The RSPB’s bird of prey officer has recently been claiming that the status of the hen harrier in England is so precarious due to illegal killing that he believes one wet spring or a fire at the wrong time of year could result in it becoming extinct. However, as the RSPB knows only too well, the term extinction is defined by the death of the very last of a kind, and its use to describe the future of the hen harrier is therefore nothing short of absurd; as is its claim that there are only 4 breeding pairs left in England.

In addition to Britain, the hen harrier occurs in a multitude of countries across the northern hemisphere, including North America, Europe and Asia. It has an extremely large population which is currently thought to be 167,000 breeding females, with no significant decline in that population globally. Internationally it is classified as a species of “Least Conservation Concern”, and with 663 pairs in the UK, the hen harrier is more numerate than 7 out of the 15 species of birds of prey in this country. Although only 4 pairs may have bred successfully in England in 2011, many hen harriers can be observed moving around the country throughout the year. The issue, therefore, is that of poor breeding success; not extinction.

There are numerous factors that can result in the poor breeding success of hen harriers, and in 2009 the RSPB and Natural England reported that it was entirely due to natural causes; not illegal persecution as all too frequently claimed by the RSPB. Indeed there have been no confirmed cases of persecution against the species for the last 5 years. 

It is hard to believe the shooting season is drawing to a close. Just a few months ago, guns were taking to their pegs in unseasonably warm weather. Although the temperature did drop, the season remained relatively mild and we did not have the severe weather of last year. In some areas, the weather has been so mild that one was more likely to find their peg covered by winter crops than snow.

As the season comes to a close, housekeeping becomes a priority in preparation for the following season. Ratios of hens to cocks must be adjusted to allow for successful breeding in the months to come. Traditionally, this task is given to those present throughout the season, but haven't fire a shot, the beaters.

Having flushed countless birds over the guns in months gone by, and having judged, joked and gossiped about the quality of the shooting, the tables are turned on Beaters' Day. The members of the beating team get the opportunity to pick up a gun and have a go themselves. These relatively informal affairs allow those who have put in the hard work to let their hair down and enjoy themselves.

For many, this time of year marks the end of the shooting season. For others, such as the gamekeeping team, it is just the start. In the closing days of the season, let us reward those members of the team who have made our sport possible. I personally hope all those involved in shoots this year have enjoyed their season, let's look forward to the next. 

Now here’s a great recipe – take a rural village hall on a Friday night in January, add an enthusiastic and committed MP, stir in an effective rural lobbying organisation, a sizeable, attentive and knowledgeable audience, a few cups of tea and the odd biscuit and you’ve got a Rural Forum.

The Countryside Alliance's Worcestershire Committee invites you to an evening with countryman, sporting correspondent and raconteur Rory Knight-Bruce on Friday 24th February from 7pm. Rory will be regaling the audience with stories of life in the field at this special evening at Cookhill Village Hall near Alcester. The evening will also include an update from the Countryside Alliance and a Q&A about our work.

Tickets for the event are £15 and include a buffet supper. There will be a licensed bar.

Contact Midlands Regional Director Sara Rutherford for information on sara-rutherford@countryside-alliance.org.

SUNDAY 29th JANUARY

JEDFOREST at FRIARS HAUGH (Borders) TD5 8LS
First race: 12:30pm
Admission prices: £10 per person, to include a free racecard

MIDLANDS AREA CLUB at THORPE LODGE (Notts) NG23 5PY (ignore signs to Thorpe village, use new road instead)
First race: 11:00am
Admission prices: £10 per person

NORTH NORFOLK HARRIERS at HIGHAM (Suffolk) CO7 6NG
First race: 12noon
Admission prices: £10 per person, under 16s free

SOUTH DEVON FOXHOUNDS at IDEFORD ARCH (Devon) TQ13 0AE
First race: 12noon
Admission prices: £20 per car, £10 single occupancy

WEST STREET TICKHAM at CHARING (Kent) TN27 0JD
First race: 12noon
Admission prices: £10 per person, under 16s free

YORKSHIRE AREA POINT-TO-POINT CLUB at SHERIFF HUTTON (Yorkshire) YO60 7TN
First race: 12:00pm
Admission prices: £10 per person