Native rare breeds are under serious threat as numbers fall, says the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Perhaps it is time to lend a hand.
One of the rare breeds: Berkshire pigs work to clear an old garden.
Some rare breeds are becoming rarer, if the recent Rare Breeds Survival Trust watchlist is anything to go by. Britain’s native pig breeds face “significant threats” according to the latest figures compiled by the RBST for its 2015 Watchlist.
One of the best ways to support rare breeds is to farm or eat them. Perhaps as a whole suckling pig, or in a particularly scrumptious scotch egg. However you choose to support Rare Breeds please do just that. Lend them your assistance. Or the future is a bleaker, more homogonised and decidedly less interesting rural life.
RARE BREEDS IN DECLINE
The British Saddleback and Oxford Sandy and Black have been moved from category 5 to 4 and the Berkshire and Tamworth from category 4 to 3 following a fall in registrations. The British Landrace has been recognised as a rare breed for the first time, joining the Watchlist in category 3.
“Pigs this year are our main problem. Every single breed showed a decline in numbers,” said the RBST’s conservation officer, Claire Barber. Soaring feed prices are blamed for decline in the number of people able to keep native breed pigs.
The lack of market for young stock is causing the decline in some equine breeds, especially Dales (on the rarest category 1 list) and Dartmoors (up to category 2 from 3).
Cattle breeds fared better with the Whitebred Shorthorn moving up to category 2, having dipped into the critical category in 2011, which means it had fewer than 150 breeding females. “It takes a lot of dedication for a breed society to get a breed off the critical list. The breed is by no means safe but is going in the right direction,” said Barber.
The news was quite good for sheep with the trend for increasing numbers sustained for the third year in a row. The rarest breed, the Boreary, moved from critical category 1 to endangered category 2.
Michael Radencich traces the evolution of the classic salmon fly, through years of literature and lithography.
Exquisite Traherne flies tied by the writer, Michael Radencich.
A classic salmon fly has more than two centuries of history behind it. And is still evolving. Megan Boyd was known for tying exquisite salmon flies, watch the video of her working at salmon flies and fly-tying. Or take some practical advice on landing your fish from Mike Daunt’s how to catch a salmon video. But if you really want to know how something about the history of the classic salmon fly, expert Michael Radencich has the answer.
THE CLASSIC SALMON FLY
Whenever I sit down to tie a classic salmon fly – and I’ve been doing this for 25 years now – I can’t help but make a connection or, one might say, a comparison with classical music because both of these artistic expressions have a long, ever-evolving history. The legacy of the classic salmon fly spans more than 200 years, starting in the British Isles, and has been documented in books since the beginning of the 19th century with, I’m glad to say, no end in sight.
In a way, discovering these books became a sort of treasure hunt for me as I found and admired their beautiful, hand-coloured plates. Since I am more artist than writer, it was not at all surprising that I became enamoured of these colourful paintings and how they were made. Hand-coloured engravings came into being early in the 19th century and this was the only method available to publishers of books containing coloured illustrations until around the 1860s, when chromolithography (patented in France around 1837) began to supplant the process of painting hundreds or even thousands of plates by hand.
An illustration from Daniel’s Rural Sports, published in 1804, a book the author has great pleasure in owning. Is this the first hand-coloured plate of salmon flies ever published?
Now, I must say I’m not a historian but I have pored over many, if not most, of the books written about the salmon fly – especially those with the aforementioned hand-coloured engravings, which apparently began with Daniel’s Rural Sports in a special, de-luxe, leather-bound, three-volume set published in 1804 that I once had the distinct pleasure to own. This set of books sported many beautiful, hand-coloured plates covering a wide range of sporting interests including hunting, fishing, horsemanship and so on. One of the plates displayed a finely rendered Atlantic salmon along with two classic salmon flies (see above). From what I understand – although I can’t prove it – this may have been the first hand-coloured plate of salmon flies ever published. We will have to leave it up to the historians to verify this claim but it was still quite a thrill to come across this engraving.
It wasn’t long before more books came forth with many colourful, hand-painted etchings – some realistic and faithful to the fly subjects and some with a more creative or stylistic approach. Easily the finest renderings came from the Adlard brothers whose work graced Jones’s Guide to Norway, and Salmon-fisher’s Pocket Companion (1848). This contained eight stunning coloured plates of which “The Major” (below) is my favourite from all the books I’ve perused.
‘The Major’ from Jones’s Guide to Norway, and Salmon-fisher’s Pocket Companion, 1848.
Other works illustrated by the Adlards include Ephemera’s (Edward Fitzgibbon’s) The Book of the Salmon (1850), Francis Francis’s A Book on Angling (six editions, 1867-1885) and Hewett Wheatley’s wonderful little book, The Rod and Line (1849).
THE ‘BLACKER 15′ CLASSIC SALMON FLY
Of all the rare books containing hand-coloured plates, those with the brothers’ engravings were the most accurate by far in my opinion but that is not to denigrate the fine engravings in other books, especially William Blacker’s Art of Fly Making (1855), which contains 22 engravings – 18 of which are coloured – delineating the salmon and trout fly patterns he extols. I’ve found tying the “Blacker 15” flies to be some of the most challenging due to the vagueness of some of the pattern recipe descriptions, yet rewarding to explore (photograph overleaf). Blacker’s earlier book, Art of Angling (1842), covered fly-tying and feather-dyeing techniques but he is best known for the 1855 work.
An example of one of Blacker’s patterns less specific as to materials can be found with his description of a fly he received from his friend McPherson Grant. The pattern – No 15 in his group of salmon flies – is as follows (page 177 in his book): “The body of the fly was made of yellow silk, red cock’s hackle, toucan tail ribbed with gold [it is assumed he meant the ribbing to be on the body], jay at the shoulder, a neat gaudily mixed wing, feelers of blue and yellow macaw, and a small black head.”
The Blacker 15 flies are some of the most challenging flies to tie, due to vague pattern descriptions.
With no definitive description of what materials should be used for the wing, I liken it to a cadenza in a classical music concerto that allows a soloist to use his or her imagination to fill in the blanks while performing that passage. The cadenza, usually played at the end of the concerto, is meant to be an improvised, ornamental piece enabling the soloist to strut his or her stuff as a virtuoso. So I’m sure Blacker wanted us to tie this pattern with a suitable, gaudy cadenza wing.
Written by the Revd Henry Newland and published prior to Blacker’s work is an interesting little book on the classic salmon fly simply called The Erne (1851); its subtitle reads, Its Legends and Its Fly Fishing. This book boasted a single plate of hand-coloured engravings of snelled salmon flies. Even more interesting is “The Fairy Fly” gracing the title page. This fly depicts a beautiful woman riding a giant salmon hook or, perhaps, a tiny sprite riding a normal-sized hook – the imagination runs wild. And published just two years after Newland’s work was an offering by Thomas Tod Stoddart called The Angler’s Companion, which explored the rivers and lochs of Scotland.
It should be noted that many if not most of these 19th-century fishing books were not dedicated to the classic salmon fly alone, they also included copious amounts of information on trout fishing and trout fly-tying. Stoddart’s treatise was no exception, yet on page 171 of the Companion is a single plate of six salmon flies – hand-coloured, of course – and these appear to be simple strip-wing flies meant to be fished on Tweed.
Will the Yellow Butterfly be your classic salmon fly of choice?
As the classic salmon fly evolved, so did the artistry of the etchings. The later works began to include fly plates produced by the chromolithograph technique mentioned earlier. An interesting example of a book containing stylistic chromolitho plates of the classic salmon fly is Fraser Sandeman’s By Hook and By Crook (1894). Starting on page 96, there are five fly plates along with pattern recipes and these fly renditions, although hardly realistic, are quite beautiful and almost ethereal. It appears that Sandeman gave the artist quite a lot of creative freedom.
Of course, there were other interesting books on the classic salmon fly from across the Pond that contained much information on both salmon and trout fishing and fly-tying, such as Genio C Scott’s Fishing in American Waters (1869) wherein a plate (not coloured) of a number of classic salmon flies can be found on page 307. What’s interesting about this find is that not only are strip-wing flies featured but also realistic insect renditions – something I wasn’t aware of for catching salmon.
Also of interest is Robert Barnwell Roosevelt’s Game Fish of Northern States and British Provinces (1884), which included much information about trout, salmon and other game fish. Starting on page 273, Roosevelt presents a long list of Canadian classic salmon fly recipes but, alas, unaccompanied by etchings of the flies. Of great interest to hook makers, though, are a number of fine plates of hooks in the appendix on page 317 (O’Shaughnessy forged hooks) with sizes from small trout hooks up to 8/0 salmon irons. Another fine plate of hooks can be found here on page 321 – again, made by O’Shaughnessy.
Or perhaps Antony’s Queen will tickle the spot.
I cannot finish this piece without acknowledging my great appreciation of George M Kelson’s work on the classic salmon fly: The Salmon Fly (1895). This not only contained a huge number of fly patterns but also sported quite a few chromolitho plates – very colourful – of classic Atlantic salmon flies. These are, again, rather creative renditions similar to those found in the book by Sandeman although they are a bit more realistic in appearance. Kelson’s book was a true landmark work on the salmon fly and its influence on the modern-day salmon fly-tying community is still important. Plus, Kelson included an interesting treatise on how to tie these patterns in-hand and certainly inspired a few talented and fearless modern-day tyers to try tying them without a traditional fly-tying vice.
Just as developments in classical music continue to this day, so does the art of tying the classic Atlantic salmon fly. Modern tyers produce new and, in many cases, highly artistic salmon flies meant to catch the eye rather than the fish. I can only try to imagine what salmon flies will look like 10, 20 or 50 years from now. I wish I could live long enough to see them.
Every fly fisherman should download these vintage fly tying books for free. They are fascinating.
Michael Radencich rates Daniel's Rural Sports as one of the best vintage fly tying books available.
The best vinatge fly tying books are not tomes that need to be dragged down from dusty shelves. These books may have been published in 1800 but are free to download from Google Books. Michael Radencich has compiled his list of the best vintage fly tying books below. You can also read what Micahel Radencich has to say about the classic salmon fly. He mentions several of the best vintage fly tying books listed below. He also gives his opinions on which are the best and most delightful to read.
BEST VINTAGE FLY TYING BOOKS
Angling in All Its Branches Samuel Taylor (1800)
Daniel’s Rural Sports Daniel (1804)
The North Country Angler Anon (1817)
The Modern Fisher: or, Driffield Angler Alexander Mackintosh (1821)
Art of Angling Charles Bowlker (1826)
Fly Fishers Guide George Cole Bainbridge (1840)
Art of Angling William Blacker (1842)
The Practice of Angling C O’Gorman (1845)
The American Angler’s Guide John J Brown (1846)
Jones’s Guide to Norway Frederic Tolfrey (1848)
The Rod and Line Hewett Wheatley (1849)
The Book of the Salmon Ephemera (Edward Fitzgibbon, 1849)
Fly Fishing in Salt and Fresh Water Horace Gordon Hutchinson (1851)
The Erne Henry Newland (1851)
The Angler’s Companion Thomas Tod Stoddart (1853)
Blacker’s Art of Fly Making William Blacker (1855)
Halcyon Henry Wade (1861)
The American Angler’s Book Thaddeus Norris (1865)
A Book on Angling Francis Francis (1867)
A Year of Liberty W Peard (1867)
Fishing in American Waters Genio C Scott (1869)
Autumns on the Spey AE Knox (1872)
Fly Fishing and Worm Fishing for Salmon
H Cholmondeley-Pennell (1876)
Game Fish of the Northern States and British Provinces Robert Barnwell Roosevelt (1884)
Days and Nights of Salmon Fishing William Scrope (1885)
The Angler and the Loop-rod David Webster (1885)
How and Where to Fish in Ireland Hi-Regan (1886)
Walbran’s British Angler Francis Walbran (1889)
How to Tie Salmon Flies Captain Hale (1892)
Rod and River Major AT Fisher (1892)
By Hook and By Crook Fraser Sandeman (1894)
The Salmon Fly George M Kelson (1895)
Salmon and Sea Trout Herbert Maxwell (1898)
Tips George M Kelson (1901)
Fishing at Home and Abroad Herbert Maxwell (1913)
How to Dress Salmon Flies TE Pryce Tannatt (1914)
The perfect edible gift, these gooseberry, lime and elderflower travel cakes will always be well received. If they make it out of the house.
Who wouldn't be thrilled to receive these miniature mouthfuls as a gift?
Gooseberry, lime and elderflower travel cakes are inspired bythe French idea of bringing an edible gift to a party or picnic. And the gallic influence is well worth heeding when it comes to these delicious morsels. But if you have the ingredients and feel like putting them to differet use try our recipe for best elderflower cordial or gooseberry mint sauce.
GOOSEBERRY, LIME AND ELDERFLOWER TRAVEL CAKES
Makes 24 small cakes
■ A 24-hole mini-muffin tin
■ 1⁄2 tbsp sunflower oil
■ 280g (93⁄4oz) best-quality marzipan
■ 3 free-range/organic medium eggs
■ 75g (3oz) salted butter, melted
■ 2 tbsp cornflour
■ 11⁄2 tbsp elderflower cordial or St Germain elderflower liqueur
■ 24 small gooseberries, stem and tops removed
For the icing
■ 120g (81⁄2oz) icing sugar
■ 1 tbsp cream
■ 1 tbsp elderflower cordial or St Germain elderflower liqueur
■ Juice from half a lime plus lime zest to decorate
To make the gooseberry, lime and elderflower cakes first preheat the oven to 175°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease each muffin mould lightly with the sunflower oil.
Break the marzipan into chunks and pulse briefly in a food processor (too much and it will become oily). Add the eggs one at a time giving a quick pulse after each addition.
Add the melted butter, cornflour and elderflower cordial or liqueur.
Scrape the mixture into a jug (it should be a loose batter) then pour into each muffin mould until it’s two-thirds full.
Place one gooseberry in each and bake on the middle shelf for 20 minutes; they should be golden and slightly puffed up.
Cool in the tin then gently prize out on to a tray – a toothpick is the perfect tool to help with this.
To make the icing, measure the icing sugar into a bowl then add the cream and elderflower cordial or liqueur on one side and gradually incorporate.
Loosen the mixture with fresh lime juice until it is a thick but pourable consistency.
Spoon the icing over the gooseberry, lime and elderflower cakes, allowing it to dribble over the sides, then grate fresh zest over the tops.
French gunmaker Betrand Piraube made this gun, in collaboration with exceptionally skilled craftsmen. The Piraube was used as a royal gift from the French king. Mark Murray-Fletcher, senior curator at the Royal Armouries, tells the story.
The butt of the Piraube is decorated with the figure of a victorious general in Roman armour.
Bertand Piraube was a gunmaker working in France in the seventeenth century. As part of our series on historical hunting weapons, Mark Murray-Fletcher explains the birth of an exquisite piece.
THE PIRAUBE
As technical innovation in gunmaking progressed so did the uses to which the firearm would be put. One was as a luxury item. A status symbol to show your wealth and sophistication. By the late 17th century, the application of decoration on firearms had reached extraordinary levels.
A fine example of this is a magnificent gun by Piraube in the Royal Armouries collection. It is believed to be a gift from Louis XIV (1638-1715) of France to Charles Lennox, first Duke of Richmond and Gordon. He was the natural son of King Charles II. Lennox visited Paris in 1681/2 and 1685. It is thought the gun might have been presented by the king during one of these visits. Alternatively, it might have been a gift to Charles II who passed it on to his son.
Clearly it was intended as a luxury gift. The extraordinary level of decoration was enhanced by a solid silver barrel. It is not only decorative but also capable of being fired. Preserved in the family until 1958, the gun raised a world record price of 2,100 guineas when it was purchased by the Royal Armouries.
It was created by the French gunmaker Bertrand Piraube in about 1685. He appears to have been working in St Germain-en-Laye from 1663. And in 1670, was commissioned to work in the Galeries du Louvre, where the best craftsmen attached to the royal court worked.
For a gun of this quality a professional designer would have been called upon to prepare designs for the patron’s approval. It is likely the designer was Jean Berain, chief designer to the Court of Louis XIV from 1674.
The silver barrel is chased with trophies of arms, foliate scrolls and a figure of Mars. The lock plate and other steel fittings were chiselled with classical imagery by a medallist such as Jerôme Roussel. The designs were based on those published in the 1660s by Thuraine and Le Hollandois.
An engraving showing designs for a flintlock sporting gun by Thuraine and Le Hollandois.
It is inscribed “PIRAUBE AUX GALERIES”. The butt plate is decorated with the figure of a victorious general in Roman armour, the screw plate is chased and pierced with Apollo and the silver escutcheon plate has a portrait of Louis XIV as a Roman emperor.
The walnut stock of the Piraube is inlaid with scrollwork in silver wire. On either side of the butt is an oval medallion depicting a camp scene with the sun god (Louis XIV) in a chariot with a sceptre topped with a fleur-de-lis. Such a fine weapon was a collaboration between a number of skilled craftsmen working at the top of their game.
Looking for some cooking inspiration this spring? The Field's top 7 best spring recipes will add some zing and originality to your supper. It is time to pop the lid on the casserole and say goodbye to the cold wintery pies.
Peppered salmon with saffron potatoes and spiced broth.
The top 7 best spring recipes recommended by The Field this season will encourage you to make the most of the foods in season. As spring draws on and we have our first glimpse of sunshine, the joyous activity of cooking with fresh and seasonal foods seems to begin again. We love our top 10 best pheasant recipes, but spring is a time to embrace new ingredients.
THE TOP 7 BEST SPRING RECIPIES: SEASONAL INGREDIENTS
A marbled chocolate pavlova is a useful addition to your pudding repertoire. And topping it with oranges and caramel gives …Continue reading »
It is healthier to eat in season not only for its nutrition and taste, but for the wonderful colour and appearance of the flowering fruits and vegetables. In many ways, the seasons should form the natural backdrop for our eating patterns. Locally farmed and hand picked foods take, or course, the top spot on any list. Buy British and buy well.
The Asparagus season in Britain is short but usually arrives in May. Asparagus is the best of British. But whatever you do, please don’t bother to buy asparagus out of season. It is wiltingly tasteless. Rhubarb is the closest thing to a ripened fruit that is ready to eat in the spring. Although the pink stuff forced in the rhubarb triangle is a late winter delight. All things leafy taste best in spring too and venison is a ferrous, gamey and flavoursome meat to be enjoyed in too.
Does your gundog live in? They do make very good hot-water bottles for those who prefer them indoors. Or are they best kept outside?
Many trainers insist that only kennelled gundogs can be trained to field-trial standard.
Should your gundog live in or out? It’s the great debate between professionals and amateurs. Both sides are entrenched in their views. Amateurs tend to prefer gundogs that live in. Professionals, tend to prefer live out. Read our other debate on whether you should be breeding or choosing a puppy, and decide which side sports your colours.
If there’s one thing that sets the professionals apart from the amateurs in the gundog world, it’s where their dogs sleep. The great majority of professional handlers kennel their dogs, a sensible choice if you have a lot of them. In contrast, most of us amateurs think it best that a gundog live in, sharing our houses with our dogs, if not our beds. A recent survey of 23,000 dog owners, reported in the Daily Telegraph, revealed that more than half allowed their dogs on their beds, a remarkable statistic. Quite how many working gundogs share their owners’ beds is another matter; not many, is my guess.
SHOULD YOUR GUNDOG LIVE IN OR OUT?
The advantages of keeping a dog in a kennel are many, which is why most the gundog-training books on my shelves recommend kennelling rather than keeping indoors as a gundog live in. Guy Wallace, writing in The Versatile gundog, urges his readers “to start as you mean to go on”, as soon as you bring the puppy home to become a live in gundog. He advises making the kennel comfortable and warm, even providing a hot-water bottle, but “if you bring the pup inside it will have won Round One and taught you to do its bidding!” Peter Moxon, in gundogs: Training and Field Trials, argues that for a puppy kept in kennels, “training spells will be the highlight of the puppy’s day and will therefore be eagerly awaited and much enjoyed. A dog which has been roaming about all day has not the same attitude to the training period.”
Many professionals insist that it’s almost impossible to train a gundog live in to the standard needed to win trials; it’s certainly true that the great majority of field-trial champions have been kennelled dogs. However, there are exceptions. Leading cocker-spaniel breeders Andrew and Fiona Robinson’s first champion, FTCh Wintergill Calypso, was a house dog. She won four open stakes, never lost a run-off and was never put out of a trial for a fault. She won more than 30 field-trial awards, nearly all of them for being placed in the top three. Their latest field-trial champion, Meadowsedge Shooting Star (Dizzy), has won four of the eight trials she has run in including three open stakes; she also lives in the house. The secret, according to Andrew Robinson, is not where the dog lives but how it is trained. A gundog live in needs the same attention from its owner.
My spaniels are unashamedly the gundog live in sort; they live in the kitchen but can come into the living room in the evening. They also accompany me to my office. I enjoy their companionship and like having them around. They do, however, have an outdoor kennel that they use every day, usually after exercise. The kennel is also useful if they are not wanted in the house for any reason, not everyone likes the company of dogs as much as I do. Joe Irving, in Training Spaniels, believes that “possibly the best solution is to get the best of both worlds by keeping the dog in a kennel but bringing him indoors frequently to ‘humanise’ him”. One essential for a house dog is being house trained, something that many kennel dogs are never taught. This, I believe, is a mistake. A surprising number of serious working gundogs persuade their owners to let them into the house when they retire but this in only possible if they have been house trained. Lack of house training is also a serious handicap if, for any reason, a dog needs to be rehomed.
My dogs frequently travel with me and the fact that they are not only gundog live in sorts, but can be trusted not to climb on furniture or even beds means that they are often welcomed into friends’ houses or can be left safely in hotel rooms. Such flexibility is important, as though they will happily spend the night in my vehicle they are safer in a hotel room than a distant car park. If you are starting off with a puppy and plan to keep it in the house, then make sure that you house it in a cage. Young dogs like having a base, or an indoor kennel, and by providing a cage you are giving a puppy security, as well as ensuring that it will not get into any sort of trouble. Make sure that the puppy knows its boundaries from the start: never let it sit on furniture, enter rooms or go on stairs if these are places where you don’t want it to go. Dogs are quick to learn their boundaries and most will respect them for the rest of their lives.
Dogs are also quick to adapt. My spaniels frequently stay with friends where the rules are different: both they and the resident dogs are allowed on certain sofas. They accept this as a matter of course but are well aware that such behaviour is strictly forbidden at home. When I discussed writing this article with a keen shooting friend, he said he agreed with my sentiments but added that his pair of cockers, usually kennelled at home, invariably sleep in his room when he is shooting away from home. Why the change in practice, I asked? “Well,” he admitted, “they do make very good hot-water bottles.”
Does stalking muntjac top pacing a Highland glen for a majestic red? It just might, says Graham Downing.
The smallest of the British deer species was introduced to the country by the 11th Duke of Bedford.
Stalking muntjac is more exciting than you think. Although their stature is less than impressive these little beasts give good sport. And who knows, your stalk could might even bag you a trophy head. They are delicious to eat too. And over the summer there is nothing simpler than a roast butterflied haunch of munjac thrown on to the barbecue. Or adapt one of the best venison recipes ever for muntjac.
MUNTJAC GET A BAD PRESS
When I tell my friends of my enthusiasm for stalking deer, they frequently express surprise that the majority of my outings with the rifle are not taken in the lofty grandeur of some Highland glen. They become even more confused when I patiently explain that the principal object of my sporting endeavours is not a huge, scary beast with branching antlers but something about the height of a springer spaniel that sneaks about in the woodlands of East Anglia. Stalking muntjac is a passion.
Muntjac tend to get a bad press. Their diet of tender shoots and woodland flora such as the bluebell, oxlip, common spotted orchid and wood anemone means that they are seriously unloved by the conservation organisations. Rose gardeners hate them, and they are regarded by farmers and timber growers as little short of vermin. Most people see a live muntjac only when they swerve to avoid one as it wanders out from the edge of the road at dawn or dusk, and the species is implicated in a large proportion of the 60,000 collisions between deer and motor vehicles which occur each year on England’s roads, costing some £17 million in insurance claims. Dead ones may be observed at daybreak, spread like pâté along most major routes in southern England that pass through woodland.
Since it was introduced into Woburn Park by the 1lth Duke of Bedford in 1894, the Reeves muntjac has spread steadily throughout the English Midlands as far as the Welsh borders, the South of England and East Anglia. A creature of dense woodland, it is extremely adaptable and inhabits not just large commercial forests but small woodlands, copses, spinneys and thick hedgerows, along with shrubberies and suburban gardens. It even takes up residence on bushy roundabouts at motorway interchanges.
The species is highly prolific. Being a native of the tropics, its reproductive cycle has not yet adapted to a temperate climate with a cold winter and so it breeds all the year round, with females producing fawns almost continuously. Indeed, a muntjac doe will mate within days of giving birth. So there are lots of them: some 128,500 according to a 2004 Mammal Society survey, though several experienced deer watchers would now nearly double that figure.
HOW AND WHERE TO STALK MUNTJAC
Officially, then, the status of muntjac hovers between that of significant nuisance and outright pest. And yet some people absolutely love stalking muntjac, because they are such sporting quarry.
The muntjac is surprisingly sporting quarry.
“I have a huge regard for them,” says Charles Smith-Jones, lecturer in deer management at Sparsholt College, Hampshire. “I believe that if you can stalk muntjac efficiently and consistently, then you can stalk anything. They’re cracking little animals.”
Certainly, muntjac are among the most challenging quarry the woodland stalker is likely to encounter. Because they are so small, it is very hard to see them before they see you and depart with that irritating bark. So just spotting one is by no means easy. Furthermore, they are always on the move, which means that even when the chance of a shot presents itself, there are usually only a few seconds in which to assess the animal, confirm that it is a safe target and then squeeze off the trigger. There is none of the lengthy preparation which so often takes place on the Scottish hill. Making oneself comfy in the heather and waiting patiently while the beast adjusts the trim of his forequarters is not an option because there simply isn’t the time. “Windows of opportunity in muntjac stalking are not long. If you don’t act decisively, then the chance of a shot will have gone,” says Smith-Jones.
Stalking muntjac is not only challenging, it’s accessible too. There is no need for a 10-hour drive to the Highlands or a flight to Inverness airport followed by a trip in a hire car, for muntjac stalking is widely available throughout the Midlands and the South East of England, with some estates having prodigious numbers of the feisty little critters. Those dainty slot marks along a woodland ride or footpath are a sure sign of their presence, and here in Suffolk muntjac can be found in almost every thicket and hedgerow, making it perfectly easy to enjoy a morning’s stalking before spending a day in the office. And because there is no close season, it is possible to shoot all the year round.
Weighing up to around 33lb, they are also a delight to deal with once on the deck. Every experienced stalker will confirm that taking the shot is not the difficult part about shooting deer; it’s what comes afterwards that constitutes the hard work. But muntjac, unlike fallow or red deer, take only a few moments to gralloch and can be carried with ease back to the vehicle: there is no back-breaking drag or lifting of huge carcasses to worry about; a boon for aging or arthritic stalkers.
Pint-sized it may be, but muntjac is very good in the pot.
Pint-sized muntjac may be, but their venison makes superb eating. Unlike the flesh of the larger deer species, it is fine in texture and, of course, the cuts are just the right size for the domestic kitchen. A haunch will comfortably serve a dinner party of eight, but for my money a boned muntjac loin fillet, rolled in crushed salt and black peppercorns, lightly drizzled with olive oil and popped into the top oven of the Aga for 12 minutes, then cut into noisettes and served with fresh home-grown vegetables, is the ultimate in venison dishes. And such delights are reserved almost exclusively for the sporting deerstalker and his family and friends; since most game dealers do not wish to be bothered with these little deer, muntjac venison is rarely available on the commercial market.
STALKING MUNTJAC IS BECOMING ACCEPTABLE
Forty years ago, roe deer were widely regarded in Britain as vermin. But then along came the Germans, the Belgians and the Danes and suddenly roestalking became first respectable, then sought after and highly prized. Is the same thing now happening with the muntjac?
“More and more overseas sportsmen are now learning that we’ve got them here in England, and they are beginning to value them in their own right, not just as an amusing sideline to shoot after they’ve secured that big fallow or roe trophy,” says Smith-Jones. “This is the only country in Europe where there is a significant wild population, and Continental stalkers are quite keen to add a muntjac head to their collection.”
But while medal-quality heads may occasionally be encountered, most of these tend to be shot by accident rather than by design. Unlike red or fallow deer, muntjac are not a herding species, so there is no prospect of creeping up to a fine group of muntjac bucks and selecting the longest set of antlers. Frankly, it’s a matter of luck as to which animal – if any – walks out in front of you. Having said that, however, it is not unreasonable for a guest stalker to expect to be able to secure a good representative muntjac head.
Agronomist and deerstalker Gerald Collini first started to look seriously at muntjac some 20 years ago and now he stalks little else, guiding guests from all over the world through the woods of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. “I love them to bits,” he says. “Even after having stalked them professionally for 15 years I learn something new every time I go out. You’re pitting your wits against a truly wild species in its own environment and I regard stalking them, and especially calling them in to a rifle, as a real challenge.”
But whether its undoubted value as a sporting quarry succeeds in elevating the status of muntjac above that of unwelcome intruder in the British countryside is another matter altogether. There are just too many of them. “My concern is that we have let the population get so out of hand that the temptation is to continue treating them as something less than a worthy sporting resource,” says Charles Smith-Jones.
Coursing with lurchers, snaring and illegal shotgun drives are already taking place, and many stalkers report finding pellets of birdshot in the animals they shoot. As a species, the muntjac probably receives more abuse than any other deer simply because it is so difficult to shoot legally with a rifle.
WHAT TO USE TO SHOOT MUNTJAC
To make management easier, the government extended the variety of firearms with which muntjac may be shot, and it is now legal to kill them with a .22 centrefire rifle, provided that it has a muzzle energy of 1,000ft/lb and fires a soft-nosed bullet of at least 50 grains. The adoption of smaller calibres does, however, raise its own problems, because these little deer are surprisingly tough, often refusing to recognise the fact that they are dead until they absolutely have to do so. Furthermore, most .22 centrefire bullets, being designed for shooting small vermin such as foxes, do not have the strong construction of a proper deerstalking round and can easily disintegrate on impact rather than pen-etrate the quarry’s vital organs. My advice would be to stick to the .243 as a minimum, especially since a rifle of this calibre can equally well be used on roe, fallow or other species, should they present themselves.
Using a high seat is one of the ways to stalk muntjac.
As with other woodland deer species, there is a range of tactics which the stalker may employ in order to shoot muntjac, the most obvious of which is to walk very slowly through the woods at dawn or dusk, eyes peeled and rifle at the ready. Most shots are taken at under 100yd and some a good deal closer than that, so it is helpful to have a stick or, better still, a pair of sticks to enable a supported shot to be taken from the standing position. Naturally, a good deal of practice is required before shooting while standing up, especially by those more used to shooting prone on the hill.
A simpler option is to position a high seat in the wood at a point where there is good visibility along a ride or through a block of coppice woodland and simply wait for something to turn up. In a well-populated wood, something often does, whereupon the high-seat shooter has the luxury of being able to adjust his position and take his carefully aimed shot from a secure rest. During the summer and autumn, when the leaves are on the trees, the undergrowth is dense and it is virtually impossible to spot muntjac while walking through the woods, the high seat is really the only effective way of getting on terms with them.
It is possible to call muntjac, using a call which emits a squeak not unlike the sound made by blowing across a blade of grass held between the thumbs. This art, developed largely by Gerald Collini, is particularly effective when the stalker is able to position himself, rifle at the ready and with his face to the wind, on the edge of a well-populated piece of woodland into which it is possible to see for 50yd or so. One may appear at the run within seconds of hearing the call, and stand barking at you just yards away. I have had equally dramatic results when using a call from a high seat.
In these circumstances, however, the stalker may be presented with an ethical judgment, for the call is designed to imitate the sound of a muntjac fawn in distress and, naturally, it will often be mother who comes to investigate. Shooting her on sight may well result in a dependent fawn being orphaned. It is for this reason that the British Deer Society recommends that only fat (ie heavily pregnant) does are shot, since these will no longer have any dependant offspring. However, if a thin (ie lactating) doe comes to investigate your call, then it is likely that a buck will not be far away, and given a moment or two he may show himself, too. So it is worth holding your fire and waiting.
Having the best balance when stalking is essential, but which is most useful in the Field? Bipod, tripod or quadpod? Dominic Griffith guides us through the options.
The Hammond Quadpod, adjustable to 17 height settings, can be used kneeling or standing.
Bipod or tripod, or perhaps the quadpod? Dominic Griffith debates the merits and drawbacks of the various shooting aids on the market. Whether your tastes run to the pint-sized muntjac, the smallest deer gives sporting stalking, or red deer in the glen, every shot needs to be well-balanced. Is the bipod or tripod fit for service?
The days of iron sights and a “sporting shot” are long behind us. Our aim today, having completed a successful approach, is to ensure as quick and humane a shot as possible. To that end, few would choose to go stalking without the appropriate shooting aids – and those aids vary according to the type of shooting, the conditions and the quarry.
BIPOD OR TRIPOD? WHICH OFFERS BEST BALANCE?
The bipod is now almost universally carried as a standard attachment, whether stalking red in the Highlands, roe in the forests or fallow in the fields. Its benefit when taking a prone shot far outweighs its handicap when not in use. Yes, it slightly imbalances a rifle, pushing the point of balance forward – as does a moderator – and, yes, it can get in the way when opting for a standing shot on sticks. But, given a prone shot, it locks the rifle absolutely solidly on the target leaving little room for error. Bipods come in a variety of extending heights and the best are pivoted to allow for uneven ground. The Harris L (9in to 13in) would suit most conditions but the 25 version (12in to 25in) can also be used for sitting shots. The sitting shot is a generally underused position, locking almost as solid as a prone shot but giving important height over grasses and heather. It is particularly useful when taking steep downhill shots as well as saving many a sore back caused by the discomfort of lying prone. My only issue with bipods is when crawling through deep heather in the Highlands as the folded legs can get caught in the twiggy mass and you end up having to raise the rifle too high in order to drop the legs; frequently this is too much movement for a flighty hind.
Harris L Bipod (9-13) or Primos Trigger Stick (right): a choice between ease and noise.
Although we should all learn to be capable in an emergency of shooting completely freehand, at least up to 50 metres, when woodland stalking most of us nowadays use a stick, or a bipod or tripod. A single stick improves accuracy by a margin, a double stick doubles that margin, and a triple stick, provided that you practise with it so that you can set it up smoothly and effortlessly, doubles that margin once again. A triple with a revolving ‘“V” provides perhaps the best support for a standing shot. The Primos Trigger Tripod Stick is height adjustable at the press of a button but, as with all multi-leg sticks, there is an unacceptable compromise between ease and speed of handling on the one hand, and the potential for noise (most are made of aluminium) and undue arm movement that alerts the deer to your presence on the other hand. So, the inverse is true regarding manageability when it comes to the bipod or tripod: the triple can trip you up, the double is less demanding and the single stick is simple.
But what of the brand-new Hammond Quadpod? In essence it is a compact, adjustable stalking stick that can be used effortlessly and quietly as a single binocular/rifle rest; opened to a double stick; or opened further to a secure rifle rest supported at two points (under the fore-end and behind the pistol grip). Comprising four bonded legs, it may look like products that have been around for some years but it is re-engineered to a fantastic standard of build quality. Using internal spring-ball catches for height adjustment means that there are no external plastic hasps to rattle, break or catch. There is no need for a strap to stop the legs falling apart, as the whole unit is designed to open only as far as necessary. Thus the pod opens naturally and effortlessly to any of the positions, with no need for flailing arms and the clash of metal on metal. It is also unique in that it offers a small amount of lateral movement due to the flat, rubberised surface of the forward rest. Developed in Denmark and weighing just under 1.2kg, it is new to the UK market and, in my view, the most versatile and practical product of its type that I have ever seen.
Using many of its competitors is like trying to erect scaffolding at the most sensitive moment of the stalk, but the simple Hammond Quadpod converts effortlessly and noiselessly as and when needed.
STICKS AND PODS
If you want a bipod or tripod, or a quadpod see where to buy below.
The Hammond Quadpod £157 is available from the sole UK distributor:
When setting yourself up for stalking it is important to own the right rifle kit and pay a fair price for it. So which bit of complete kit is the best buy?
Sako A7 rifle.
The best rifle kits for stalking do not always have to leave your wallet thin. Avoid expensive mistakes by buying a complete kit. It will help on the hill or in the forest.
To celebrate the launch of the German optics brand’s scope, GMK is offering a best rifle kit Sako/Steiner package. Matching the Finnish stainless synthetic Sako 85 in .243 with a Steiner scope and Ase Utra moderator, there’s a discount of £800 on the recommended retail price, bringing the total to just under £3,000. It is easy to make a mistake when trying to set yourself up with a stalking rifle by buying someone else’s cast-off or a poor-quality scope or mounting the scope cheaply or too high. This package takes the worry out of purchase by matching good-quality products to make a rifle that could be the only one you ever need to own. The 85 has an excellent reputation for build quality, accuracy and resilience. I have used one as my daily rifle for many years and currently use the Finnlite. It is a rugged, weatherproof tool and has not lost zero over all those years.
German optics are the market leaders and this Steiner matches any scope that I have used. I liked the ultrafine reticle and its illumination, which switches off automatically when you forget to do so. It is variable from x3 (useful for humane despatch) up to x15 for zeroing. The image is clear and build quality evident in rifle kits.
It is mounted on Sako Optilock mounts, which I have used for many years, and the moderator is an Ase Utra SL5, a short, squat, front-mounted type that does its job without overly unbalancing the rifle. My preference is usually for a reflex moderator, which brings the point of balance back to the centre of the rifle, but the Ase gets around this simply through its compactness. Here are some suggest rifle kits below.
RIFLE KITS
As The Field reviewed the 85 in March 2010, I elected to test the newer A7 Synthetic/Stainless which, at £1,445, sits in price between a Tikka and a Sako.
The Tikka T3 Lite.
The A7 is recognisably and reassuringly Sako but comes in just two action lengths, which means a limited range of calibres. The only stock available is synthetic with stainless or blue barrel option. Yes, it is cheaper than the 85 and the visible difference is in small elements of finish – plastic trigger guard, plastic magazine (but with metal lips, which improve performance and durability over, say, the Tikka) and plastic bolt shroud. The action isn’t quite as smooth as the 85’s, but is still robust and repeats reliably. Instead of the normal, tapered, dovetail rail the A7 is drilled and tapped to take a Weaver/ Picatinny mounting system, providing a range of mounting options if required. But to feel and to fire it is very much a Sako and little different from the 85.
The Steiner scope is sturdy, useful and jolly good value.
On the range I achieved a 1in group using Hornady 95gr SST. The balance was good, the trigger was excellent and the Steiner scope was clear and sturdy. Although the A7 is not included in an offer package, it remains a strong contender within the Sako range. If the 85 Sako/Steiner package is too expensive, consider a Tikka package comprising a T3 Lite in a wider range of calibres with synthetic stock and stainless barrel, an American Burris 3-12×56 variable scope with illuminated reticle and mounted on Tikka Optilock Mounts, and an Ase Utra SL5 Moderator, all at a cost of just £1,575, representing a saving of £500 over the recommended retail prices.
Both rifles come from the same factory and use the same barrels. They are proven performers in the field and the difference between them is mainly one of finish. As a budget rifle the Tikka has always had a fantastic reputation.
Tony Andrews, executive director of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, fears that if we continue on our current course the species may be doomed. He outlines a programme to save the Atlantic salmon.
Salmo salar leaps upstream at the Ettrick water cauld, Philiphaugh, Selkirk, Scotland.
Atlantic salmon is not only a valuable international resource, it has been at the heart of national cultures of countries in the North Atlantic region for at least 20,000 years. As has catching this most challenging, and often elusive creature. Use the classic salmon fly, after reading about a good number of the best vintage fly tying books. Or watch our video on how to catch a salmon for the best top tips.
The salmon carved in a Dordogne cave and the Glamis Stone testify to its spiritual importance. In Canada and Finnmark First Nation people still regard the salmon as sacred. The late poet laureate, Ted Hughes, celebrated the Atlantic salmon’s life cycle in elemental terms in his poem Salmon Eggs.
ATLANTIC SALMON: NATURE’S BAROMETER
The life cycle of the salmon gives it the status of a “barometer” species, providing detailed information about our environment. Few other fish species are protected by an international treaty organisation. The governments of the Atlantic salmon countries are signatories of NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation), of which the International Atlantic Salmon Research Board is a part. NASCO’s existence is a measure of how important the conservation of the wild Atlantic salmon is to the signatory governments. It also has 34 NGO members and access to the best fishery scientists.
Despite this, the wild Atlantic salmon’s future is uncertain. The species is in danger of extinction, perhaps not imminently or everywhere but at least in its southern range. Among the many possible causes for the Atlantic salmon’s decline the most threatening is climate change. The most obvious effect of which is ocean warming. Salmon are cold-water fish. Higher temperatures impact on their marine and freshwater habitats and reduce the abundance of their prey species. The key question is whether human intervention can mitigate the effects of climate change on salmon stocks at sea.
ATLANTIC SALMON UNDER THREAT
Concern regarding the decline of stocks of wild Atlantic salmon by more than 60% in 40 years prompted NASCO to launch the Salmon at Sea (SALSEA) project in 2008. The project’s goal, as explained by NASCO’s Dr Malcolm Windsor, is, “to increase understanding of how salmon use the ocean, where they go, how they utilise currents and the ocean’s food resources and what factors influence their migration and distribution at sea”. Since then, scientists from the North Atlantic salmon countries have made unprecedented efforts to ascertain “where, when and how are such high numbers of salmon dying at sea”.
The Salmon at Sea (SALSEA) project was launched in 2008.
Farther north, other European rivers are starting to record the effects of climate change. In some Pennine and Scottish river catchments, planting programmes have been implemented to protect juvenile salmon from high water temperatures caused by direct sunlight on shallow upland streams.
Studies of effects of drought conditions on salmon waiting in estuaries indicate that up to 50% may die from a range of causes, including high temperatures, predation, coastal netting, salmon farming, pollution and disruption to migrations caused by renewable energy projects. The problems caused by high summer temperatures are also affecting North American rivers such as the Mirimichi and the rivers of Maine, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Severe storms that affect the top layers of the pelagic zone of the ocean’s water column can change surface currents and throw migrations of post-smolt salmon off course.
The Atlantic salmon is an endangered species in the United States. Canadian rivers flowing into the Bay of Fundy historically had annual runs of more than 40,000 salmon, they now have fewer than 200. Portuguese rivers have lost nearly all their salmon, the rivers of Galicia and Asturias are on the edge, as are the rivers of southern France, despite heroic efforts by fishery managers. For example, soon the Allier, a tributary of the Loire, may be unable to sustain salmon; outgoing smolts and incoming adults have to negotiate more than 800 kilometres of the river’s main stem and for most of the year it is too hot for them to survive. As Dr Patrick Martin, the Loire’s head conservationist, commented recently, “The Loire salmon’s migration window is closing.” With that closure the opportunity for the fish to migrate is lost.
Oceanic and terrestrial warming is squeezing the salmon’s habitat at all stages of its life cycle in rivers and at sea.
3 MOST URGENT ISSUES FOR ATLANTIC SALMON
The most urgent issues, in the context of marine mortality and with salmon already extinct in more than 300 rivers, are:
The effects of salmon farming
With a global ratio of one wild Atlantic salmon to 200 farmed fish in open net cages “sharing” the same coastal waters, an uncompromising precautionary approach should apply in licensing such facilities. Parasites, genetic ingression, pollution and disease from salmon farms may affect wild salmon much farther away than the locality of the salmon farm.
Mixed stocks netting
This kills Atlantic salmon from unknown rivers of origin and continues despite international pressure to end it. In 2013, for example, one Scottish coastal net fishery killed 7,159 salmon and grilse, while the total number of salmon killed by nets in England and Wales was 24% above the average of the previous five years. Atlantic salmon swim with other pelagic fish, including mackerel and herring. Some salmon are being accidentally caught up in the nets of commercial trawlers. We need to know the extent of that “by-catch”, as well as where and when it takes place.
Climate change
This must be assessed, particularly in relation to ocean warming, bearing in mind the question, “Is extinction of the species inevitable?” If the answer is yes, what is the timescale? What, if anything, can be done to delay that inevitability? If the answer is no, can we find ways to give the wild salmon time and space for its natural resilience to kick in? There is evidence that salmon have survived massive geophysical and climatic changes, including at least two ice ages. What can be learnt from the historical and current life strategies of the species? Can we find ways of integrating our restoration efforts with that innate resilience?
Most conservation efforts concentrate on rivers. Salmon have been categorised as freshwater fish with a marine migratory phase. As a result, most resources are spent on restoring riparian habitats and studying the freshwater phase of the species’ life cycle. More needs to be known about its life at sea. Already, in Canada, Ireland, Norway and Scotland, new tracking technologies are deployed to determine where it goes and where obstacles to migration exist.
3 STRATEGIES TO SAVE THE ATLANTIC SALMON
If the Atlantic salmon smolt heads to the water off West Greenland to feed what are their chances of survival and return?
A “big picture” strategy encompassing the whole life of the salmon is badly needed. Recent advances in freshwater fisheries management must continue because each river catchment is unique, as are the populations that comprise its stock. Their survival depends on genetic diversity. Atlantic salmon countries must plan on a larger scale than hitherto on the following bases:
Continuing to improve freshwater productivity through river catchment, ecosystem-based assessment, monitoring and actions.
Using a precautionary approach to demand proof that new engineering projects along the coasts and in the ocean do not harm the en-vironment. Issues such as by-catch, renewable energy, poaching, salmon farming, coastal and drift netting and pollution are a starting point.
Mapping migration routes and attributing populations to regions and even individual rivers should enable scientists to predict future abundance or otherwise. Appropriate management action can then be taken in real time, as already happens to some extent in Ireland, Canada and Norway.
The “big picture” strategy requires a new international effort and level of cooperation. Large amounts of private sector money from the salmon countries of the North Atlantic region will be needed to pay for research and monitoring at sea. The process of mapping out safe migration “corridors” and, through NASCO, negotiating international agreements to protect salmon at sea, must follow.
DO RECENT CATCHES TELL THE WHOLE STORY?
Fishing for Atlantic salmon. Will this scene become extinct? Rod catches are down.
Rod catches in many fisheries of the North Atlantic countries have been among the lowest ever recorded. In some rivers in North America, Iceland, Norway, Ireland and the UK, rod catches in 2014 were lower than the five-year average. The main exception was Russia’s Kola Peninsula, especially Barents Sea rivers, where both the numbers and quality of salmon are holding up well.
But, do rod catches provide reliable data for stock assessment? The situation is more complex than might at first appear. For example, in 2014 spring salmon, returning to some Scottish and Irish rivers after two or more years feeding at sea, were caught in reasonable numbers and were in excellent condition. Ireland’s River Slaney, for example, had its best spring returns for 30 years, with most fish in prime condition and weighing 12lb to 15lb. A similar spring season was enjoyed by rods on some Scottish east coast rivers. Nearly all these fish were caught and released, while coastal netting was delayed until April.
Later in 2014 low-water and high-temperature conditions in many North Atlantic rivers did not favour high rod catches. Grilse returns in European salmon countries were, at best, variable, in some cases virtually non-existent. There is also evidence that extreme flooding in the wake of Hurricane Bertha reduced juvenile density considerably in some Scottish upper catchment tributaries.
Some freshwater fishery managers are saying that little can be done to improve the situation at sea, so efforts should be stepped up to improve freshwater productivity. However, while that view is understandable, it does not address the fact that more than 90% of wild Atlantic salmon are dying at sea, whereas only 40 years ago the figure was more like 65%.
If the number of smolts that survive to become adults could be increased by only 2% or 3%, there would be significant difference to the quantity of adult fish in our rivers.
3 PROJECTS TO BRING BACK MORE ATLANTIC SALMON
Three projects to bring back more salmon to our rivers are listed below. Funds are urgently needed to implement them. We cannot predict the increase of returning salmon but we can state that these projects are a practical starting point, with more projects to follow as knowledge of migrations improves.
By-catch
This innovative eDNA pilot project addresses the issue of accidental by-catch by pelagic trawlers. By employing forensic methods routinely used at scenes of crime it can determine whether salmon DNA is present in body fluids on the decks or nets of the giant pelagic trawlers. Our concern is the likelihood that post- smolt migrations, relatively densely packed within coastal currents, may be inadvertently caught up in huge purse-seine nets. It is conceivable that the entire migration of a small river could be wiped out by pelagic trawlers.
Coastal waters
There is a high risk of smolt mortality in the days after they enter the sea, which may cause huge variations in adult return rates. Research is urgently required to establish where and how smolts die in the coastal zone. If we can identify the extent of the loss and the causes we can develop remedial actions. Return adults are also at risk in estuaries, where it is thought that up to 50% may die in adverse conditions.
Migration corridors
Establishing protected migration corridors for salmon between their native river estuaries and their feeding grounds requires a co-ordinated international effort. In the longer term this approach may prove to be the most effective way to bring more salmon back to their native rivers.
The effects of losing the salmon would be a disaster. Recent surveys in Canada, Scotland and England show that the wild Atlantic salmon is often central to rural economies. Salmon fishing tourism provides income and jobs for remote communities and gives them a strong sense of identity.
As food, driver of rural tourism, angler’s quarry or cultural icon, the existence and value of the wild Atlantic salmon has never been fully appreciated. To allow its demise would be a human catastrophe. Continuing as we are is not an option.
Wild salmon needs very little doing to it. Just show it the pan and serve with something seasonal, as Philippa Davis suggests with this recipe for crispy skinned salmon.
Don't attempt anything too fussy with a fish you have caught yourself. Savour it unadulterated.
Crispy skinned salmon is an unadulterated delight. If yours has swum in from the supermarket then experiment and dress it up any way you see fit. Perhaps poached salmon with a hard-boiled egg, or one of our top 7 best spring recipes, peppered salmon. But if you have caught the fish yourself, do as little as possible to it. Just a few seasonla additions for a dish you won’t forget.
CRISPY SKINNED SALMON WITH WARM ASPARAGUS AND ANCHOVY DRESSING
Serves 4
■ 4 x 200g (7oz) salmon fillets, skin on
■ Salt
■ Olive oil
■ 1 lemon, quartered, to serve
For the dressing
■ 12 salted anchovy fillets, rinsed of salt and deboned
■ Pinch dried red chilli
■ Half a garlic clove, crushed
■ 2 tsp tiny capers
■ 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
■ 2 tsp Dijon mustard
■ 10g (1⁄2oz) dill, roughly chopped
■ Juice of half a lemon
■ Black pepper
For the salad
■ 500g (171⁄2oz) prepped asparagus
■ 200g (7oz) red radishes, cleaned and cut into wedges
Flabby cooked fish skin is not great to eat (unless you’re the family dog) but crispy skinned salmon is worth keeping for yourself.
Make the dressing by blitzing the anchovy fillets, chilli, garlic, capers, olive oil and mustard in a food processor until smooth. Stir in the chopped dill and lemon juice and add a few twists of black pepper.
Just before you are ready to eat, blanch the asparagus in a large pan of salted water for three minutes then drain and toss through the anchovy dressing and radish.
To cook the salmon, follow this method to get perfectly cooked fish with a crispy skin.
For the best crispy skinned salmon first dry the fish skin with kitchen paper then season with salt.
Heat a large frying pan (overcrowding will cause the skin to steam and the temperature to drop) with a tablespoon of olive oil on a high heat until almost smoking.
Rub a little extra oil all over the fish to ensure every part is covered then lay the fish skin-side down in the pan and turn the heat to medium.
When the fish touches the pan it tends to curl up – press down with a spatula so all the skin touches the pan. This ensures the whole skin becomes crispy.
Cook the fish mostly skin-side down (depending on size it may take three to 10 minutes). It’s important not to move the fish until the skin looks like it is browning and it lifts easily off the pan. Turn the heat down slightly if it’s colouring too fast.
Once the skin is crispy and brown and the fillet almost cooked through, flip the fish over and sear on the flesh side for a further two minutes. Wild salmon is best eaten rare/medium rare so if you see too much white residue seeping from the fish (albumen) you have overcooked it.
Serve your perfectly fried crispy skinned salmon, skin-side up, with the warm asparagus salad and anchovy dressing plus a wedge of lemon.
The Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust has bought the historic home of the bishops of Worcetser. And will restore it as a tourist attraction.
Work will begin on turning Hartlebury Castle, home to the bishops of Worcester, in to a tourist attraction.
Hartlebury Castle, the historic home of the bishops of Worcester, is being turned into a tourist attraction by locals, who have bought the property from the Church Commissioners. The Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust (HCPT) bought the castle at the end of March after raising £5.7 million for the project.
The castle had belonged to the see of Worcester for more than a thousand years. Unlike most bishops’ residences, Hartlebury, which is set in 43 acres of parkland and gardens, has a fishing lake, stables and three cottages.
HARTLEBURY CASTLE: HISTORIC LIBRARY
Hartlebury Castle’s Hurd library was built by Bishop Hurd to house his 5,000 books. “It’s the only library in the Anglican communion where the books are on the shelves in the room built for it. It’s a gentleman’s library from the Age of Enlightenment,” says Robert Greenwood, chair of the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust. The Field thinks the country house library is back in fashion. And this library with the books on their original shleves is one to add to your literary pilgrimage.
The Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust bought the castle with the help of a £5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and funds received from local authorities, trusts and private donors. The castle “is tired and in need of restoration work,” says Greenwood. “We will spend the remainder of this year completing our plans and hopefully starting some work. Next year major works within the bishop’s house, including installing a new lift to serve the Hurd library and upper floors, will be done. In 2017 the restoration will be complete and the whole castle will once again function as a single building.”
The castle is open for group tours this summer and on 17 June a tea party will be held to launch a First World War exhibition. For more details, visit the Hartlebury Castle website.
The 10th anniversary of Open Farm Sunday happens on the 7 June 2015. Caroline Bankes looks at what the last decade has achieved.
Celebrating 10 years of Open Farm Sunday in 2015.
Open Farm Sunday happens on 7 June 2015. Hundreds of farms across the country will open their gates to the public for the 10th Open Farm Sunday, an annual event organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) to help consumers discover where their food comes from and talk to those who produce it.
So that when we cook and eat one of our top 7 best spring recipes, or a poached chicken, we know where that food has come from. And what it looked like before it found its way on to our plate.
OPEN FARM SUNDAY
“We want to create an opportunity whereby everyone has the chance to visit a farm, so that they fully value farming and the food they eat,” says LEAF’s chief executive, Caroline Drummond.
NFU figures show our farmers are responsible for producing 60% of the food consumed in the UK. There are 101,000 farms in England, 42,000 in Wales and 53,000 in Scotland, covering 71% of the UK land area and employing 464,000 people.
In the project’s first year 250 farms, from Cornwall to Aberdeenshire, took part in Open Farm Sunday. The number involved has grown to more than 400 farms. Pig farmers Robert and Alec Mercer took part in Open Farm Sunday last year at their Staffordshire-based farm for the first time and had nearly 1,500 visitors. This year these fourth-generation farmers will provide tractor/trailer rides to the farrowing fields to see the free-range sows and their piglets. Some visitors may handle weaned piglets before sampling the end product in a hog roast. They can also visit the potato fields where the raw material for Walkers crisps is grown. The funds raised are donated to Rainbows, a local children’s hospice, and the Midland Air Ambulance. The local WI is doing the teas as part of its 100th anniversary fund-raising plans.
Over the past decade a thousand farms have hosted Open Farm Sundays, welcoming more than 1.25 million visitors. Visitor numbers vary depending on location and weather, with some farms attracting up to 5,000 people in a day. Sometimes the whole village turns out to help the farmer run the day and serve lunches and teas. It is worth it. Last year one out of five visitors to an Open Farm Sunday event had never been on a farm before and 85% said they had learnt something new.
One in three children has never heard a cow moo…
But research carried out by One Poll for LEAF last May showed there is still a lot to learn. One in three children had never heard a cow moo, even though there are 9.8 million of them on UK farms. The survey also showed that fewer than six in 10 consumers knew you could buy British strawberries in the summer, despite 5,000 hectares of the fruit being grown commercially each year.
“Our vision is to continue to grow the reach and impact of Open Farm Sunday and develop Open Farm school days over the next 10 years so that more families and school children can visit a farm and discover what sustainable farming is all about,” says Drummond. To find a farm to visit the Open Farm Sunday website.
The summer season is in full swing. Make sure you don't miss out on anything with our June dates for the diary.
June sees the advent of the summer season. Time for racing.
Here are The Field’s essential June dates for the diary. Flaming June may have started stormy, but it does herald the advent of the summer season. Time to scrub down the barbecue in hopeful anticiptation – we recommend trying butterflied haunch of venison or muntjac – and seriously dig into the best British asparagus before it finishes. So make a note of theses June dates for your diary, and be sure not to miss out.
JUNE DATES FOR THE DIARY
5 and 8 June
Charity clay pigeon shoot Warter Estate, near Pocklington, North Yorkshire (In aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and GWCT), £1,800 per team. Download an entry form at www.gwct.org.uk/events.
5 June
The Oaks, Epsom
6 June
The Derby, Epsom
6-7 June
National Gardens Festival Weekend More than 500 gardens open across the country to raise funds for nursing and caring charities; www.ngs.org.uk.
6-24 June
Katherine Swinfen exhibition The Jerrram Gallery, Sherborne, Dorset, tel 01935 815261.
9-10 June
Summers Place Auctions Garden and Natural History Sale The Walled Garden, Billingshurst, West Sussex, tel 01403 331331.
Six larger than life-size horses cast in bronze, by sculptor Hamish Mackie, will be unveiled in London this month.
These life-and-a-quarter bronze horses will graze on Goodman's Fields, EC1.
Sculptor Hamish Mackie will unveil six life-and-a-quarter bronze horses at a new development in London in June. The sculptures have been commissioned by Berkeley Homes to remember the livery horses once kept at Goodman’s Fields in EC1. The horses are depicted galloping, rearing and in water at the two-acre landscaped space within walking distance of the City of London.
The best sporting art can capture the animal kingdom with dextrous skill. The equine world is particularly evocative, with the horse in art a recurring theme. Sculptor Hamish Mackie and the addition of his half-dozen horses is the latest incarnation. From Sir Alfred Munnings’ paintings, to modern artists, such as Jeremy Houghton, the horse has been rendered in stone, clay, bronze; on paper, canvas and wood. We never tire of these four-legged companions. And the graceful sextet that will soon be grazing on Goodman’s Fields are simply wonderful. Continued below…
Jeremy Houghton’s work is all about the spaces in between, which somehow convey the realities of the sports he depicts …Continue reading »
And if you prefer your horses in motion, read our feature on what makes the best hunting horse.
SCULPTOR HAMISH MACKIE’S NEW WORK
Sculptor Hamish Mackie based his selection of breeds “on power, durability and the likelihood of their being in livery”. Leading the troop is an Andalusian stallion rearing alongside a Russian x Arab horse. Half-submerged in a fountain behind them is an Irish cob; the next horses seen are two young thoroughbred x shires trying to outrun each other. Bringing up the rear is an Irish draught x warmblood, based on a 17.3hh hunter called Pinkerton. “He was a fantastic horse and I took hundreds of pictures and videos of him and toyed with the idea of him going up a bank but that was not right for him. So I turned Pinkerton into a mare, which is artistic licence,” said Hamish Mackie.
The hardest subject to find was the Arab x Russian horse, a stallion called Sambist, which won all five of Russia’s Classics.
Forget tiptoeing through the tulips. A rifle in the bushes is far more effective way of raising funds for pancreatic cancer research.
Taking aim to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research.
The Hens N Guns naked charity calendar 2015 was the idea of photographer Mark Harris. After the death of Mark’s uncle Richard from pancreatic cancer earlier in the year, the suggestion of a female friend set him on the path to creating the Hens N Guns naked charity calendar to raise funds.
HENS N GUNS NAKED CHARITY CALENDAR
As Mark explained in the letter he sent out to prospective participants in the naked charity calendar:
As well as being a keen hunter and diver, I have played with cameras for years. I have mainly taken photos of wildlife, both on land and underwater. At the suggestion of another female friend and hunter, I decided to shoot the Hens N Guns naked charity calendar. My reasons started simply enough. To raise money for cancer research, and hopefully to have a lot of fun in the process. It seems not a year goes by that I don’t hear of a good friend or family member struck down with this disease.
I soon realised that most of the calendars calendars I have seen use stereotype “skinny” models. Rarely do I see a “real” natural woman that has not been airbrushed to within an inch of becoming a cartoon character. I wanted to do something different!
And so he decided to use ladies that shoot as his theme for the naked charity calendar. Country girls, and those involved in fieldsports and generally sanguine about disrobing for a good cause.
The Holcombe Hunt naked charity calendar 2015 has earned a spot on The Field’s naked charity calendars 2015 list. A jolly …Continue reading »
But the Hens were a little reluctant at first. “You will normally find them in warm shooting clothes, and covered in no small amount of mud, blood or dogs” says Harris. “Most were nervous, suspicious, and generally uncomfortable being nude. They each had the chance to say no. They also had the opportunity to withdraw their photos if they didn’t like them. Not one of them has! How great to see them looking stunning, nude, and confident in nature!”
They duly did and the Hens N Guns maked charity calendar 2015 was created. The 2016 calendar, £13 incl p&p, can be bought through the Hens N Guns facebook page.
The gentleman racer has not left the circuit. There will always been an unfading link between high-end auto-mobiles and brave, blue-blooded men (and women).
Lord Pembroke in a Jaguar D-type.
Gentleman racing drivers are competitive by nature. One has only to look back to the ancient plains of Olympia where, as early as 776BC, religious festivities were combined with physical prowess. After a while, however, man versus man started to seem tame. Before long, one Roman no doubt looked at his team of horses, then his chariot, and decided that competing at speed would be much more fun – motorsport was born, in a dusty arena almost 3,000 years ago.
Unlike the Goodwood Revival, the Festival of Speed holds a bit more modern flair showcasing a variety of sleek fast cars combined with the older models for all gentleman racing drivers. Generation aside, gentleman racing drivers should always look the part. When frequenting such events it is important to take note of what a gentleman should wear for the occasion.
GENTLEMAN RACING DRIVERS
The speed at which one person could compete against another was governed by biology – horses can only run so fast – until Karl Benz invented what we now consider to be the first car, selling production vehicles by 1888. Naturally, it wasn’t long before the competitive element came into play and, on 23 July, 1894, the world’s first motor race, Paris to Rouen, took place. By the early 1900s, grands prix were a sporting fixture and cars were getting faster. Topping 100mph in one of these machines was a quick route to an early demise – forget roll cages, these early racing cars didn’t even have seatbelts. The drivers were not only brave but wealthy and, in those days, they generally had blue blood as well as insanity coursing through their veins. Sitting behind the wheel was the preserve of gentleman racing drivers.
Left: Le Petit Journal organised a Competition for Horseless Carriages in 1894. Right: Karl Benz, inventor of the first car.
Today, while money does still talk, most professional racing drivers have been brought up by families that are “in the trade” – that is, mechanics, garage owners and the like. The proliferation of racing at grass-roots level means that the sport is ever more affordable and barriers to entry are fewer. However, the gentleman racing driver has not slipped into oblivion. The indelible link between high-end auto-mobiles and brave, blue-blooded men (and the occasional woman) remains. Going back a few years, this involved buying a fast car and finding some suitably entertaining “A” and “B” roads on which to have a bit of a blast with fellow gentleman racing drivers.
Nowadays, however, this approach runs the risk of wiping out another unsuspecting road user and normally results in an unwelcome letter in the post. The next best step is to take the car to a proper circuit. Track days are increasingly popular and the only legal way to drive a road car at three-digit speeds without facing jail time, which tends to interfere with shooting. And marriages. I took this journey myself. Progressing from A roads to the most blue-blooded circuit of all: Goodwood. Owned by the Earl of March, motor-sport aficionado and gentleman racing driver himself, the circuit is steeped in history and tradition, a unique playground for the average gentleman racing drivers. It is also not for the faint-hearted and certainly not for a first timer; while most of the corners have forgiving swaths of grass in case one overcooks the goose, one does not. It has a wall. After watching a portly gentleman in a new BMW M3 shank it backwards into said wall, ripping the back off entirely, as a gentleman racing driver I thought perhaps some formal instruction was in order as I rather liked my car the shape it was.
Lord Pembroke in a Jaguar D-type.
The next stage was to take my ARDS (Association of Racing Drivers Schools) test. Possession of this golden ticket allows one on to race circuits on testing days – in other words, on days when Joe Public is barred. Only holders of a racing licence may set wheel upon the track, ensuring a safer and faster day. The whole point of a racing licence, of course, is to race. The process is simple enough. Apply to the MSA (Motor Sports Association) for a Go Racing pack, fill in the forms, get the medical and then choose a circuit that offers the ARDS course. In my case, Thruxton, the fastest circuit in the UK.
On the day, there’s a written exam on the basic rules of motorsport before one is accompanied on to the circuit by an examiner in one of the circuit’s cars (on this occasion a Porsche Cayman); he helpfully points out the correct line on the first few laps and then pipes down, at which point it is rather important to go fast, keep to those lines, not miss the braking points and not spin. Success! Now the proud owner of unequivocal proof that I am a (gentle) woman racer, the next stage is actually to race. But in which machine? There are myriad options: single seaters, saloon cars, rally cars, modern cars, classic cars, the list goes on. Most choices, however, are dictated by budget. While I’d like to take to the track in a DTM car, I lack the millions needed to do that. Fortunately, close, competitive racing for gentleman racing drivers can be had for less money.
Supercars on the grid at Goodwood, 2009.
William Herbert, 18th Earl of Pembroke, races in the Fun Cup, Europe’s leading endurance racing series, and has done rather well with his team of friends, one of whom is Viscount Somerton. The team has previously had a class win in the Spa 25 Hour race but in 2014 things didn’t go quite to plan. “We did participate for our sixth time in the Spa 25 Hour Fun Cup race,” explains Lord Pembroke, “however this ended up in disaster when my co-driver had a nasty accident at 2am at the crest of Eau Rouge, which resulted in two cars being written off and both drivers hospitalised. Thankfully, they walked out the next day.” Lord Pembroke also raced a Jaguar D-type at Le Mans. “I was extremely fortunate with my first foray into racing classic cars when, in 2013, I was invited by Valentine Lindsay to drive his D-type at the Le Mans 24-hour support race.
“The first time I piloted this magnificent car down the Mulsanne straight is something I will never forget. I think I must have grinned from ear to ear the entire length,” he said. “The thing I most enjoy about racing is the element of race craft. Learning how to manipulate the other cars around you to your advantage can be extremely satisfying, when it works out. The problem is, however, that the other gentleman racing rivers are also trying to do the same but you can end up having some fantastic strategic battles.” Lord Pembroke’s passion for cars has extended into a business and a rather impressive collection. Wilton Classic Supercar, at the start a low-key car event held on the lawn in front of the house, is now a two-day motoring extravaganza held annually in June.
The corner’s not the only thing that’s tight as this Porsche 550 RS Spyder takes the chequered flag at the Mille Miglia Classic Car Race in Assisi, Italy, in 2013.
Max Wakefield is another one of the addicted blue-blooded petrol gentleman racing drivers on the road. Son of Sir Humphry Wakefield and heir to Chillingham Castle in North-umberland, Wakefield was racing quad bikes in his early twenties and, just 10 years later, was in the Benetton Formula One car in the EuroBOSS F1 series. Teaming up with former gentleman racing driver driver David Piper, Wakefield also raced a Ferrari P1 and lovingly restored his own 330P4 to racing spec. Chillingham Garage, the workshop based in the castle grounds, restores and prepares racing cars and motorcycles of all descriptions.
As a gentleman racing driver, Wakefield’s description of why he races evokes memories of the great Ayrton Senna, who likened it to a spiritual experience. “Racing provides levels of excellence – they are not expressed in terms of ‘goals’, as in polo, or ‘belts’ for marshal arts but nevertheless each step is one closer to the Zen state. At first it’s a thrill to have decided to race a car. Later, you become a predator fighting through the pack. Then, you’re at the front – the prey rather than the predator. And eventually everyone is irrelevant. It’s you and the machine. That plateau where lap times are near identical. Finding any advantage combines mental approach and a grounded understanding of engineering. And for the moments it all comes together it seems as if they’ll last forever. Thousands of whirring parts spin, thousands of nuts and bolts hold, the tyres smear across the track as the throttle fires the car up the straight. And in my mind all is at peace, my heart slows and thousands of frames of information are unmapped in every second.”
Charlie Innes-Ker, Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, is another bona fide petrolhead; even his day job is car related; he founded Capstar Chauffeurs in 2013, with a fleet of Jaguars driven by discreet, capable ex-servicemen, both able bodied and injured. “We are one of the few companies with the best drivers. The Stig is on the advisory board,” explained Innes-Ker. His interest in cars first manifested in his refusal to have anything to do with four legs, tearing around on quad bikes instead. “At the time I only read car magazines, particularly Performance Car. I had a go-kart at one stage and rolled it quite a lot.” His father became concerned and imposed a two-litre engine limit. The solution? A Subaru Impreza WRX STi Prodrive, which rockets to 60mph in 4.5 seconds. Probably not quite what his father had in mind. Innes-Ker’s racing experience was at the Caterham Academy. “I absolutely loved it. I won my first race at Brands Hatch. I have also done the Mille Miglia in a Jaguar 120 and I am hoping to do it again in 2015.”Any future plans for racing? “I like the idea of historic racing. The length of the gentleman racing drivers is appealing, instead of just 15 minutes or half an hour. I will grab any opportunity and with more experience I can climb the ladder.”
British F1 driver Jenson Button and model Jodie Kidd.
Now that all things are equal, there is the occasional woman racer amongst the other gentleman racing drivers. With the heady combination of pedigree, lithe limbs and a previous career as a supermodel – with a bit of polo and show-jumping thrown in – Jodie Kidd is the daughter of Johnny Kidd, himself grandson to Lord Beaverbrook, and her sister, Jemma, is married to the Earl of Mornington. Jodie Kidd raced a Maserati in the Maserati Trofeo Pro-Am series for a couple of seasons. Adding to that, she held the record for the fastest celebrity lap on Top Gear for quite some time and is now actively involved in cars again, following the birth of her son, Indio, in 2011. And my racing? Well, that also took a back seat after I had a son. However, I have just renewed my licence for 2015. Does anyone have a racing car?
How to groom your gundog is entirely dependent on its breed. But wonders can be worked with a decent pair of thinning shears.
Jimmy Shuttlewood and his pack of springers, clipped for the grouse moor.
Gundog grooming is completely dependent on the breed of your dog. Labradors might only require a quick brush, while the long locks of the spaniel will require a bit more attention from the clippers. Read our gundog grooming tips and find out the best technique for your gundog grooming. With maintence and clippers aside, what would Lord Grantham have used as the Downton Abbey gundog?
In general, our sporting dogs are low-maintenance so there’s no need to spend hours gundog grooming with a brush or currycomb. I was reminded of this some time ago when I borrowed a foxhound bitch from the hunt kennels and took part in a local companion dog show. We found ourselves in the ring behind an exquisitely groomed Afghan hound. I asked the dog’s handler how long she spent grooming it: “Oh, about an hour a day,” she replied.
GUNDOG GROOMING TIPS
Gundog grooming requires different levels of maintenance. Labradors do appreciate being brushed and it helps keep the short, dense, waterproof coat looking its best. Use a bristle body brush to remove dried mud and dust from the fur. Indoor labradors moult more or less continuously and by using what the dog-show people call an undercoat rake you can remove lots of the dead fur before it falls out on the carpet. However, a quick brush once a week is all most need and, I suspect, rather more than most receive.
The writer’s spaniel, Rowan, being stripped for the summer.
With spaniels, gundog grooming becomes another matter. Their feathers trap and hold dirt so they need regular grooming. Most of my English springers have had silky coats that have been relatively easy to keep clean, though they have certainly benefited from brushing, especially after shooting days. They have also required gentle trimming of their feathers and ears to keep them looking smart – an easy job with a decent pair of thinning shears. Thinning shears are much more forgiving than scissors and most serious spaniel people frown on using mechanical clippers. I did, too, until a few years ago when I met Jimmy Shuttlewood and his English springers in North Yorkshire. Shuttlewood is headkeeper on the Snilesworth and Whorlton moors, and is famous for his pack of black-and-white spaniels.
Shortly before the opening of the grouse season he clips his spaniels using horse clippers, a job that takes him around 15 minutes a dog. Shuttlewood is convinced that his springers not only work better but are also much more comfortable than they would be unclipped, as it can be hot work for a dog on an August moor. As a result, his dogs do look rather like short-legged pointers. Apart from helping to keep them cool, the other benefits of gundog grooming are that it’s much easier to spot any nicks or cuts they might sustain, and to find and remove ticks. There’s much less need for brushing at the end of a day’s shooting, too, an important consideration when you have lots of working spaniels.
Two years ago I followed the Shuttleworth example of gundog grooming techniques. The younger of my two spaniels has a woolly coat that’s prone to producing excess feathering, so she went off to the professional dog groomer. She came back looking like a puppy, with the clipped coat emphasising her smart, spotty, black-and-white markings. Best of all, she was clearly much happier and cooler during the summer months without a thick, hot coat. The pundits will warn you that clipping a spaniel’s fur will result in a noticeable change in its texture when it grows back, with a much greater tendency to go curly. I have noticed nothing of the sort and she now gets stripped three times a year.
Her groomer, Jan Williamson, tells me that she is now stripping more spaniels, pets and workers, cockers and springers, as increasing numbers of owners appreciate the benefits of having a clipped spaniel. “It’s particularly important to trim the fur in the pads,” she told me, “as mud tends to get trapped and caked here, forcing the toes apart. The undersides of spaniel ears are also prone to getting badly matted and clipping is the best way to solve the problem. Working springers and cockers tend to carry much less feather than their show counterparts but they still benefit from trimming.” In the summer and autumn the countryside is full of seeds that get trapped in a spaniel’s fur, with cleavers (or goosegrass) being one of the major offenders, together with the Velcro-like burs from burdock. Both will still stick to a clipped spaniel but it’s much easier to remove them. With regard to gundog grooming, I am convinced of the advantages of clipping spaniels but persuading my fellow spaniel owners remains a challenge. In case you are wondering, my foxhound failed to get a rosette. Not surprisingly, the beautifully coiffured Afghan was placed first. I don’t think the judge had ever seen a foxhound in a ring before but perhaps I should have spent some time with a brush, burnishing the hound up before she went into the ring.
Giddy-up and buy yourself a Munnings' original this month. Christie’s will be holding their live Art sale on the 16th June.
Lot Number 99
Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. (1878-1959)
Saddling
Estimate 150,000 - 250,000 British pounds.
Munnings’ art sale at Christies this month is a wonderful opportunity to view some of the wonderful landscapes and equestrian portraits that Sir Alfred Munnings, sporting artist produced during his careers. If you are keen to adorn your walls with British horses and open landscapes, trot along to this live art sale on the 16th June.
SIR ALFRED MUNNINGS ART SALE
Munnings’ art is wonderfully rare and unique. Whether it is saddling-up at the races, a lone lady rider or a self-portrait vital with life. The image below is a self portrait. It shows Munnings painting the landscape of Exmoor, just after he had been elected President of the Royal Academy. He captioned the illustration of it in his autobiography: ‘Back on Exmoor I was working again, not able to realise what I had taken on’.
Lot Number 96 Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. (1878-1959) The artist painting on Exmoor Estimate 30,000 – 50,000 British pounds.
Munnings’ art is infused by the countryside. His fascination with the dramatic and distinctive landscapes around Exmoor, Devon and Withypool stem from much cherished holidays with his wife. Together they owned a holiday house. The time spent there has recently been dramatised in the film, Summer in February. Munnings’ art is highly intimate, personal and bucolic and was painted purely for pleasure and escapism.
From this painting below of the Hop Pickers Returning, Munnings’ artisitc biography speaks for itself. You can witness the evidence that he clearly considered himself accepted among the gypsies when he was able to persuade several of the older women to bring out the brilliant shawls, boldly coloured aprons, and flamboyant ostrich feathered hats that were special occasion wear for the women.
Lot Number 98 Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. (1878-1959) Hop Pickers Returning Estimate 80,000 – 120,000 British pounds.
To see the paintings visit Christie’s for the viewing.
