There is a ridiculous article in The Field, penned by Andrew Gilruth of GWCT, which starts with the sentence ‘Our raptors arguably live in a golden age’ which sets a new standard for nonsense, even from the once rather impressive, and now rather irrelevant folk in Fordingbridge. Chipping in, in the race for the most…
Category: SHOOTERS
Go back in time on the IoW – particularly if you are a farmer
By Ordnance Survey – map from 1945, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org One of the attractions of visiting the Isle of Wight is that you just get a little taste of what the UK was like in the 1950s – that’s why the OS map above is so appropriate. You almost expect to see items in the…
Are you sure you’ve identified the right one Crispin?
In The Times I read that Crispin Odey, self-confessed funder of YFTB has decided that Boris Johnson is the person he wants to lead the Conservative Party, and as soon as possible. It’s only a matter of five months ago that Michael Gove was the chosen one for Mr Odey. Blimey! Boris’s principled and reasonable…
A snippet for now
I feel I’ve been slightly neglecting this blog for a couple of weeks for I was first travelling (and I have things to tell you about that) and then much of last week was taken up with working on our judicial review. Actually, there is nothing to feel guilty about there is there? Today is,…
More gems from the shooting scene
The Savill’s benchmarking survey is a valuable reference point for those interested in the future of shooting. Here are a few more areas (see this morning’s blog) which caught my eye: the average salary for a single-handed keeper was £21,100 plus benefits. That doesn’t sound like a fortune does it? What might the benefits be?…
An interesting contrast – the good, the bad and the ugly
Reaction from the shooting community to the sound of shooting and the coverage of a trapped Peregrine on a grouse moor in the Forest of Bowland: The Good: BASC are pretty much spot on in what they say: BASC statement on RSPB peregrine film BASC utterly condemns raptor persecution and other wildlife crime. There…
Sunday book review – The Knowledge by GWCT
It was very sporting of GWCT to send me a copy of this book to review (I had to ask, but they sent it very quickly). Readers of this blog may well have their own copies of this book already but I thought it worth a brief review for those whose bookshelves lack it at…
Seen recently by readers of this blog
Near Kendal In Yellowstone National Park
Trusted trustees (4) – GWCT’s Ian Coghill and James Paice
The longest-ever serving GWCT Chair, Ian Coghill is standing down after eight years, in July. He will be succeeded by former Defra Agriculture Minister of State, Sir James Paice. Ian Coghill has led the decline in reputation of the GWCT over the last eight years, although Chief Executive, Teresa Dent, must take a large share…
Wemmergill Moorland Plan
Wemmergill Moor is where a young Hen Harrier ‘disappeared’ in February – the latest of so many. It is also the first site where NE agreed a Moorland Management Plan with the estate. These MMPs are the response of Defra and NE to the fact that they have been told by the European Commission that…