Most seasoned anglers will no doubt have heard the phrase ‘observation, imitation, presentation’ or OIP. This three-step mantra neatly condenses the complexity of fly-fishing (and arguably many other forms of…
THE FIELD
Shooting clays in the summer
Last season is a hazy memory, the spring crops have been drilled, and warm evenings permeate with the smell of barbecue rather than gunpowder. If you are missing your sport,…
Pickleball – one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports
What started across the pond in the 1960s as a game for children to play in their backyards is vying with padel to become one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports.…
Coarse fish species: barbel, chub and perch
Brilliant barbel The angler is looking for gravel-bottomed glides between four and six feet on the river. You can wade carefully and the gear is simplicity itself, with just between…
Sir Peter Scott: an eminent conservationist
The renowned wildlife artist, author, international competitor in skating, sailing and gliding, wildfowler and broadcaster Sir Peter Scott became the father of modern conservation, founding the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust…
The best elderflower cordial recipe
The scent of elderflower cordial is a reminder of early summer
12 top tips for charity shoot success
THE CHARITY SHOOT The call to arms comes via WhatsApp: “Morning, are you free to shoot as part of my team on a charity shoot this summer?” Typically, and wherever…
David Howden: The Field Interview
David Howden is regarded by many as the insurance world’s answer to Richard Branson. His dynamism has shaped Howden, the insurance company he helped found 30 years ago, into the…
The truth about dog discipline
For those training their first gundog, the gap between theory and practice can seem almost impossible to reconcile.
Birdsong: How to recognise bird calls
The dawn chorus is even better when you can tell who's in the choir. Early spring is a great time to enjoy birdsong and learn the call of different birds