meet country people – Page 7

Local Tales at the Square and Compass

Our Pub Social at the Square and Compass in Worth Matravers, on Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck, was slightly different to our usual Pub Socials. When we discovered that Andy Baggs (who we spent the day with on his dairy farm) was the Hayward of Wareham Common, it opened up a whole can of questioning worms.… Continue reading Local Tales at the Square and Compass

Entrepreneurship and Beagling

Back in September we were helping out at a Young Countryside Alliance Ball in Northamptonshire and got talking to Philip Price, who had provided the bucking bronco and laser shooting for the evening. At that time we were in the process of organising our Muddy Marathon and were looking for interesting young rural entrepreneurs to… Continue reading Entrepreneurship and Beagling

Dressing to Impress at EJ Churchill

As a large number of our members are interested in clay pigeon shooting, and we were in much need of some practice, whilst we were in Buckinghamshire we thought we would go and check out the award-winning E. J. Churchill Shooting Ground near High Wycombe. Formerly the West Wycombe Shooting Ground, E.J. Churchill occupies 40… Continue reading Dressing to Impress at EJ Churchill

Eco-Friendly Tourism in the New Forest

Although it is England’s smallest National Park at 57,000 hectares, the New Forest prides itself on being the greenest and, with all the chat about carbon footprints and doing your bit for the environment, we headed down to Brockenhurst – the Forest’s largest settlement – to find out how one goes about having a low… Continue reading Eco-Friendly Tourism in the New Forest

Hunting with Harris Hawks

“If you think you might fall, save the bird” This morning we were at the Bird of Prey Centre in Bedfordshire; home to the English School of Falconry and nearly 300 birds. The centre is run by Phil Gooden and his daughter Emma and is nestled into a patch of woodland in the magnificent grounds… Continue reading Hunting with Harris Hawks

Muddy Pub Quiz at the St John Arms

The Muddy Marathon got off to a great start with our first ever ‘Muddy Pub Quiz’ at the St John Arms in Melchbourne, Bedfordshire. There was a great mix of people including locals from the surrounding villages and Muddy Matches members that had travelled from a bit further afield. Some of our fishing week competition… Continue reading Muddy Pub Quiz at the St John Arms