The Field March 2019

FARMED salmon is the biggest seller at the fish counter today, outselling even cod, haddock or plaice. The problem is that salmon farming kills wild fish, pollutes the seabed and has an appalling husbandry record, in that millions of farmed fish die in their cages through disease and parasites and the chemical treatments designed to control them. Buying and eating farmed salmon supports this environmental damage. Reports in 2018 from two Scottish Parliamentary Committees – Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) and Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) – following Inquiries into salmon farming, are unequivocal: salmon farming has unacceptable environmental impacts. Politicians from all Scottish Parliamentary parties agree that our already beleaguered wild migratory fish are being further damaged by open-net salmon farming. Rivers on Scotland’s west coast have…

TRADITIONAL sporting art, hanging little noticed on the wall as you eat your shoot lunch, relies heavily on depicting the quarry. Grouse burst out of the canvas towards an unseen gun in his butt. Partridges nestle under a hedgerow. Pheasants wing their way up into a frosted blue sky. Given that there are at least a dozen friends sitting round the table with me, and another 20 or so eating pasties in the beaters’ room, it leads me to wonder where the people are in these paintings? They are in Bridget Lansley’s paintings, that’s where. Lansley’s 21st-century shooting paintings actually depict a shooting day rather than what people are shooting at. The only birds you see are dangling from the hand of a picker-up. Instead, there is a flood of…

Herd of Sussex cows established in Spain Ten Sussex cattle from an estate in East Sussex have been shipped to Spain to create the country’s first breeding herd. Nine heifers and a bull from Lord De La Warr’s Buckhurst estate in Withyham have arrived at Julio Grande’s 5,000-hectare farm in Salamanca, western Spain. Lord De La Warr (pictured) has built up a herd of 50 Sussex breeding cows over 15 years. “We’ve worked hard to nurture a pure Sussex line and are proud to have animals with a reputation for producing a flavoursome and quality carcass,” he said. “We keep them on an entirely grass-fed system. They’re hardy beasts and are phenomenal at converting grass into meat,” he added. Farmer and lawyer Julio Grande plans to establish a pure-bred herd…

NEW BREEDS AT CRUFTS The Braque d’Auvergne, White Swiss Shepherd Dog, Black and Tan Coonhound and Russian Toy (pictured) are competing at Crufts (7-10 March) for the first time this year in the Imported Breed Register classes. The gundog classes are on the opening day (7th), working and pastoral group will be shown on the Friday, terriers and hounds on the Saturday and utility and toys on the Sunday. The event takes place at the NEC in Birmingham. www.crufts.org.uk MALLOCH TROPHY WINNER A 28lb spring salmon caught on the River Teith is the winner of the 2018 Malloch Trophy, awarded for the largest salmon caught on a fly and safely returned during the year in Scottish waters. Perth fisherman Philip Black caught it on 24 March at 4pm with a…

2 Quorn Hunt Ball Whatton House, Leicestershire. For tickets email: quornhuntball@gmail.com 2 Duke of Beaufort’s Point-to-Point Didmarton, Gloucestershire (first race 11.30am). Tel 01225 891293; email carolclift@gmail.com 3 GWCT Cheshire branch lunch and auction Colshaw Hall Country Estate, Cheshire. Email Deborah Sellars at cheshire@gwct.org.uk 4-23 ‘From Genesis to Nemesis’, exhibition of new works by Mick Rooney Fosse Gallery, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire. Tel 01451 831319; fossegallery.com 8 BASC Ladies Shooting Day Mid-Wales Shooting Ground, Trefeglwys, Powys. Cost £65 for members, £75 for non-members. Tel 01244 573029; email sian.mean@basc.org.uk 10 College Valley & North Northumberland Point-to-Point Ratcheugh Farm, Alnwick (first race 1pm). Tel 01890 850266. 10 Suffolk Point-to-Point Ampton, Bury St Edmonds (first race 1pm). Tel 07899807073. 12-15 Cheltenham Festival Prestbury,…

MOST VIEWED The most popular pack This super, snowy outtake from our Buccleuch hunt report in the December issue, taken by Sarah Farnsworth, has become our most liked Instagram picture ever. The snap of huntsman Tim Allen MFH and hounds leaving for the meet has garnered more than 2,000 likes. “Wonderful picture,” said one Fielder. “Stunning,” agreed another. “Beautiful shot of our local pack,” commented Floors Castle. “Please never, ever let it end,” added one. #THEFIELDMAGAZINE Passion for powder The Editor attended a muzzle-loading day at Slebech Park for the January issue, inspiring readers to look to ancient guns and black powder for excitement. Instagram Fielders loved the lead image, taken by Laurence Squire. Readers were similarly inspired by the January Sporting Diana column, in which Clare Mills shared how…