Crime is a key issue throughout the countryside but the extent of it is only part of the problem. For many people in rural areas, whether they have fallen victim to crime or not, the fear of crime alone can have a damaging effect on their mental health. That’s why the Countryside Alliance is once again tackling the issue with its 2022 Rural Crime Survey. All responses are anonymous and are crucial to helping the Alliance direct its campaigns, ensuring the voice of rural communities is heard in the corridors of power. A Countryside Alliance spokesman said: ...

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has expressed concerns over a potential increase in the cost of firearms licensing applications in Scotland, following a Westminster committee report. The Scottish Affairs Committee’s report draws together conclusions following its recent inquiry on firearms licensing regulations in Scotland, established in the aftermath of a tragic shooting on the Isle of Skye last year. The report sets out recommendations including a two-tier application system and the alignment of existing shotgun licensing legislation, which BASC strongly opposed, challenged and gave evidence against. The recommendations are outside of Scotland’s devolved powers on firearms ...

British Game Assurance (BGA) is appealing to the countryside community to donate warm clothing and essential supplies urgently, as its director of operations, Louisa Clutterbuck, plans a second journey to the country at the end of December. Earlier this year, Louisa travelled to the Ukraine border to donate food, toiletries, medical supplies and more. Louisa is now embarking on a second journey on December 28th, this time planning to drive across the border to get as close to Dnipro as possible while remaining safe. The BGA’s Countryside Appeal aims to collect as many unwanted warm coats, ...

Plans have been announced to almost double the number of staff in Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police’s firearms licensing department to tackle a growing backlog in applications. The plans, which would see the number of staff in the firearms licensing department that covers both police force areas increase by 12 to a total of 26 in a bid to overturn the current delays, have been welcomed by the UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). The Staffordshire and West Midlands firearms licensing department has consistently ranked in the bottom five ...

Outdoor apparel expert Schöffel Country raised £17,950 in support of Kids Country, thanks to their Giveback initiative over the Black Friday weekend. Kids Country is an organisation whose work reaches to our Rutland heartland and beyond, providing enriching, inspiring experiences for children in the East of England. Its program of educational (and fun) events are held throughout the academic year and provides children with hands-on experiences of food, farming and the countryside. It is one of the largest children’s programmes run by a UK agricultural society, and its impact can reach more than 10,000 children in ...

Footwear and apparel specialist Le Chameau’s Black Friday giveback scheme has helped raise a total of £18,865 for Dogs Trust. Le Chameau partnered up with the UK’s largest dog welfare charity to give something back to our four-legged friends. Dogs Trust believes every dog deserves to live a full, safe and happy life and promises to go the extra mile to change the tale for every dog in its care – no matter their quirks or needs, and for as long as it takes to find them their loving forever home.​ For every order placed on the Le Chameau website between ...

Wild meats such as pheasant, venison and duck are the more affordable ethical choice this Christmas, according to British Game Assurance. With bird flu has wreaking havoc on the free-range poultry sector, resulting in astronomical prices in some places, game remains as available and reasonably priced as previous years. At this time of year, British shoppers are much more likely to be seeking out a high-welfare option for their Christmas table. Butchers suddenly find customers queuing down the street for free-range turkey, duck and goose. Sadly however, this year the cost of high welfare, farmed options ...

Game Fair exhibitor and demonstrator Scott Mackenzie is offering more fly fishing and casting masterclasses for 2023, to improve your angling skills. For the coming year he will be running four separate three-day and night courses incorporating fly casting instruction and fishing on the River Ness at Ness-Side over two prime weeks of the season. Each course will cover every aspect of fishing and casting, including in-depth fly casting instruction covering all the different Spey casts off both shoulders, reading the water, where to fish (and avoid), fly selection, knots, wading safety and many other techniques. ...

Sporting Saint’s exclusive Dead Bird Dummy pheasant is ideal for taking gundog training to the next level. Designed with new and enhanced features such as wings and a tail – and developed by Sporting Saint’s team and ambassadors – this dummy will aid in the training of your dog as it truly simulates picking up a dead bird. Made in Great Britain, the dummy boasts a swinging head, large wings, a long, pheasant-like tail, rounded body shape and comes complete with an attached throwing cord. Scent can also be applied easily. The original design, first manufactured ...

The annual Gun Trade Dinner held last week attracted not just 100 members of the industry but also two notable ‘faces’ – former US president Donald trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. In reality, of course, they were comedians and actors, who entertained the guests following a sumptuous three-course dinner with wine. The annual industry event, held at the Victory Services Club in London, was a perfect opportunity for members and their staff and partners to gather for a pre-Christmas celebration. The traditional after dinner collection raised a total of £5,800, thanks in the main ...

With rural crime always a key issue within the countryside community, the Countryside Alliance is once again encouraging those who live and work in these areas to take part in its annual Rural Crime Survey. The results of the 2021 survey, which built on previous years, illustrated that nine in 10 people in rural areas had not seen a police office in the previous week while seven in 10 reported an increase in crime over the last 12 months. A CA spokesman said: “It is clear from last year’s results that there is a lot to ...

This year’s Great British Game Week, staged from November 7th to 13th November, was a huge success, with the week-long promotion including dinners and events up and down the country to bring these meats to the public. The week is a celebration of enjoying wild game, promoted by British Game Assurance’s (BGA) Eat Wild campaign, and aims to introduce new people to all that is great about local British game meat. This year, BGA-organised Game Dinners in Aberdeenshire and London as well as social media coverage of BGA stockists to show everyone where they can buy ...

Entries are now open for the gamekeepers’ classes at Crufts 2023, which are hosted by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation. The classes are open to gamekeepers, owners of working gundogs, gundog teams and young handlers and will be held on Gundog Day, Thursday March 9th at the NEC in Birmingham. Postal entries close on January 9th and you can enter online until midnight on January 23rd. The gamekeepers’ classes are deeply rooted in the history of Crufts and BASC is proud to continue this strong tradition. The top individual dogs will go head-to-head in the ...

Instead of Black Friday flash sales next week, Schöffel Country has teamed up with Kids Country – an initiative local to the brand providing inspiring countryside experiences to children – to give back to the community. Schöffel Country will be donating £5 of each sale to Kids Country to help it continue the work it is carrying out, inspiring future generations about our countryside, farming and the food that comes from it. Kids Country aligns with the beliefs and values of Schöffel Country, Schöffel is driven by the countryside and sees itself as one its guardians of its future. Kids Country is ...

The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals, clubs, and other organisations that help to promote and develop clay shooting in England. Nominations close at midday on Monday, November 28th. You can nominate fellow CPSA members who you feel should be awarded with the recognition that they deserve and will be decided not just by numbers but by the strength of statements and acknowledgements made by those nominating. There are eight different awards which will be presented on the night – Saturday, March 11th 2023 at The Hilton St Georges Park in ...

Aim to Sustain – a partnership of major shooting organisations – has written to the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to outline issues facing the sector and its readiness to work with Government to manage the challenges facing the countryside. The letter to the Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP explains that Aim to Sustain partner organisations employ leading experts with unrivalled knowledge and experience of the benefits that can be delivered in wider biodiversity and habitat recovery. It has been signed by the heads of major shooting groups including Ian Bell ...

In the wake of another Avian Flu outbreak, a national housing order will be introduced across England on Monday, meaning flocks of poultry and captive birds must be kept inside. The measures legally require all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size. The order will extend the mandatory housing measures already in force in the hot spot area of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex to the whole of England following an increase in the national risk ...

The Canal & River Trust, the charity which protects and preserves 2,000 miles of inland waterways in England and Wales and delivers fishing tuition at The Game Fair, has unveiled a headline report detailing the value of its waterways. At the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Waterways at the Houses of Parliament, CRT chief executive Richard Parry said the 250-year-old network provides a £1.5 billion annual economic value from water-based tourism and jobs plus a social value of £4.6 billion a year, which includes £1.1 billion cost saving to the NHS from active use of the waterways ...

For a treat this Halloween, the Hellfire Caves beside the West Wycombe estate, close to E J Churchill’s Shooting Ground, are open for some ghoulish fun. The team at the caves might have a few tricks up their sleeve too and are promising everything from spooky stories to scary feasts not to mention the odd surprise. Combined with a morning’s shooting at E J Churchill, it’s a great way to celebrate Halloween for all the family. You can book Halloween event tickets for the Hellfire Caves HERE

With British Game Week on the horizon next month, British Game Assurance (BGA) has released details of three events where you can get involved and join in the celebrations. To mark the week – running from November 7th to 13th, there will be two ‘Celebration of Game’ dinners and a special finale at Holland & Holland Shooting Ground. The first of will be held in London at Westminster Kingsway College on November 10th with the second in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, at Finzean Farmshop the following evening before BGA stockist Holland & Holland’s ‘Glorious Game’ event on November ...