Spread sporting festive cheer and show your support for a worthy country cause this Christmas. The Field has tracked down the best country Christmas cards for 2016
Rural types need Christmas cards that are suitably sporting to spread festive cheer. And much the better when the pennies go towards a worthy country cause. Choose from The Field’s pick of the best country Christmas cards.
Would you rather not exert yourself stirring a Christmas pud this Stir-Up Sunday? Savour a figgy pudding without making a homemade effort, read 6 best Christmas puddings. No stirring required for The Field’s pudding picks.
THE BEST COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CARDS
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
The GWCT Christmas cards are popular every year, so hurry if you want a pack this Christmas. Cards come in packs of 10 with the greeting ‘With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year’, with artwork for the cards kindly donated by renowned artists Owen Williams, Jason Lowes, Ashley Boon, Rodger Mcphail, Colin Woolf and Loon. All proceeds from the card sales go towards supporting the Trust’s important work.
Price: £5.50 for a pack of 10
To buy: call 01425 652381 or visit www.gwct.org.uk.
Black Game in Snow by Jason Lowes, one of the GWCT’s Christmas card packs for 2016.
The Quorn Hunt Supporters Association
This year’s Christmas card from The Quorn Hunt Supporters Association is taken from a painting by Frederick Haycock of a rather special family of Quorn hounds, grandmother Simply with her daughter Sixpence and three of her offspring, Bible, Bingo and Billesdon. Christmas cards and blank cards are available to purchase and high quality prints of this superb painting are also available.
Price: £6.50 for a pack of 10 including postage
To buy: contact qhsacards@gmail.com
The Quorn Hunt Supporters Association Christmas cards for 2016 depict a rather special family of Quorn hounds.
The British Sporting Art Trust
John Frederick Herring Senior’s painting ‘The Hunting Stud’ is the British Sporting Art Trust’s 2016 Christmas card. It is one of four paintings engraved and published as part of the ‘Stable Scenes’ series in 1846. The cards come in packs of 10 and have the greeting ‘With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year’.
Price: £6.50 for a pack of 10
To buy: visit www.bsat.co.uk.
The painting by John Frederick Herring Senior was part of a series entitled ‘Stable Scenes’.
The British Association for Shooting & Conservation
The BASC Christmas cards are back for another year, with a sporting snowy scene perfect for every rural home, available in packs of 10. 2017 calendars are also available to buy for just £5 and would make an excellent Christmas present or stocking stuffer.
Price: £5 for a pack of 10
To buy: call 01243 811844 and visit www.furfeatherandfin.com
The BASC Christmas card shows a sporting snow scene this year.
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance have a spectacular selection of sporting cards this Christmas, featuring artwork from a variety of artists. Their 2017 calendar is also available now and would make an excellent Christmas present. Cards come in packs of 10.
Price: prices start at £4.99 for a pack of 10
To buy: call 0370 270 9011 and visit www.countryside-alliance.org
Huntsman & hounds in the snow by Katie Scorgie, one of the CA’s selection of Christmas cards for 2016.
Hunt Staff Benefit Society
Following the success of the last few years, there are three new designs this year for the Hunt Staff Benefit Society’s Christmas cards. All the money raised will help boost the pensions the Society provides for retired Hunt Staff and add value to the future pensions for current Hunt staff.
Price: prices start at £6 for a pack of 10 cards
To buy: visit www.hs-bs.co.uk for an order form
‘Away in a Manger’ by Daniel Crane.
National Gamekeeper’s Organisation
Bring snowy Britain into every rural home this Christmas, with the NGO’s Christmas cards. Featuring picturesque winter scenes snapped by Lindsay Waddell, former Chairman of the NGO, including Upper Teesdale and other parts of Country Durham where Linsday used to work as headkeeper before retirement.
Price: currently 50% off, were £4 per pack now only £2 for a pack of 10
To buy: visit www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk, contact info@nationalgamekeepers.org.uk or call 01833 660 869
Beautiful wintery scenes snapped by former NGO Chairman. 5 designs in a pack.
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
Every year the Christmas card sales help RABI raise thousands of pounds to help supporting farming people of all ages in financial need. Cards come in packs of 10 featuring artwork kindly donated by the artists. Personalised Christmas cards, 2017 calendars and notelets are also available.
Price: £4-£5 for a pack of 10 cards
To buy: call 01286 888217 to place an order or for an order form
‘First Snow’ by artist Dick Twinney, one of the RABI Christmas card designs this year.
Royal Veterinary College
The Royal Veterinary College Animal Care Trust have a variety of festive designs this year to raise money for their work improving animal health and care. Cards come in packs of 10 and there are many other items for sale in their online shop.
Price: Prices start at £3.99 for a pack of 10
To buy: visit www.rvc.ac.uk
‘Winter Walkies’, one of the RVC’s Christmas card designs this year.
The Woodland Trust
Support The Woodland Trust’s work to increase native woodland cover, restore ancient woods and protect exsisting woodland by buying a set of Christmas cards. They have an enormous variety of designs this year, as well as 2017 calendars and other festive treats on their online shop.
Price: Prices start at £3.95 for a pack of 8
To buy: visit www.woodlandtrustshop.com
A fun sporting twin pack from The Woodland Trust, Pheasant Walk and Mr Prickles.
Countryside Greetings
Countryside Greetings have a fun sporting selection of Christmas cards this year, including mixed packs of Thelwell cartoons.
Price: £9.99 for a mixed pack of 8 of Thelwell cartoons
To buy: visit www.countrysidegreetings.co.uk
Countryside Greetings have relaunched 4 iconic Thelwell cards this Christmas.