Over three days this weekend past, tens of thousands of those who love the countryside made their way from near and far to Ragley Hall in Warwickshire for this year’s Game Fair. It was heartening to see so many people come round to the Countryside Alliance stand on each of the three days, from politicians and influential people within and out with the sector, to the many old friends, new faces, members and supporters. Our thanks must go out to each and every person who visited the Countryside Alliance stand, for it is they who make the Game Fair so enjoyable to attend.
Naturally, the prevailing topic of conversation was the future of field sports after one year under a Labour government, and it was fortifying to hear so many give their wholehearted support to our campaigns for hunting, shooting and rural communities. Sentiment over the phasing out of the use of lead was a real focus, with many understanding being persuaded of the need to move alternatives in which they already have confidence or are willing to try.
Engagement from Labour and Conservative politicians was strong, with government and shadow Defra ministers and many more rural MPs keen to discuss the many rural issues in the current limelight and on the political horizon in Westminster. There was, nevertheless, an abundance of more light-hearted, less political talk, with everything from the price of a hunting licence in Austria, the intensity of the Suffolk accent across that county , the merits of Irish terriers, the variation in beagling between Northumbria and Cotswolds and reports from salmon rivers near and far.
Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance took to the stage in the Carter Jonas theatre to discuss the future of trail hunting with Fieldsports Channel’s Charlie Jacoby. Beside the lake the fishing village had celebrities of the fishing world giving talks and casting lessons and demonstrations. As in previous years the queues for pheasant goujons were suitably long, the various purveyors of venison burgers seemed similarly popular. This will have been welcome news for the Eat Wild team, whose Louisa Clutterbuck and Leon Challis-Davies attended the Game Fair and did a superlative job of championing game and telling the world how they can encourage others to enjoy game too.
In the hound ring packs of harriers, beagles, bassets and foxhounds were shown and saw great support. The falconers gave tremendous demonstrations of avian aerobatics and the main ring saw some splendid displays of horsemanship and dog handling.
The Game Fair 2025 was enjoyed by many and a real show of rural unity in what is a period of political uncertainty for country people. To the multitude who came to the Countryside Alliance stand this year, thank you for stopping by, hopefully see you again next year.