Countryside opinion blog and comment | Shooting Times

At the East Coast Wildfowling Conference

There were plenty of issues under discussion at the recent East Coast Wildfowling Conference. Kate Gatacre found the future up for discussion

Muddy at the goat farm!

We've been to all sorts of farms on this trip but thought it was time we found out what goat farming was all about...

Muddy Farm Days!

How many cows do you have to kill to get some milk?

Muddy abseiling!

Think outdoor activities in the Lake District and you might be conjuring up images of wet school trips with ill-fitting waterproof gear and soggy sandwiches.

Reflections on a year in shooting

ST news editor, Selena Masson, considers how shooting has fared in the past year.

Muddy Event Riding!

We popped into international event rider Jamie Atkinson's yard at Langley Park, Durham, to have a look round and meet his groom, Kirsty.

Muddy on Hadrian's Wall!

We spent an action-packed day with professional chef, mean shot and founder of Vallum Cooking, James Burton.

Muddy Salmon Centre!

We came across the Philiphaugh Salmon Viewing Centre by chance when we saw the new log-cabin tea shop they have just built next door

Muddy Hunter wellies!

When we told people that we were going to visit the Hunter boot factory in Dumfries, the immediate response was: "I thought they went bust, what happened?"

Muddy hedge cutting!

Whilst staying on a friend's farm in East Lothian, we got the chance to have a go at a bit of hedge cutting.

Muddy graffiti project

Some time ago we heard about the Graffiti Project at Kelburn Castle in Fairlie, Ayrshire, and decided that we had to stop off there on our Muddy Marathon.

Muddy Haggis making!

Well we couldn't go to Scotland without learning a bit more about the legendary haggis, could we?

Muddy gundog training!

The morning after the Winter Wonder Ball, we headed off to Tenbury, the mistletoe capital of the UK, to meet Pip Kendrick, who set up her own business.

Muddy at the Young Farmers ball!

Fellow Muddy Matcher, Christina, is from Worcestershire and got us involved with the Young Farmers' Winter Wonder Ball at the Three Counties Showground, near Malvern.

Muddy farmhands!

Exactly midway through our tour, we spent the day helping Christina's friend's brother on his mixed farm in Priors Hardwick, Warwickshire.

Crashing Boar

A heads-up for an article on boar hunting in Lithuania that will appear on the 3rd January.

Muddy ice cream making!

We went along to Red Lion Farm, a family-run dairy farm in Haughton, Staffordshire, to find out how they make their delicious ice cream.

Muddy at Raygill Fisheries!

Whilst in Yorkshire, we were invited down to Raygill Fisheries, in the heart of the Dales just outside Lothersdale, to take a look round and do a spot of fishing.

Muddy search and rescue!

Keen to find out a bit more about the Lake District's Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Lakes), we arranged to meet Les Telford.

The moors are merrier

It's silly season, and over the horizon flies the journalist's salvation — a grouse on the Twelfth. Alastair Balmain discusses the media frenzy

Beretta launches a trio

Shooting journalists would probably attend the opening of an envelope, but in this case the party was worth it

Challenging shooting stereotypes

SHOOTING TIMES investigates TV's portrayal of shooters and says we shouldn't take it on the chin.

Hunting & shooting: the sustainable way

It was an enjoyable assignment investigating the conservation benefits of sustainable hunting for Shooting Times, not least as it gave an opportunity to look at hunting from an international perspective.

Foxing first

The recent dry and dark evenings lend themselves perfectly for lamping. After a succession of round-robin emails during the day between my co-lampers, Nathan and Dave, we settled on that very evening to venture out.

Snow ducks

A magical duck flight in the snow light.

Muddy rapeseed oil!

For our last business visit, we decided to keep it local and popped in to see Duncan Farrington, who produces Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil on the family farm near Hargrave, Northamptonshire.

Muddy art and farming!

You may remember that right at the beginning of our Marathon (week 2 to be precise) we visited Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard in East Sussex.

Muddy recycling plant!

Another unusual farm diversification project... but Chris and Simon Mountain's East Midlands waste management and recycling centre has been so successful.

Muddy horse hydrotherapy!

Having heard about a hydrotherapy centre for horses in Nottinghamshire, we went along to see what it was all about.

Muddy Farm Shop!

We popped into hundreds of farm shops on our travels, ranging from lean-to sheds to supermarket-style food emporiums.

Muddy Malton Relish!

Following on with our entrepreneurial theme, Sophie Legard opened the doors to her new delicatessen and catering business on 12th December.

Muddy RAF Leeming!

Opportunities like this one don't come around very often. When an article came out about our Muddy Marathon in Country Life.

Muddy fencing!

It was easily the coldest day of the year when we spent the morning on a Yorkshire farm with fencing contractor, Wilf Standeven.

Muddy Ample Bosom!

When Sally and John Robinson were looking for new ways to diversify on their farm near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, Sally came up with the idea of selling bras and lingerie on the internet.

Muddy Sloe Motion!

Those of you who were coming to see us at the CLA Game Fair this year might remember that one of our sponsors was Yorkshire-based sloe gin company, SLOEmotion.

Muddy Green Shoots!

On Saturday, we spent a very interesting day with Alex Hatton from the BASC initiative, Green Shoots North Wales, to find out what their aim was and what work was being done.

Muddy at Fordhall Farm!

Following on with our theme of the lengths to which people will go to stay where they feel they belong, there is no story more inspiring than Charlotte and Ben Hollins' battle.

Muddy Beating!

Whilst in Essex, we were lucky enough to be invited to go beating on a small family shoot near Rochford.

Muddy horses at the National Stud

We don't know much about horses and we know even less about racing, but when an opportunity arose to look round the National Stud, we jumped at the chance.

Muddy at the Norwich Beer Festival!