BASC

Back in May of this year, I had the special pleasure of teaming up with Chris Green, ‘The Cornish Countryman’ and film-maker at ‘West Country Films’. Young rooks were on the menu down on the flat lands of Somerset, and to complete his brand new crow shooting DVD, I conjured up a rook pie with seasonal asparagus topped with creamy potatoes, wild garlic, smoked bacon, all encased in shortcrust pastry glazed with Somerset apples – washed down with a fine award winning Derbyshire ale!

In a new initiative, Gamekeepers in Tandridge have security marked their birds by colour-coding their feet and legs in a special paint which can be easily identified should they be stolen. The paint has been made specifically for livestock and is not harmful to the birds.

A group of 10 people involved in running part-time D.I.Y shoots attended the BASC Shoot Development day 4th August. The weather stayed fine and it was an excellent day. This is the first time the Shoot Development day was run late in the season when the birds are in the release pens. Many areas of small shoot management were covered; from planning stock to presenting birds on a shoot day. Feedback was great and everyone went away with valuable new information.

On the 12th May the Romney Marsh Association for Shooting and Conservation held an event for Young Shots on the Bilsington Priory Estate. The aim of the event was to introduce the youngsters to a number of field sports including clay pigeon shooting, air rifle shooting and fishing.

Apley Farm Shop focuses on providing fresh, quality produce from the estate, tenant farms, and producers from Shropshire and the surrounding counties.
?The estate traditionally produced food for the local people so it?s a way of reconnecting with the ideal that was there before. It?s a farm diversification project, a good use of redundant farm buildings, but also a way to give a public face to the estate,? explains Lord Hamilton of Dalzell.

Exciting News!
Catton Hall the home of the Gamekeepers’ Fair will be the new permanent home for the Seasoned Cookery School.
Catton Hall is a beautiful private estate, with fantastic transport links just off the A38.
The courses at Catton Hall will begin in October.