The Environment Agency invested more than £48 million in projects to enhance fisheries and make improvements for anglers, angling facilities and the environment during 2019-20. The organisation’s Annual Fisheries Report, which has just been released, shows that over £20 million was raised from rod licence sales in England and Wales, with almost a million (940,974) fishing licences sold between April 2019 and 31 March 2020. This was supplemented by partner contributions and additional government funding, allowing the EA to spend over £48 million to support the management of fisheries. Environment Agency fisheries staff also used rod ...

Game specialist Wild and Game is encouraging people to give Burns Night a twist this year by putting game on the menu. The company, which is on a mission to get game more widely enjoyed all year round in the UK, has released three recipes that re-work Scottish classics with game as a key ingredient, just in time for Burns Night on Monday, January 25th. The recipes include pheasant cock-a-leekie soup, haggis and venison Wellington and home-made venison haggis with roasted tatties and neeps and buttered kale. Since it was launched in 2017, Wild and ...

Three key players in the shooting industry – The Game Fair, the Gun Trade Association and Gun Trade News – have come together to support those working within it by delivering a Trade Pavilion during the show. Alongside all of the other major attractions at the much-loved event – taking place at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire from July 23rd to 25th – the purpose-built pavilion will offer a mix of public access trade stands and industry-only exhibition space. There will also be meeting rooms, business services and even a new product showcase, looking after manufacturers, wholesalers, ...

Antique tackle dealer Victor Bonutto is one of the longest-running ‘fixtures’ of The Game Fair, having exhibited at the event for more than 30 consecutive years. We caught up with him to discuss his passion and what keeps him coming back. You have exhibited at The Game Fair for more than 30 years in a row – what’s the appeal of the event? It’s the number one event for me. I have exhibited all over the UK and nothing, absolutely nothing, has the buzz of The Game Fair. Past customers and friends know I will ...

The much-loved celebration of the great British Countryside returns in 2021 taking place in the familiar surroundings of Ragley Hall from 23-25 July. In the spirit of progression and innovation The Game Fair are delighted to announce our new partnership with ‘LAPADA’ the UK’s largest association of professional art and antique dealers. The LAPADA Pavilion will showcase an exquisite range of works across an array of disciplines; from fine art, furniture and contemporary works of art to decorative arts, jewellery and antiquities. Complimenting the fabulous art exhibitors already scheduled to attend. From its inception in ...

A Scottish Government Minister has condemned “the abuse and unfair harassment” of gamekeepers and their families in Scotland, after research commissioned by the Scottish government showed that almost two thirds had experienced abusive behaviour. In a letter to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the newly appointed Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, Ben Macpherson MSP, said he was “appalled to hear of the experiences” reported by Scotland’s gamekeepers, which were documented in a study by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). Mr Macpherson added that he “would work to ensure that no ...

The British Game Alliance (BGA) is on the hunt for young people who love cooking game and has launched an exciting competition with some amazing prizes – do you know someone who might make the grade? The Game Chef Hunt contest will showcase and celebrate great game recipes and the talent of people aged under 21 and will run until February 10th. Entries can be any game dish, fur or feather, that you love to cook and eat at home. If relevant and with the shoot and head keeper’s permission, let the BGA know the name ...

Health Secretary Matt Hancock wants the UK to get back to normal quickly and told the nation this week: “I want us to have that Great British summer. And my team and I are working hard to deliver this as fast as possible.” With the promise to vaccinate every over-50 against Covid-19 by the start of May – that’s 32 million people in all – the Government is doing everything it can to put a summer smile on our faces. The vaccine has already prompted The Game Fair regulars Colin and Carol Letch, who run ...

Falconry is more than just a popular pastime in Qatar – it’s a national treasure with a celebrated history and a very bright future. It is no wonder then that through Doha’s cultural village Katara, under the patronage of His Highness The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a wonderful partnership exits to celebrate falconry. Two spectacular events, The Game Fair in the United Kingdom, a celebration of the countryside since 1958 attracting 120,000 visitors each year, and S’Hail - Katara International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition, Qatar’s annual showcase promoting the pursuit and preservation of hunting ...

Once Britain has left the European Union you can no longer sell birds in-feather direct to buyers from Europe. From January 1st, 2021 game birds in-feather cannot be exported to Europe without certification by an official veterinarian and must be exported through an Approved Game Handling Establishment, just like processed game meat. What do you need to do? If you are currently exporting birds in-feather directly to Europe, you will need to make contact with a game processor to make alternative arrangements. You can find a list of British Game Alliance registered processors here, or contact ...

The Country Food Trust, The Game Fair’s charity for 2021, is inviting you to host a dinner party at your home on Friday February, 26th for as many guests as space allows, or as Covid-19 rules permit. The goal is for over 2,000 people to attend individual dinners across the country, with each party raising vital funds to ensure another 250,000 meals can reach those in need, including children and their families. There will be online access to both a silent and a live auction for everyone attending and a prize for the group who raises the ...

Cotswold MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is the latest in a long line of well-known faces who can’t wait for The Game Fair 2021, having been saddened to miss the 2020 postponed event. In an interview with Gun Trade News editor Steve Faragher, the Conservative MP, who is also chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation and treasurer of the influential 1922 Committee, admitted he loves the event for many reasons. He revealed: “I was due to go this year (2020). I love The Game Fair. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to ...

London gunmaker John Rigby & Co has launched a new service within their growing art department to immortalise your trusty hunting companion through pencil portrait commissions. Just like every piece of Rigby Art to leave the Pensbury Place workshop, it will be entered into the company’s historic ledgers and preserved for generations to come. Additionally, each completed commission will be stamped and hand-signed by in-house artist, Geoffrey Lignon. With a maximum of two commissions taken per month, to complete a portrait Geoffrey requires a full focus, high resolution image of the dog, preferably taken outdoors ...

English shotgun brand Longthorne guns has unveiled its Renaissance side by side models. Like all of its guns, these are made in its own Northampton factory using patented barrel technology, from one piece of steel with no soldered joints. The Renaissance SXS comes in a choice of 28in, 20in or 32in barrels, all featuring an exclusive engraving. The Renaissance design also extends to the true sidelock action, which features gold inlaid gamebirds and flowers and to its forend metalwork. There’s also an auto safety, gold-plated trigger, engraved extended full length beaded trigger guard and engraved ...

Do you think that Coronavirus has brought communities closer together or pushed us further apart? Do you have concerns about how divided we are becoming as a society, or that different parts of the country feel increasingly distant from one another? The Countryside Alliance is encouraging its members to participate in a major new survey which asks these important questions. The Countryside Alliance has long been concerned about divisive portrayals of rural-urban differences, which often serve to stereotype rural communities and marginalise their contribution to national life. Coronavirus has brought back to the fore conversations about ...

Following the latest changes in restrictions across the UK, broadly speaking, people are still able to go fishing and tackle shops, charter boats and fisheries are open for business. However, there are variations to the rules in different countries as regards travel and some openings but overall it’s great news for the tackle industry as we head towards Christmas. The Angling Trust’s CEO Jamie Cook has issued the following advice for fishing in England. We are pleased that ministers appreciate both the importance and safety of outdoor recreation and organised sport and that the plan ...

Game and clay shooting look set to carry on in many parts of the UK, subject to Tier restrictions, while those engaged in pest control should also be able to continue. The changes in rules will also mean that many gun shops have been able to reopen. However, since the rules vary from devolved region to devolved region and in different tiers, here is an overview of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation’s and the Countryside Alliance’s understanding of the current situation. ENGLAND From December 2nd, subject to following strict Covid-19 guidelines, organised outdoor ...

Bookings are flooding in for next July’s Game Fair at Ragley Hall, following the Government’s announcement that the events sector should get back to normal by Easter. Delivering a keynote speech at the Major Events Summit as the UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said he expected a return to normality for the events industry by Easter. He added that the Government’s Winter Plan which enables venues in Tier 1 and Tier 2 ...

Night vision and thermal imaging expert Pulsar, distributed by Thomas Jacks, will be sponsoring the new optics village at The Game Fair 2021. We caught up with Thomas Jacks’ marketing manager, Lee Adams, to find out more about its plans. Firstly, Lee, it’s been a ‘different’ year to say the least. What has Thomas Jacks and Pulsar been up to you in that time? Despite the interruptions bestowed upon us this year, Thomas Jacks’ business has remained constant and there has been no shortage of new products released from Pulsar. Towards the beginning of the ...

An exceptional Kell-engraved lightweight 12-bore 'Spring-Opener' sidelock ejector gun by Henry Atkin, is among the eye-catching lots in Bonhams Antique Arms, Modern Sporting Guns and Exceptional Firearms sale in London on Thursday, December 3rd. Built in 1948 to the specifications of Gough Thomas, one of the leading authorities on guns and shooting of the day and a writer in Shooting Times, the gun is estimated at £10,000-15,000. Thomas’ order was quite particular, demanding Atkin “guarantee that in respect of materials, workmanship, finish and shooting qualities, the gun will conform to your highest pre-war standards,” before adding: “although I am very critical, I ...