CATEGORIES
The Wye and its slippery customers
Renowned for its salmon, the river once teemed with eel, too. No longer. So what is behind this poorly reported wildlife crime?
The art of the master engraver
A best gun is undoubtedly characterised by the finest manufacture; today, it is often defined by the fine art that adorns it, too
The school of roquefort
Lovers of artisan produce can now attend the Academy of Cheese and learn what it takes to be a master of the board
Teen spirit and the Ten Tors
Sixty years ago this month, three Army offi cers organised an expedition on Dartmoor to give young civilians a taste of outdoor adventure. Today, 2,400 teenagers annually are rising to that challenge
Keeping it in the family
There’s one criterion a family firm must meet to join the Tercentenarian Club: 300 years in business
In full flight on Dartmoor
Falcons flown by enthusiasts mounted on former racehorses produced thrilling sport against a dramatic backdrop
Kindling the fire of enthusiam
We may never replicate the achievements of the fishing greats but their elegant prose has inspired generations to pick up a rod
How does a trout catch a fly?
Understanding how a trout recognises a fly and then intercepts it is key to your choice of fly – and success
Feathering their nests
An obsession with fly-tying led to a bizarre theft from the Natural History Museum and huge sums changing hands. Fact can be stranger than fiction…
Dukedoms of hazard
When Princes William and Harry were made royal dukes, their titles were chosen with care. Some carry rather too much history…
Top 10 Gundog Crimes
There are times when we, as gundog owners and handlers, wish the ground would swallow us up. Fear not. Here are the cures for the worst sins
Resurrecting a Purdey rook rifle
After searching for a decade, the writer finally acquired a now-obsolete rook rifle. But could the Purdey, formerly the property of a 19th-century playboy, be adapted for muntjac?
Letting our oldest vertebrate back in
Glaciers and waterwheels have blocked the path of the salmon, our oldest native vertebrate. Can it, yet again, stage a comeback?
Rage against the machine
Do those ‘Buy’ buttons really conspire against you, wonders Roger Field. Or is it just that too many of us have the same impeccably good taste?
Of love and lettuces
As we hand over Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies, it’s timely to consider the worship of fertility throughout the ages
FAIR Iside 20-bore
This lightweight, Italian side-by-side won’t break the bank – but it had no trouble breaking clays. Michael Yardley is impressed
Battle for the uplands
The cessation of grouse-moor management will end a way of life – and perhaps call time for a number of our iconic species, too
Barnstorming businesses
The cows and threshing machines have gone but a diverse range of businesses is breathing new life into our derelict farm buildings
Putting Britain on the map
Ordnance Survey owes much to the remarkable work of William Mudge, who died 200 years ago this month.
1750-1930 Creating the foxhunting interior
Great halls, libraries, art and furniture have been used to venerate venery, creating the perfect environment for reflecting on the day
Mountains high
Upper Donside’s mountain hare population is thriving, thanks to the work of grouse keepers like Alex Jenkins
Rizzini ‘Grand Regal' 20-bore
The Regals represent a significant step in the evolution of the Rizzini range, says Michael Yardley, offering good shooting qualities as well as value for money
It's my obsession
Collecting is an admirable hobby, agrees Roger Field, as a collection of Winchesters came to the market. But to what lengths should you go to add to your hoard?
The battle over saving the hen harrier
A Government-backed recovery plan should have ended the controversy surrounding this bird of prey; however, the conflict continues
Securing wildlife habitat for the future
Since its inception in 1986, the Wildlife Habitat Trust has helped clubs and projects across the UK to acquire land and enhance conservation
Create your own nature reserve
With a little effort and for minimal cost, we can all have more wildlife in our countryside and towns
Riding the high moor
Once a year, the Two Bridges Hunt Club unites the four hunts that call Dartmoor home, for dinner and a day’s challenging sport
Ashes to ashes: the devastation of dieback
This much-loved native species faces an uncertain future due to a relentless pathogen, which is damaging landscapes and wrecking our woodlands
Driving Ireland's grouse moors again
The Irish Grouse Conservation Trust has produced driven Lagopus lagopus hibernicus for the first time in more than 60 years – and won the 2019 Purdey Awards
A helping hand for wild trout
The Wild Trout Trust provides hands-on advice for fishing clubs, landowners and other groups on providing the perfect habitat for this iconic fish