To this edition of the Northern grass e-route newsletter.

A Happy New year all of you in the North of England – I hope you’ve now got over Christmas and the New Year and are enjoying your hunting and what remains of the game shooting season.

There is great news to update you on – firstly we have a new Executive Chairman - the former head of the UK Field Army, Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner, has been appointed Executive Chairman of the Countryside Alliance and Director of the Countryside Alliance Foundation with effect from 9th February, taking on overall responsibility for the organisation. Barney will be based in the Alliance's London Headquarters.

Commenting on his appointment Barney said "I owe so much in my life to the countryside and I am now really looking forward to giving something back". Countryside Alliance Board Chairman Kate Hoey MP said "I am absolutely delighted that Barney is joining us. His leadership will be invaluable in the challenges facing the British countryside."

As well as a new Executive Chairman I am delighted that my ex colleague from BASC, Jamie Stewart, has been brought on board as a specialist shooting advisor. In his new role Jamie will be responsible for developing the Alliance training and skills programmes and expanding the network of shoots initially in the South West.

Founder and MD of Westcountry wildlife service’s - a wildlife consultancy and training enterprise - Jamie Stewart is a third generation gamekeeper and deer manager with a lifetime’s experience of managing wildlife and habitat in the UK – he will be another great asset to the membership.

If you are running an event or activity in the northern region and you would like any help in promoting what you’re doing, please do get in touch so I can help through the web site and the grass – e route. In particular I’m keen to hear from those hunts who want to publicise their forthcoming Point to Points or any other activities.

Many of you will have seen Prime Minister David Cameron's interview on BBC1's Countryfile programme last Sunday, in which he told presented John Craven: "I always thought the hunting ban was a pretty bizarre piece of legislation, I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons... My problem has always been that it was just taking the criminal law into an area of activity where it didn't really belong".
Alice Barnard, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, responded:

"The Prime Minister is totally right to question the Hunting Act, especially from a legal basis. Since it came into force, 97% of convictions under the Act have related to poaching or other casual hunting activities, all of which are covered by existing legislation.

"Hunts across Britain are doing the utmost to abide within what is a very complicated and bureaucratic law, and police forces are wasting time and money policing them when they could be out catching real criminals.
"The rural community, politicians from both sides of the aisle and various veterinary groups all agree; the Hunting Act has been a total failure and should be repealed."

The Prime Minister's comments come a couple of weeks after Jim Paice, Agriculture Minister with responsibility for Hunting, said he also wanted to see the Hunting Act repealed. He said: "The current law simply doesn't work.
I personally am in favour of hunting with dogs - and the Coalition Agreement clearly states that we will have a free vote on whether to repeal the Act when there is time in the Parliamentary calendar to do so."

On Countryfile, presenter John Craven's conversation with the Prime Minister went as follows:

John Craven: Are you still committed to a free vote?

David Cameron: I am, I mean I put my cards on the table, I have always thought the hunting ban was a pretty bizarre piece of legislation, I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons. The House of Commons should make its mind up about this. My problem has always been that it was just taking the criminal law into an area of activity where it didn't really belong, but it will be for the House of Commons to decide and then it will be for the Government to act on that after a House of Commons decision

John Craven: And will it happen this Parliament? David Cameron: We've said it will happen in this Parliament, yes.

Whilst for many keepers a well earned holiday is of greater concern at the end of the season, thoughts will already have turned to the work ahead of the next. Many of the best run shoots plan ahead and in detail SNF invariably their shoot days are well run and enjoyable places to be.

However, planning ahead also has other advantages - most notably it can save you money. I have been struck by the number of shoots from the very large to the very small, already keen to discuss the possibility of a "Whole Shoot Plan" for the coming year. Country Keeper allows you to order everything for your shoot from one place. The plan would really just be a record of this. It details feed, cover crop seed and equipment requirements, delivery dates and details plus the agreed price. It provides the ‘keeper with a personal point of contact, responsible for managing the delivery of this plan. Obviously you cannot plan for everything and additional products can be added at anytime but planning ahead will save you time and in turn money.

Alongside this plan, through arable specialists at Countrywide Farmers PLC our parent company, we are able to offer bespoke fertiliser and crop protection plans (minimum acreages apply). We can then supply the correct products and quantities to give your cover crops the best possible chance. Failing crops cost money, our advice is free.

The economic climate dictates that all costs should be justified on all shoots, regardless of their size, however cutting corners when it comes to game shooting just doesn't add up. Enjoy the rest of your season and I hope to hear from many of you in the months to come.

Tom Blades works for Country Keeper and is the ex Head of Game and Gamekeeping at the BASC. To get in touch with him call 07825 138298

Wildfowling news

January is generally a month where people try to work off the Christmas excesses, so there is every reason to support our farmers and producers and healthy British food.

Next week is Farmhouse Breakfast Week . Farmhouse Breakfast Week is an annual campaign run by HGCA which has been running since the year 2000. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and demonstrate the variety of breakfast foods available in the UK, so please make your breakfast British next week.

And later on in the year is British Food Fortnight which in 2012 is going to be very special. The website tells us: "2012 will be the most patriotic year in our lifetimes with the Diamond Jubilee and the arrival of the greatest sporting event in the world on our shores. What better way to express our patriotism than through food! Which is why in 2012 we are planning activities throughout the Diamond Jubilee year and we are changing the dates of British Food Fortnight, for one year only, to run at the same time as the Olympics under the banner 'Love British Food 2012'. The attention of the world will be on us so let's use the opportunity to put not just Britain but British food in the best possible light! Food and sport go hand in hand: sport inspires us to be more active and eat more healthily and food is part and parcel of getting together with family and friends to enjoy great sporting occasions. Dates of Love British Food 2012 are 27th July to 12th August 2012." Find out what you can do at http://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/

Members of Parliament also like to demonstrate their support for our farmers and producers, and there are two current EDMs you can ask them to sign in order to do so. You will be aware that an EDM is a way for MPs to draw attention to an event or cause and that MPs register their support by signing individual motions.
The two of interest are EDM 2507 'COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE REPORT ON MANDATORY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELLING' and EDM 2409 GAME TO EAT CAMPAIGN. The EDMs promote The Countryside Alliance Foundation's hard work on country of origin food labelling and game meat as a healthy food source.

Find your MP here and ask him or her to support our work.

I’ve almost completed my tour of finalist in the North West and Yorkshire and thanks to my colleagues Jill Grieve and Sarah Lee who visited finalists in the North East on my behalf. It has been a truly inspirational experience for me to meet so many people with such interesting, diverse and successful businesses – Good luck to all of you – the details of the winners and highly commended finalist will be communicated early in February to the lucky businesses!

Coming soon!
The inaugural Countryside Alliance Charity 4 - Ball Golf challenge in Cheshire during May or June – for more details and to register your interest, please contact Regional Chairman, Nick Morrall, at nick.morrall@kingsdowneconsulting.co.uk,
Also the Whitfield Clay shoot - 12/13th May and a unique Members event in Manchester, hopefully in either April or June.

24th of February

Please encourage all your friends, family and shooting hunting and fishing contacts to registers for the Northern region Grass e Route newsletter!

The service is free and provides subscribers with the latest news on countryside issues directly. By registering subscribers receive all UK messages and other information appropriate to their local area. Registration is simple just send an email to news@countryside-alliance.org and include "register North" in the subject box. To unsubscribe from Alliance grass e-route at any time, simply send an email to news@countryside-alliance.org and include "Unsubscribe" in the body of the email.