I hope you all have a restful half term. Oh, and a reminder for those of you whose trout are in the school freezer: please take them home with you but whatever you do, don’t forget to take them out of your kit bag.”
Such announcements – this one made by Robert Lankester, headmaster of Maidwell Hall in Northamptonshire – are commonplace in prep schools around the UK where the focus is as much on the countryside as the curriculum. They accommodate not just those pupils who shoot for the stars but also the ones who aim for the clays, where the emphasis is jumping over poles on a pony as much as through hoops for exams and where the children are allowed to be as free-range as the school hens.
Some prep schools have field sports woven into their DNA. For instance, Abberley Hall School in Worcestershire started life as a hunting lodge in the 12th century. Back then it would have had horses from the Royal Court galloping across its scenic acres; fast forward almost 1,000 years and pupils hack around the same grounds on the school ponies. Elements may have changed but the sense of adventure remains. Wellies and rods are snatched up at breaktime to fish the ‘Inkpot’ lake with the headmaster, thrillseekers abseil down the 120-year-old clock tower and clays are obliterated mid-air.
Bu hikaye The Field dergisinin October 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Field dergisinin October 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
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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
