On the way to the first drive we pass a historic farm, low on the left. This, according to Nick Lamb of the Bourne syndicate, was used as a base by the four Norman knights who set out to assassinate Thomas Becket, St Thomas of Canterbury, in 1170. Halfway between Kent’s cathedral city and Dover, we rattle along an old farm track to the start point of what has been billed ‘a unique shoot day for nine guns on four of Kent’s premier shooting estates’. Organised by the Kent committee of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), this is the second time in five years that such a prize has been donated. Paul Kelsey, raspberry farmer and GWCT chairman for Kent, explains, “Each county has a committee of volunteers who run fundraising events on behalf of the GWCT. The Fantasy Four days are a great way of raising a substantial amount of money in one hit. It appeals to those who benefit directly from the work of the GWCT locally. Everything depends on the generosity of individual landowners and shoots, each contributing a top drive without charge.”
At £200 a ticket we’re not talking small beer but with just 250 tickets on sale the odds are good and the prize, for those lucky enough to win, is sensational: the opportunity to raise the barrels on some of the best private shoots in the country.
As we draw up to a lone farm building, vehicles start to assemble. It’s a bright day, something of a miracle given the wild November storm that tore through the county the night before. “How will the birds fly?” is the question that forms the standard pre-shoot murmuration.
この記事は The Field の January 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は The Field の January 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Strength in Numbers -The success of Britain's growing band of Farmer Clusters shows the value in working together and engaging with the public in the name of conservation, says Gabriel Stone
In a world that leans into gloomy headlines, it's important to wave the flag for a refreshing success story. That's especially the case when it comes to our overburdened farming sector and the wider way in which we manage the landscape. Yes, we: everyone can play a role, not least through one inspirational initiative. Ever since a 2013 pilot project by the GWCT in association with Natural England, Farmer Clusters have mushroomed across Britain. Led by farmers with guidance from expert advisers, today's network of about 125 clusters encourages a cohesively managed, locally tailored, larger-scale approach to conservation work.
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays