Events around the country

Forthcoming events

Hampshire gundog day
The Hampshire committee is holding its gundog working day, kindly sponsored by Skinners Dog Food, on Saturday 10 July at Wintershill Farm, Durley, Hants, SO32 2AH, by kind permission of Major General and Mrs Jamie Balfour. There will be classes for all levels of dogs including an open test and special puppy test, with entries taken from 9am to 10am on the day. Entry fee costs £6 with the winners receiving Skinners Dog Food and rosettes for the four top places, with champagne for the highest placed GWCT member. The top three dogs in each class will qualify to run at the Midland Game Fair. There will also be a scurry with a cash prize for the fastest time.

Game, Glorious Game!
From the Glorious Twelfth onwards, game becomes readily available for the rest of the year to delight and diversify our diets. This will be celebrated at the Glorious Game Dinner to be held at the prestigious Chewton Glen on Sunday 22 August.

In sporting terms, one of the most coveted sporting opportunities in Scotland is the ‘McNab’; a day’s hunting where one attempts to shoot a red grouse, stalk a red deer, and catch a wild salmon - all in the same day! The McNab is the pinnacle of sporting excellence and few who attempt it ever succeed. The Glorious Game Dinner will take its inspiration from the McNab, treating dinner guests to dishes of red grouse, New Forest venison and brown trout accompanied by a perfect array of fine wines.

Our director of research, Professor Nick Sotherton, will co-host the evening with Chewton Glen sommelier Alan Holmes. Throughout the dinner Professor Sotherton will provide fascinating background on the featured species and offer an insight into conservation in the region.

With a donation from the evening’s proceeds going directly to the Trust, this is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fabulous food and wine while supporting our work. The Chewton Glen is also offering a special overnight package for those who would like stay and enjoy a little longer.

To make a booking, please call 01425 282212 or email reservations@chewtonglen.com 
Further information can be found on the Chewton Glen’s website.

Flight of a lifetime for winner at the Ball
Laura Holtzhausen was the lucky bidder of the Breitling flight of a lifetime that she successfully bid £11,000 for at last year’s ball. She recently took part on the flight and described it as: “A must for every adrenalin junky out there and worth every penny that I bid for it. Words are hard to describe how incredible it really was.” Flying in formation as the Breitling team would in a display, you get to experience G Force, loop the loops and barrel rolls. The pilots were amazing; very calming for those who were nervous, and a wicked sense of humour. We then had the pleasure of lunch with all of them, experiencing some lovely local cuisine and fine wine. I would thoroughly recommend this prize to everyone as I had a fabulous time.

Next year’s Grouse Ball will be held on Thursday 14 October at the Savoy. For more information on this exciting evening please contact Felicity Cranfield on 010 7290 0110 or fcranfield@gwct.org.uk

Post events

Successful Scottish Game Fair
Despite an impressive electrical storm on the Sunday, our Scottish Game Fair was another successful event which drew crowds totalling 33,000. Both Friday and Saturday attracted our best ever numbers through the gates, but even the heavy downpours on Sunday could not put off visitors who turned out in their hundreds to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Fair.
The Fair is an excellent venue at which to entertain and inform politicians and dignitaries and we were delighted this year to host the Earl of Wessex and Roseanna Cunningham, Scottish Environment Minister on Friday. As well as being introduced to Trust staff and hearing more about our work, Prince Edward gamely took part in the ‘Great Pheasant and Fox Race’ within our Wee Beasties education area! Roseanna Cunningham was also rather active and gave a useful political briefing to the director Scotland and Scottish chairman.

Fair Director Garry Barnett has retired from his post following this year’s event, having spent the last seven years guiding it to become one of Scotland’s premier rural events. His attention to detail and meticulous planning have ensured the Fair’s ongoing success. Taking over the role is David Noble who has been shadowing Garry over the past few months.

Hugo Straker, as incoming Chairman of the Fair Committee, led the team to produce a lively, informative, highly enjoyable weekend when crowds gathered to see racing sheep, aerial displays, horn blowing French huntsmen and Celtic drummers. Members were particularly pleased with the quality of the food and service available from our new caterers in the Members’ Enclosure.

As always, the Fair promoted a relaxed, good humoured environment in which visitors could browse the 300-plus trade stands, learn more about conservation and rural issues and take part in the excellent facilities for fishing instruction, gundog competitions, clay shooting, archery and many more activities.

Dates for the 2011 Scottish Game Fair are Friday 1, Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July.

For a complete listing of events happening around the country, please click here.

Staff news

Starters
Natalie Palys (Fundraising).

Leavers
Allan MacLeod (Drumochter), Ben Rodgers, Owain Rodgers (Predation Control).