Experiencing The Game Fair for the first time with the Countryside Alliance

The delightful grounds of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire played host to The Game Fair last weekend. Thursday, now officially recognised as the hottest day in British history, made the set up a challenge. Sweltering and sweating, the whole CA team laid the carpet, hung banners, arranged furniture and even assembled a makeshift grouse butt – complete with a heather top.

Hatfield House in Hertfordshire played host to The Game Fair last weekend

Freshened by rest and relieved that the heat had cooled, Friday was the busiest of our three days. We welcomed old members onto our stand and signed up new ones. Events like The Game Fair are always an excellent opportunity to catch up with our supporters, to hear their news and let them know what we are doing to preserve and promote the rural way of life.

Our new Shooting Campaign Manager, Sam Carlisle, was thrown into the deep end. Despite arriving less than a week ago at the Alliance, he was on hand to answer member's questions about the recent General License debacle, the future of lead ammunition and Wild Justice's latest posturing.

Other popular topics, which Sarah Lee (Head of Policy), Adrian Blackmore (Director of Shooting) and myself answered, centred around the effects of Brexit on the countryside and the make-up of the new government. Our chief executive, Tim Bonner, contributed to a number or panel discussions at The Game Fair theatre, which was adjacent to our stand. Conversations flowed thanks to the generous support of Tony Holdsworth, who poured his Silver Fox Gin from behind the grouse butt for all of our visitors, and Truly Traceable who supplied a variety of game pies.

Jim Barrington speaking on one of many panels throughout the day

It was a pleasure to finally meet Lynn and Steve Tricker from Suffolk. The husband and wife team work together to produce some of the finest game delicacies I've ever tried. Steve dispatches the game and butchers it himself, while Lynn – who has a background in catering- turns it into a range of quality pies and sausage rolls. 'Truly Traceable' means customers are able to pin-point the exact location, time and date of where their meat comes from. They pride themselves on using local ingredients wherever possible and refuse to use anything that they can't trace. Please do check out their website.

Our Head of Policy Sarah Lee pictured with the Truly Traceable team, Lynn & Steve Tricker

We were joined on our stand by cartridge manufacturers Eley Hawk, who were launching their latest 'eco-wad'. This alternative to plastic wadding for steel cartridges dissolves in water within 24 hours. This evolution could prove invaluable to the shooting community as we continually strive to minimise our impact on the environment.

Despite some rain on the weekend, and some areas of mud more reminiscent of Glastonbury than The Game Fair, each day was well attended. The ability to meet face-to-face with our members at such events means so much to us. If you were unable to attend this year but have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

The weather took a surprise turn, but it just added to the experience

Thank you to everyone who did visit, and we look forward to seeing you again next year at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire.