Gamekeeper

The return of shooting after lockdown has been rather patchy, but it will be a boost for thousands of keepers, beaters and shoot helpers

- Alan Edwards

I can’t remember a 12 August, at any time in my career, that did not see me out somewhere on the moors. But, this year, my first outing was in early September at the Trough of Bowland in Lancashire. My last visit to this particular moor was many years ago and the friendships struck up then have lasted 30-plus years. When I arrived at the shoot meeting point, the warm and sincere greetings made me feel at home.

You can’t put a measure on the positive impact the shooting season brings to the well-being of the thousands of keepers, beaters, and shoot helpers. You only realize the impact when, as this year has shown, a sporadic and faltered start to the shooting calendar robs many of the opportunity to socialize with those we all have so much in common with.

Perhaps more than ever, the emphasis of beginnings is profoundly apparent as the combines roll on the lowlands. I have begun to consider the start of the grouse shooting season as a watershed moment on the wild bird shoot at Bywell.

The crops are steadily cleared and the opportunity to witness the rewards of a season’s work begins to unfold. However, in a couple of months it takes to harvest this year’s crop and establish next year’s, much vital work needs to be completed to ensure continuation and improvement to any wild bird shoot.