AS the start of the pheasant-shooting season approaches, a mixed bag of hardy enthusiasts looks forward to participating in a fieldsport for reasons other than marksmanship—exercise, camaraderie and contact with Nature being only some of them. Having been a head gamekeeper on several shoots in different counties, I appreciate the importance of these special folk, who keep their heads down: the humble beaters. The simple fact is that you cannot operate without them and they come from as wide an array of backgrounds, motivations and characters as the shoots themselves.
What is a beater? He or she is a member of an all-important team that, under the direction of the gamekeeper, lines out and walks through cover, with the aim of flushing the game over the waiting line of guns. That sounds simple, but, like a dog, some beaters need training.
Low-ground beating for pheasant and partridges is fairly easy going compared with grouse beating, which takes in vast areas and requires a certain level of fitness, as the terrain can be steep and unforgiving. If you are beating on a grouse or partridge day, you are likely to be issued with a flag—to wave furiously at the birds in the hope of persuading them to fly in the right direction. However, for woodland pheasants, a good stick—with which to ‘beat’ brambles, trees and bushes, to make a noise that moves the birds forward—is in order.
Esta historia es de la edición September 27, 2023 de Country Life UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 27, 2023 de Country Life UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
All gone to pot
Jars, whether elegant in their glazed simplicity or exquisitely painted, starred in London's Asian Art sales, including an exceptionally rare pair that belonged to China's answer to Henry VIII
Food for thought
A SURE sign of winter in our household are evenings in front of the television.
Beyond the beach
Jewels of the natural world entrance the eyes of Steven King, as Jamaica's music moves his feet and heart together
Savour the moment
I HAVE a small table and some chairs a bleary-eyed stumble from the kitchen door that provide me with the perfect spot to enjoy an early, reviving coffee.
Size matters
Architectural Plants in West Sussex is no ordinary nursery. Stupendous specimens of some of the world's most dramatic plants are on display
Paint the town red
Catriona Gray meets the young stars lighting up the London art scene, from auctioneers to artists and curators to historians
The generation game
For a young, growing family, moving in with, or adjacent to, the grandparents could be just the thing
Last orders
As the country-house market winds down for Christmas, two historic properties—one of which was home to the singer Kate Bush-may catch the eye of London buyers looking to move to the country next year
Eyes wide shut
Sleep takes many shapes in art, whether sensual or drunken, deathly or full of nightmares, but it is rarely peaceful. Even slumbering babies can convey anxiety
Piste de résistance
Scotland's last ski-maker blends high-tech materials with Caledonian timber to create 'truly Scottish', one-off pieces of art that can cope with any type of terrain