans are afoot for four more Chief Secretary to the Treasury QUOTES of NOTE The Countryside Alliance in the news

Jamie Foster, David Profumo, Martin Clunes, Barney White- Solicitor writing in the in the Western Spunner on Advocate, writing Daily Telegraph Daily Press our Countryfile in the Western magazine Morning News advert snub (see page 11) “I am going to send “What’s really nice about “In the moral pantheon of the this Harvest Festival is it tells Fishing 4 Schools a “This is just another Criminal Law it falls somewhere children, and reminds us all, that between dropping litter and not donation, to help open a there’s a delicate balance. Our insult from the paying your TV licence… almost few more of those doors, environment needs managing – BBC urban elite to no-one is breaching the Hunting and perhaps to procure a that’s called farming – and the 11 million licence Act, which is maybe one more little extra contentedness. more the children learn about payers who live in reason for repealing it.” I hope you will do so too.” that the better.” the countryside.”

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 43

GET INVOLVED Out and about

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{ PHOTO GALLERY} 2 London Wine Auction Photos: www.crewereadphotography.co.uk

Our annual London Wine Auction Dinner in October was another record- breaking event, with the auction, sponsored by Roxtons Field Sports, raising over £180,000. The event – hosted by Financial Times’ Miss Moneypenny, Heather Gregor, and our fantastic Wine Auction Committee – at

5 the Banqueting House in Whitehall, sold 6 out six months before the night. The speaker was comedian and broadcaster Alexander Armstrong, who enjoyed the evening so much he has vowed to make up a table at next year’s event.

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1. Barney White-Spunner 2. Ian McGillivray and Philip Richards 3. James Hanbury & Dick Turpin 4. Amanda Wakeley 5. Willie Gething and Lord Margadale 6. Alexander Armstrong 7. Ida Levine and James Rutherford 8. Dinner was created by Word of Mouth and Yorkshire Game kindly supplied the venison 9. The London Wine Auction 2013 Chairman Heather McGregor 10. Auctioneer Duncan McEuen 11. Fortnum and Mason’s Classic English Cheese selection was an after dinner delight 12. Lucy Asprey 13. The London Wine Auction Dinner 11 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 45 to advertise please call rachael Hesno on 0207 079 9366 GET INVOLVED Out and about

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4 { PHOTO GALLERY} Fishing 4 Schools 2 Photos by www.mangodays.co.uk

Our Fishing 4 Schools scheme uses angling as a teaching tool for secondary school pupils. Demand outstrips supply, so a campaign to raise £380,000 was kicked off with this fundraising dinner, held by the kind invitation of Mr and Mrs George Stephenson at Hurdcott House, Wiltshire. Guests helped raise nearly £60,000 with donations, an

5 auction and a game that involved hooking luminous toy dolphins from a 6 stream in the dark.

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1. Fishing 4 Schools supremo Charles Jardine 2. The auction 3. Jane Fraser (left) with Jingo Palamountain 4. Guy Rasch 5. Hoesli Labhart 6. Lucinda Green 7. The talented Anthony Clark 8. Lucy Gibbs, Cassie Brough, Hattie Roger-Smith and Pippa Chambers 9. Our host George Stephenson, Barney White-Spunner of the Countryside Alliance and auctioneer Humphrey Butler 10. Susannah Maitland Robinson with her two sons, Jo Maitland Robinson and Sam Maitland Robinson 11. Jeremy Quin, Chair of The Countryside Alliance Foundation 11 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 47

GET INVOLVED Regional Events, Winter 2013

MORE EVENTS Our website carries a fuller events listing: www.countryside-alliance.org/ca/events

{ WINTER 2013} Round-up of the countryside events you need to know about

WALES EAST A day with family appeal: ■ 15 January Director, Rachel Evans – Regional Director, William countryside activities, have-a- Sporting Dinner rachel-evans@countryside- Burton – william-burton@ go areas for children, local food with Sir Johnny alliance.org 01550 777997/ countryside-alliance.org and a shopping village. Gates Scott – Hassop 07825 337978 07738 959900 and shopping village open Hall, Derbyshire. 9am, terrier racing 10am, hound Anecdotes from parade 10.30am. First race Sir Johnny and his views on ■ 26 December ■ 8 February at 12 noon. Picnics welcome! country sports. Dinner and Boxing Day Racing, Ffos Las. Suffolk Game Dinner at Alison Hawes on 01752 sporting auction. Black tie, Bruisyard Hall by kind 830430 or alison-hawes@ £47pp, Email vef2@btinternet. ■ 28 December invitation of the Rous Family. countryside-alliance.org com. Generously sponsored Welsh Grand National Tickets: info@bruisyardhall. by Nigel Davis Solicitors of at Chepstow. co.uk or call 01728 639000, or ■ 7 March Belper – www.agricultural order via the Alliance website. Thrusters Ball at Botleigh solicitors.co.uk. SOUTH EAST Grange Hotel, Southampton, ■ 28 February from 7pm-2am. Black tie, ■ 1 March Regional Director, Inter Hunt Quiz, to be held dinner of local produce, disco Lancaster University Michelle Nudds – michelle- at The Room in The Rodings. and lots of entertainment. Countryside Society nudds@countryside- Tickets are £15 each, to Details alison-hawes@ alliance.org 01903 884179/ include a ploughman’s Caledonian Ball at Lancaster . Entry 07738 958894 supper, licensed bar and countryside-alliance.org Golf Club, including charity raffle. Further details and with ticket only. Strictly 18+. auction and raffle. £40pp, contact Catherine Bennett: ■ 22 December tickets are available from William Burton. ■ 22 & 23 March [email protected]. Countryside Alliance West Country Game Fair Black tie. In aid of the Alliance, Christmas Derby Challenge, MIDLANDS at Royal Bath and West the Addington Fund and Lingfield Park. Lunch and Showground, Shepton Mallet, Riding for the Disabled. ticket offer. Email countryside- Regional Director, Sara Somerset BA4 6QN. 9am until Rutherford – sara- raceday@countryside-alliance. 5pm. Details 01392 421500. ■ 5 March rutherford@countryside- org or call Michelle. Cheshire Inter Hunt Quiz night alliance.org 01380 ■ 26 March – Audlem Village Hall, Audlem, ■ 26 December 831068/07974 141933 Cornwall Auction of Promises Cheshire. £15pp, two-course King George VI Chase, at Scorrier House, 7.30pm. Lots supper, pay bar. Contact Susie Kempton Park Racecourse. ■ 8 February include an original Daniel Crane, Heap on 01270 620199 or Hawk Board Symposium, a day’s shooting, a villa for a [email protected]. ■ 21 January Lantra House Stoneleigh Park, week in Barbados, a Monica Enjoy a fantastic full English Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 Vinader necklace and fine wine, ■ 18 and 19 March breakfast at Bartholomew 2LG. More information: 02476 champagne and whisky. To National Restaurant and Bar Barn, Petworth, for Farmhouse 696996. Book by 25 January. request a catalogue (bids taken Show – Manchester Central. Breakfast Week. For full details in advance) contact Alison. The Game-to-Eat campaign contact Michelle Nudds. ■ 28 February will sponsor Fine Food Village, Thrusters Ball, Hatherley NORTHERN REGION creating a ‘game village’ of ■ 22 February Manor Hotel GL2 9QA, 7pm- Regional Director, Simon butchers and game dealers for Shot for the Pot Curry Supper 2am, three-course game Hamlyn – simon-hamlyn@ food sampling and promotion. and Quiz Night in Arundel, supper, terrier racing and countryside-alliance.org West Sussex, hosted by the other entertainment. Tickets 01978 780144/ SCOTLAND Countryside Alliance and £38. Details Sara Rutherford. 07818 553635 Director, Jamie Stewart – Royal Agricultural Benevolent jamie-stewart@countryside- Institution. Contact Michelle. ■ 11-14 March ■ 29 January alliance.org 07825 736903 Cheltenham Festival. End of Season Game Supper, ■ 7 March the Cholmondeley Arms nr 7 & 14 December Countryside Alliance Raceday SOUTH WEST Malpas, Cheshire. Telephone SCA award-winning Lunch on Grand Military Gold Regional Director, Alison 01829 720300 or email Hopetoun Farm Shop, South Cup Day, Sandown Racecourse. Hawes – alison-hawes@ info@cholmondeleyarms. Queensferry, is holding Join us for lunch and racing, countryside-alliance.org co.uk. £25pp. Christmas tasting events. sponsored by Charles Stanley 01752 830430/ Stockbrokers. Contact Michelle. 07710 836806 BOXING DAY MEETS Meets will be taking place on Thursday 26 December – timings vary ■ South East Point to Points ■ 23 February so please check www.mfha.co.uk for a meet listing. For 2014 fixtures and details Savills Countryside Alliance Support your local hunt at its Point to Point – check for fixtures at of Point to Points in South East Point to Point at Badbury www.pointtopoint.co.uk/fixture_list_2013.html go to: www.pointingse.co.uk. Rings nr Wimborne, Dorset.

www.countryside-alliance.org.uk WINTER 2013 | COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 49 COUNTRYSIDEMy

CHARLIE JACOBY’S Charlie Jacoby is a sporting journalist countryside is and broadcaster with FieldsportsChannel.tv different to the cosy stereotypes portrayed in the mainstream media but no less vibrant, he explains

he British countryside that I find warming. Like the public version, any sheltered. You can be naïve, casually T lying around the cupboard marked frame from the media’s ‘My Countryside’ offensive without realising it, and ‘public imagination’ has roses over the could be a picture postcard but, unlike ignorant. But My Countryside is also door. It has cottagey plants in the beds in the public version, it comes from a innocent and charming in a pre-atom- front of the whitewash – delphiniums blue, scriptwriter’s head. An urban scriptwriter, bomb way that, when it’s going well, feels geraniums red (never chrysanthemums probably. A townie. Typical. a bit like a Surtees novel or Swallows and yellow and white), a far-away peal of I could whinge on about the My Amazons. I try to cherish that last part. church bells, woodland and moorland Countryside of the people who live here, Most politicians think My Countryside below the sky and it still has a stream of too. We have rising fuel bills, dwindling is insular. It is acceptable within the enthusiastic foxhounds, happy horses and BBC to refer to foxhunters as swivel- riders pricking o’er the sward in the middle “My Countryside is eyed loons (NFB – not for broadcast). distance. It is a complicated Snaffles or Well, here’s why they are wrong. My Constable or ‘BB’ woodcut. There is no coloured by small events, Countryside – my one – has taken a turn lawnmower. That’s in the suburban section, many based around the for the international since 2009. In the along with Margo, Jerry and carwashing. last year alone, Fieldsports Channel has The media version takes this, kneads in a insignificant movements taken me rabbiting from an open-top lump of middle-class emotion, and turns it of livestock and wildlife” Rolls-Royce in Texas, pheasant shooting into Downton Abbey, Countryfile and The in rural China, driving wild boar in Archers. Here is a bright world of surprising broadband, and a dominating urban Germany, bear hunting with hounds in angles, where some people kill their own world around the corner that seems California, and on a roo cull in Australia. ferrets, others have jobs as tearful maids to be pleased to apologise to us via a Those are the headlines. The people and my grandfather complains that the recorded message. Happily, there are I have met all have a My Countryside – guns are standing too close together or positives, most of them outdoors. My and the strangest thing is not only how there is too much leaf on the tree. He did Countryside is a bit more Pevsner than similar it is to mine but how it could his shooting during the war, not the global the public one, coloured by small and improve mine. The Chinese shooters unimportant social events (compared to enjoy their day walking the padis looking the urban mighties), many based around for game. They stop at collective farms Target audience: the channel focuses on hunting, shooting and fishing the insignificant movements of livestock where the workers are having lunch, they and wildlife. What bird or deer is coming hand over a few pheasants and some out of that wood? What’s that horse money and join them. No need for a doing in here? And where are my dogs? Game-to-Eat in China. And the German And then there is the My Countryside idea of a driven shoot is to have more I get from my privileged position running stands than they need, you turn up on Fieldsports Channel. If you have not come the day with your rifle, pay your ‘cap’ and across it, this is a half-hour weekly TV you get a stand. It’s like shooting but with show on YouTube about the best hunting, the random sociability and sense of small shooting and fishing. It started on acts of kindness that you get at a hunt 12 August 2009 with a film about a day meet. With all of them, the party in the shooting grouse in Perthshire and another pub afterwards is top quality too. on a day chasing rabbits in Essex with a I think My Countryside is one of the cheetah. These are both versions of My reasons I used to be casually rude Countryside that I had not, coming from a about foreigners. Now I am mainly sheltered life in Somerset, previously tried. rude about townies. The aim It is one of the problems of life beyond of Fieldsports Channel is to be the Nutbush City Limits. You are not just antidote to Countryfile.

GET INVOLVED The Fieldsports Channel started in 2009 and is a half-hour weekly TV show on YouTube about hunting, shooting and fishing. Fieldsports Britain is on every Wednesday at 7pm at www.fieldsportschannel.tv

50 COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE | WINTER 2013 www.countryside-alliance.org.uk