The Field

Published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd The Field is a monthly glossy magazine 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.

The Field • ESTABLISHED 1853 VOL 341 NO 7422

Protecting all we hold dear • Hunting is a key thread in the tapestry of the countryside but it is on the ropes. Ed Swales believes now is the time to put egos aside and join forces to preserve this fundamental part of our lives

Field follies

RSPB fails to prevent hen harrier reintroduction in Wiltshire

BASC attacks lead shot review

One good deed…

Legal challenge to sewage plan

News in brief

February diary • 28 January - 26 February

Could water crowfoot halt salmon decline?

The Field’s Almanac

Food & drink

Field kitchen kit

Kit to covert • Our monthly guide to everything notable in the field for sporting enthusiasts and those keen on country life

Sir Max Hastings • The celebrated war correspondent, broadsheet editor, author and countryman on his enduring love of fieldsports and his hopes for the future of our wonderful way of life

Faces • The launch of Adrian Dangar’s book on the Hampshire Hunt was a chance to celebrate team effort – and party

Letters

No place for politicians • Planning for new homes needn’t be adversarial but the route to a less confrontational system that benefits all won’t appear while politics is in the mix, says Rupert Bates

Country estate of the month • NEWHOUSE, REDLYNCH, SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE

Six of the best: Cumbria

Angling for the big stuff • Neil and Serena Cross look forward to leaving rain-beaten Britain behind for a long overdue sport-fishing foray in the azure waters of East Africa

Perfect pigeons • A February afternoon is ideal for a spot of roost shooting and Sir Johnny Scott has some tips for our keen youngsters

Cold Aston Shoot The Cotswolds • Beaters, pickers-up and loaders are the heart and soul of a shoot and, after providing top-class sport all season, their turn for glory has finally arrived

Try 3 issues for £3*

Having a ball in God’s Own Country • Hunting stalwarts from near and far descend on Yorkshire to enjoy a convivial day with the Middleton followed by a well-earned evening of merrymaking

The best breeds from overseas • The Field presents the most desirable international sporting companions, from spaniels and setters to water dogs and Weimaraners

Mission accomplished • This year’s successful Macnabbers – first-timers and veterans – recount their sporting adventures in pursuit of The Field’s Macnab Challenge

A worthy addition to anyone’s gamebook • Flying all the way to South Africa to shoot pigeon may seem excessive, but there’s a reason these birds are one of the world’s most attractive species for keen Shots

A place of beauty and potential • Adventure beckons in Albania, where enticing tales of trout lure our writer to a remote valley and its glacial river

On top of the world • The Mont Blanc massif stands head and shoulders above the rest of the Alps, not just in height but in sheer magnificence. But despite appearances, this savage but beautiful mountain wilderness is also remarkably accessible

RISK AVERSION

THE MAJOR PITFALLS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Row for Amy • MFHA chairman Andrew Osborne is rowing 3,000 miles solo across the Atlantic to raise funds for a cause that is as important as it is personal

AMY OSBORNE’S...