'High Birds In May' The Whitfield Annual Clay Shoot

Whitfield is renowned for some of the finest game shooting in the UK. With the steep sided and perfectly wooded valley below and the moor enveloping the higher reaches of the estate the pheasants and partridges are famously challenging and the grouse awesome.

It's appropriate that one of the greatest sporting estates should also offer a Clay Shoot that almost matches the excitement of a big day at Whitfield in the season. Fast, furious and frantic; the action is set in beautiful parkland offering high pheasants, grouse, snipe, teal, rabbit, partridge, wildfowl and pigeon stands.

The annual charity clay shoot, on the Whitfield Estate, started many years ago with profits of about £50. Over time the event has grown to be one of the largest clay shoots in the country, raising thousands of pounds for good causes throughout Northumberland and the North of England plus donations to supporting organisations such as the Countryside Alliance and the Game and Wildlife Conservancy Trust. This year the shoot takes place on the 12th and 13th May at the Whitfield Estate NE47 8HD and further details can be found here.

Monies raised can and do make a significant impact locally, for example, in 2016 a third of the money raised went to the campaign to save Whitfield Primary School from closure. Other donations have supported local initiatives such as the Tynedale Hospice At Home; The Allendale Defibrillator Fund; and indeed funding for the Gamekeepers Welfare trust.

The success of the event is all thanks to the Whitfield Estate, our sponsors, those who donate raffle and auction prizes and our competitors, as without them we would not have this amazing annual competition.

Auction lots can now be viewed online for pre event bids or please see the list below.

Anyone interested in bidding on any of the Auction Lots and who is unable to attend may send a bid to Sophie Dingwall at [email protected]

Silent Auction

Auction Lots Saturday 12th May 2018

• A walked up day's shooting grouse for 2 guns on Monday 13th August.


• Approx bag 20 brace. Bring own bait and obedient dogs only. Kindly donated by Nigel Wyrley-Birch. Guide Price: £600


• A day's fishing for 2 rods on Sir Edward's Lake Capheaton – the ultimate still water brown trout fishing with fish up to 5Ibs, Donated by Willy Browne-Swinburne. Guide Price £40.


• A day's fishing for 3 rods at Chollerton on the North Tyne for sea trout/salmon donated by Willy Browne-Swinburne. Guide Price £90.


• A morning/evening stalking hill roebucks for one person in the North Tyne donated by Willy Browne-Swinburne Guide Price: £100.


• A day's fishing for 2 rods on Colt Crag Reservoir near Hexham to be taken during the 2018 season – date tba. A quiet reservoir for stocked brown & rainbow trout Guide Price £50.


• A shooting lesson for 2 by Phil Fairless, BASC qualified and accredited head coach at Northumberland Sporting clays, date & venue tba – confirmed Guide Price £100.


• Two meals (drinks not included) at the Hadrian, Wall for 2 donated by Reuben Straker.


• "A morning goose flighting close to the Derwent Reservoir to be taken before 1 February 2019. Kindly donated by the artful John Raine"


• An evening Duck Flight over a pretty pond near Whitley Chapel to be taken between 1 October 2019 and 1 February 2019 (for a max of 3 guns) Kindly donated by Mrs Penny Carter.


• A beautiful Estate game book with illustrations from famous artists Guide £70


• Exotic meat, fish and game hamper to include Kangaroo, Ostrich and Wild boar (Approx. 3.5kg) Donated by Kezie foods Guide £50


• 4 tickets to Aintree race meet donated by the Countryside Alliance Guide £40


• One days hunting for two with the Buccleuch Foxhounds 2018/19 season Guide £180


• Tour and Tasting at Northumberland Honey Co, producers of Northumberland's answer to Champagne, Sparkling Mead. The winning couple will be hosted on a personalised tour of the production facility at Haltwhistle, seeing the whole process from bees to bottle. Followed by a guided tasting in the meadery tasting room, of all 4 varieties of meads produced and honey when in season. Guide £50


• 2 tickets to attend the Scottish Rural Awards March 2019 inc meal and wine Guide £200

Further lots to be included

Auction Lots Sunday 13th May 2018

• A walked up day's shooting grouse for 2 guns on Saturday 25th August.


• Approx bag 20 brace. Bring own bait and obedient dogs only. Kindly donated by Nigel Wyrley-Birch. Guide Price £600.


• A day's fishing for 2 rods on Sir Edward's Lake Capheaton – the ultimate still water brown trout fishing with fish up to 5Ibs donated by Willy Browne-Swinburne. Guide Price £40.


• A day's fishing for 3 rods at Chollerton on the North Tyne for sea trout/salmon donated by Willy Browne-Swinburne. Guide Price £90.


• A morning/evening stalking hill roebucks for one person in the North Tyne donated by Willy Browne-Swinburne. Guide Price £100.


• A day's fishing for 2 rods on Hallington Reservoir, near Corbridge to be taken during the 2018 season – date to be agreed. A large and tranquil reservoir for stocked brown & rainbow trout. Guide Price £50.


• Two meals (drinks not included) at the Twice Brewed, Barden Mill, Hexham for 2 donated by Reuben Straker. A perfect spot to rest and refresh yourself after a long days walking along some of the most spectacular parts of Hadrian's Wall


• One day's fishing for 2 rods on South Tyne Guide Price: £60


• 4 tickets to Cheltenham race meet (Nov) Donated by the Countryside Alliance Guide £40


• Exotic meat, fish and game hamper to include Kangaroo, Ostrich and Wild boar (Approx. 3.5kg) Donated by Kezie foods Guide £50


• A beautiful Estate game book with illustrations from famous artists Guide £70


• One days hunting for two with the Berwickshire Foxhounds 2018/19 season Guide £130


• 2 tickets to attend the Scottish Rural Awards March 2019 inc meal and wine Guide £200


• One roe deer butchered, boxed and delivered. donated by Jamie Stewart Guide £40

Further lots to be included