Wilding has moved the conservation arguments on a bit.” I am not in the habit of quoting RSPB managers in these pages, or anywhere else for that matter. Their idea of conservation is very different to mine. But the more I delve into the issue of wilding and look at different approaches, from Sutherland to Sussex, the more I have to admit that there is some truth in that statement (by the manager of RSPB Loch Garten, of osprey fame).
My attempts at creating a paradise for game on my small patch are helped by the latest ideas from places like Knepp Castle about the importance of biodiversity and a balanced ecosystem built upon healthy soils. Conversely, the wilding of Britain, which has been going on all along, has always been and continues to be helped by the desire of shooting landowners to add a bit of variety to the bag.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Anyone Fancy Coney Carbonara?
Cooking rabbit well can be a real challenge but with some expert advice our aspiring chef reckons he’s cracked it
How To Make Sure The Gunline Is In The Right Place
Liam Bell offers some guidance on how to make sure the gunline is in the right place
Wild greys need the ‘three-legged stool'
Successful reintroduction of our native partridge is complex and there are several things we can do to give it the best possible chance
Just another bloke on the Gun bus
George Browne crunches the numbers as he tries to build up a realistic pen portrait of the ‘ordinary shooting person’
Stalking Diary
There are some beasts that you simply cannot walk past and a redletter day on the hill with a former mentor ends with a perfect stalk
The ‘grey grouse' is a very fine pretender
Opportunities to take on the king of the gamebirds are few and far between, but the humble pigeon is a worthy stand-in for Blue Zulu
Find a fungi for that bunny
Rabbit, brown trout or venison pair beautifully with four of our tasty native mushrooms; John Wright simply has to pick the perfect wine
Terrierists at large
It would be almost unthinkable to go anywhere without the dogs but travelling with them is often a bit of a nightmare, says Petrel
Nippon out to bag a monster
The Ukrainian forests contain a subspecies of sika much bigger than our own — but they can be very hard to find, says Thomas Nissen
Scottish gamekeepers oppose ban on lead
The SGA remains unconvinced by the evidence when it comes to how humane and safe non-toxic loads are for wildlife management
SKIP NOVAK
GETTING INVOLVED IN THE HELICOPTER BOMBARDMENT OF A REMOTE ISLAND… ALL IN THE NAME OF A WAR AGAINST MICE
MELODIES FROM A GLOUCESTERSHIRE GLADE
Settled among the folds and fields of the Severn Vale is a little-known nature reserve, home to the elusive nightingale and its beguiling spring song, says local birder Tolga Aktasstar
Nature and food– how to have it all
Caring for the natural environment and food production are not binary activities, says Jamie Blackett, who presents the findings of his research on a thorny subject, the current ‘rewilding’ zeitgeist
FIELDCRAFT
Special species don’t appear by magic, and you’ll need to put in the groundwork if you want to capture elusive subjects
Your wildlife month
January is a miserable month. The days are short, dark and often damp, and most wildlife is still hibernating. But there are glimpses of spring on the horizon. Birds are starting to pair up. Blue tits and great tits will be looking for nest sites – it will be a while before they start to breed but you may spot them prospecting nest boxes or even roosting in them. Natural sources of food are in their shortest supply, so keep bird feeders topped up, and consider leaving halved apples on the ground for blackbirds and thrushes. Leave the berries on ivy until the birds have eaten them – they contain more calories per gram than a bar of chocolate and can help birds get into shape for breeding in a few weeks.
Familiar birds added to revised UK Red List
House martin, swift, greenfinch and Bewick’s swan are given status of “highest conservation concern”
Reusing Christmas waste
You can upcycle the downside of Christmas, says Ruth
Dream job showed me the nightmare our world is facing
WHEN I was a student, journalism was high on my list of career options. This wasn’t for noble motives. I just thought it would be fun. Had I known that as a reporter I would be paid to go birdwatching around the world I would have celebrated for a month at my favourite pub.
Going for gold
Val looks at why goldfinch numbers are on the up
Be careful what you wish for!
Val explains how her new cat is just a part-time visitor