At 11.30 this morning there will be an item on Countryfile about the Holkam estate.   To vote to keep shooting as it is, you can ring 09001800322 .    To quote the BBC website:

John spends the day following the guns on the estate's pheasant shoot and speaks to the Earl of Leicester about the history of the estate and its shooting. John also visits local butcher/game dealer Arthur Howell to find out how to prepare a pheasant for the pot. He then has a lesson in pheasant cooking from Neil Dowson, Head Chef at the Victoria Hotel in Holkham, with delicious results.

Miriam follows the beaters at work during the shoot. She discovers how Head Gamekeeper Simon Lester works behind the scenes with his team to prepare for the shoot, including the conservation work that takes place alongside this.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Just to let everybody know, you don't need to wait until the program starts to register your vote, the line is open now.

Regards, John

Does anyone know if this programme is repeated on any of the other million and one channels?

Typically, I missed it and although I will no doubt spend my week watching repeat after repeat of every other programme, I won't be able to see the very programme I want to!

Don't know if it's going to be repeated, I'm afraid.      Think they maybe should have visited a family shoot, of which there are hundreds throughout the country.    To visit a stately home maybe adds fuel to the fire of aristo-bashing.

Shame there wasn't a proper discussion (as we quite often have on Champdogs........!) instead of the antis trying to talk over the top of the keeper and the man from BASC .

Oh well, back to cook supper - duck with gin-soaked sloes and orange a la Clarissa tonight!  Better than most of yer chicken any day.   And virtually free for us!

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I agree Jo. The "Stately Home" shoot gives the anti's the chance to shout "Privileged classes". A day out on my shoot would give a totally opposed view of shoots.

Simple roast Pheasant with baked potatoes and brussels tomorrow for me. And I know there are no nasty preservatives or injected water in it, I fed it!

Best wishes, John

But we ARE privileged, John, to have the opportunity to be out in spectacular country, watching all sorts of wildlife that few others get near (I even saw the Surrey Panther while we were picking up yesterday!   At least... I think it was!!!:-) )   .

We get free-range food, and good company, and not a little bit of good-humoured  banter between ourselves.

And add to that the delight of watching our dogs doing what comes naturally - did you see the flatcoat on the programme?   Looked like a dear old soul.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Your so right Jo, we are privileged. We have wonderful farm and woodland to walk over, all sorts of wildlife (no Panther's out my way!) and good company. I got there at just after 9am yesterday and after sorting the seats out in the gun's truck was handed a flask of Damson Gin by one of the guns. Later on I had a sip of Sloe Gin to warm me up although the comments made about one of Anna's retrieves was enough to send me hone with a nice warm glow on its own! Yes Jo, we are so lucky!

Yes, I was glad to see a Flatcoat on there. And how lovely to see the keepers wearing their bowlers. A tradition on that shoot dating back to more leisurely times.

Best wishes, John

 

Sadly didn't see the programme, had to work. :-( It isn't usually repeated as it is a topical programme aimed at country lovers and farming people.
Talking of the Surrey Panther.... Hows this ??? Saw the Dagnall Caribou Stork yesterday. Thats one huge bird!

All we had was a Pheasant flying so high it was using oxygen and leaving a con trail as it flew over! I must say this was after the hip flask came out but I'm sure that had nothing to do with it! ;)

Best wishes, John

Spoke to my gamekeeper friend today about this and she thought shooting would be next - they also hunt.  Good thing is that they will continue to hunt.  I am neither for or against but I live in the countryside and respect their ways and have been invited on numerous occasions to both shoot and hunt.  I just hate the way this country is turning into a dictative state!

Polly - how much sloe gin did YOU have yesterday?    Is the Dagnall Caribou Stork  on the endangered list alongside the Surrey Panther?

:-)

Jo

My little shoot at Dagnall is very close to Whipsnade Zoo, we assumed it had escaped from there. :-) No sloe gin Saturday, it was too early in the day! It was quite magnificant with an enormous wing span, flying slowly over the beaters heads. It landed in the middle of the field and then as we finished the drive it took off again circling our wood.