The Field - July 2023

In this issue

All the fun of The Game Fair
The sporting showcase celebrates 65 years. By Ed Wills

A dog for the sustainability age
Charlotte Mackaness discovers how the English setter can help sportsmen tread more lightly.

A game shot’s guide to clays
From stance to technique, Michael Yardley explains all..

The Field's 170th anniversary

Generations have passed since this magazine was founded in 1853 but its ethos remains the same, keeping sport at its soul and country life at its heart, says Editor Alexandra Henton

3 mins

Curlew to be extinct in Wales as snare ban heads for assent

The Welsh government has now passed the Agriculture (Wales) Bill prohibiting the use of any snare - including licensed use or other humane cable restraint (HCR).

1 min

Smolt project on track

The West Coast Tracking Project, started by the Atlantic Salmon Trust in partnership with Fisheries Management Scotland and Marine Scotland Science, has entered its third year.

1 min

Packham role will alienate RSPCA supporters, says CA

\"The organisation has done so much to rebuild its reputation over recent years,\" he pointed out.

1 min

RSPB lays blame for raptor deaths

The RSPB believes illegal killing is the major cause of death in hen harriers, and grouse shooting is the main reason for the majority of these deaths.

1 min

The Countess Bathurst

The indomitable chatelaine of Cirencester Park in Gloucestershire talks about pensions for police dogs and her deep love of shooting and the countryside

4 mins

Planning for failure?

Another day, another strategic housing plan - but the Government will never make headway in meeting its minimum new homes target if the left hand isn't talking to the right.

3 mins

Delicacies from the deep

Whether it is a bumper bag of prawns foraged from a summer rock pool or a hard-fighting bass played to perfection, the fruits of the ocean never fail to delight Neil and Serena Cross

3 mins

Why The Game Fair is beyond compare

Since 1958, The Game Fair has been a stirring annual celebration of fieldsports and country life, and this year the event is marking its 65th anniversary

6 mins

170 YEARS OF THE FIELD

A look back over the history of The Field, from its origins as a weekly newspaper to the monthly countryside must-read it has become

7 mins

Clay shooting for game shots

Everything the fieldsportsman needs to know about clay shooting, from gun choice, technique and stance to how to tackle specific targets

10 mins

A load off your mind

Good loaders can make all the difference to a day in the field and many are pursuing a professional qualification to deepen their knowledge

7 mins

A gundog for the 21st century

Graceful, intelligent and with incredible sporting instinct, the English setter is the perfect field companion in the age of sustainability

7 mins

The hunt for inspiration

There has been, and always will be, something about hunting, the horses, the hounds and the landscapes that inspires great art and great artists

7 mins

HT SHERINGHAM: 'The angler might travel very much farther and fare very much worse'

Tracing the footsteps of fishing writer and Field angling editor HT Sheringham, whose works capture the moments of sunshine and shadow in a fisherman's life

6 mins

Going underground

Heading up to town? Our guide to the Fieldiest destinations on the London tube map and their natural inhabitants

3 mins

Running up that hill

Hillclimbing may be one of the simplest forms of motorsport but it is also among the most thrilling, delivering daring feats of speed in spectacular rural settings

7 mins

Courts of appeal

The ancient pastime of real tennis is enjoying a renaissance, with devotees drawn not only by the sport itself but also by the distinctive buildings that house it

7 mins

Top of the props

Crafting everything from willow baskets and pots to intricate military regalia for Stage and screen, Britain’s artisans are playing their supporting role to perfection

7 mins

Coming of age: the rise of English whisky

Once seen as a novelty, whisky made south of the border is finally getting the recognition it deserves thanks to a growing band of dedicated distillers

7 mins

Arrizabalaga sidelock

Bold yet attractive, this eye-catching and exquisitely crafted Spanish best 32in side-by-side pigeon gun performs flawlessly in the field, finds Michael Yardley

4 mins

Health and happy homes first

Choosing whether to breed a litter from your working bitch is a big decision with many factors to consider, the least of which should be the potential profit, says David Tomlinson

4 mins

Jess Burgess

The Olympic Skeet hotshot on navigating the fine balance between the bustle of a City career and the pursuit of competitive shooting

3 mins

The problem with provenance

Collectors love a good story and will often pay a premium for genuine, authenticated items. But as Roger Field explains, provenances can be frustratingly difficult to verify and just as tough to disprove

6 mins

The Buckingham dagger

Tasteful and practical, this blade is a testament to the necessities of daily life, sport and fashion of early-I7th-century England

3 mins

Art in the field

For Kay Johns, the eyes of an animal - be it a proud Highland bull or an exuberant spaniel - are the window to the soul.

3 mins

The Inn at Whitewell

A jewel in Lancashire’s crown, this charming 14th-century inn is ahome from home for visiting sportsmen.

3 mins

Let it always be there

This summer, in halls and marquees across the land, gardeners will gather for one of the most anticipated events in the community calendar: the village flower show. Ursula Buchan explains its enduring appeal

3 mins

Hop and a skip to quaffability

Where once stood the giant hop trellises in Kent, there are now measured lines of trained vines, which are producing strikingly good wines from God's chosen county, says Jonathan Ray

3 mins

Jaguar E-Pace P300e

A fine contender in a crowded field, Jaguar’s compact luxury SUV is another step in the maker’s march of progress’ towards fully electric vehicles.

2 mins

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The Field Magazine Description:

The Field is published monthly and dedicated to those brave souls who shoot, fish and hunt way beyond the call of duty. Since 1853, its staff has selflessly brought its readers the cream of rural life, be it pheasant shooting, dry-fly fishing or the distinct merits of Cheval Blanc. If you love field sports, errant terriers and very foxy friends at hunt balls, The Field is for you.