David Orr CBE proposed as next Canal & River Trust chair The Canal & River Trust, which runs the have-a-go fishing and tuition at The Game Fair each year, is set to appoint David Orr CBE as its new chair, subject to formal approval. David will join the Trust for an initial term of three years in the unpaid role and, alongside the charity’s other volunteer board directors, will lead the Trust’s decisions on policy and strategy, legal oversight of the Trust’s wide range of statutory duties, and provide direction to the Trust’s chief executive and his team. He joins the ...

Stable events, the company which runs The Game Fair, the GWCT Scottish Game Fair and the World Gunmakers’ Evening, has further strengthened its ties and commitment to the shooting industry following their acquisition of Gun Trade News. The B2B publication has been a major part of the industry for many years and the change of ownership, from media giant Future Publishing to the fast-growing Stable Events portfolio, is a logical step for both parties. Stable Events’ managing director, James Gower, explained: “We know Gun Trade News perfectly complements our growing portfolio of live events. Our continued ...

The Court of Appeal has dismissed legal challenges by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and its former conservation director Mark Avery into Natural England’s research into hen harrier brood management. The court confirmed that the trial management scheme was legal and is the second time it has thrown out challenges from the organisation and Avery, who is also a founder of Wild Justice The brood management scheme is part of a six-point recovery programme to see hen harrier’s reach favourable status in England. The scheme is supported by the British Association for ...

John Dickson and Son, Scotland’s oldest gunmaker, which also incorporates a number of other great Scottish gunmaking names, has provided all the sporting equipment to support Delaney & Sons’ trip to the Isle of Harris in pursuit of the Macnab Challenge. The Macnab Challenge has its roots in the 1925 novel John Macnab by John Buchan. The story follows three protagonists – Sir Edward Leithen, John Palliser-Yeates and Lord Lamancha – all desperate to relieve the boredom that has engulfed them. The solution can only be something devilish, with a dash of daring. Under the mantle ...

Following a number of detections of avian influenza in wild birds across Great Britain, the Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland and Wales have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across the whole of Great Britain to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds. This means that from last Wednesday, November 3rd, it became a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Great Britain to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their birds. The AIPZ now in force does not include a requirement to house birds. However, this is ...

A co-ordinated campaign, created by award-winning environmental organisation Hubbub and supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation has resulted in the Treasure Your River project – a working group of litter-busting organisations across the UK. Among those involved in the scheme, which aims to remove 95 tonnes of litter from our rivers and prevent a further 90 tonnes from entering them in the first place, is the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme, which enjoyed a hugely successful Game Fair in the summer. Amazingly, more 80 per cent of marine litter originates from inland and our rivers then deliver ...

With supplies of turkey limited this Christmas after a labour shortage forced poultry farmers to cut production by a fifth, a growing number of people are turning to wild British game as an alternative. Wild game specialist Wild and Game has seen orders soar in recent weeks: it is already 35 per cent up on sales of Christmas hampers compared to the whole period last year. Wild and Game’s hampers include pheasant, duck and partridge three bird roasts, muntjac legs, wild boar sausage meat, game pigs in blankets, pheasant Wellingtons and game charcuterie. It also has ...

For nearly 200 years, Boss & Co has stood at the apex of the Holy Trinity of London gunmakers. A privately-owned business since its inception in 1812, it has unwaveringly and resolutely remained true to its company strapline: ‘Builders of Best Guns Only’. The Boss family originated from Leicestershire, with no history of gunmaking before William Boss began an apprenticeship with Joseph Manton in the industry in 1773. William’s commitment to becoming a gunmaker was clear, providing the spark for a series of events that would place the Boss name right at the very pinnacle of ...

A new ballistics study has revealed steel shot lethality is on a par with lead shot in ranges up to 50 yards. Commissioned by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Gun Trade Association (GTA) and undertaken at Cranfield University, the study tested the theories behind moving two shot sizes larger when transitioning from lead shot to steel shot. The study originated following the shooting organisation’s call for a five-year voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting in February 2020. The findings showed lead shot penetrating on average 10mm deeper ...

Poultry and game keepers are being advised to keep a lookout for signs of avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, in both wild bird populations and kept birds this winter. The advice is being issued following two confirmed cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza, one near to Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire and more another close to Wrexham, North Wales. In both cases control zones have been put in place. It is believed that wild birds have been the cause in both cases but now countryside organisations are urging members to remain vigilant. Glynn Evans, the British Association ...

If you fancy a day’s partridge shooting for nine guns at Caerhays Castle in Cornwall worth over £12,000, then you are in luck! The Countryside Alliance’s draw offers an exceptional prize, with the day hosted in person by the owners, Charles and Lizzie Williams, who have extremely generously donated this 250-bird partridge day. Caerhays seldom advertises or uses agents to fill its shoot days, as those not filled by year-on-year repeat bookings are rapidly filled through word of mouth so this is an amazing opportunity, with the day scheduled to take place in September or October ...