Taking a shine to stock finishing

Stock-finisher Shane Scase has built a reputation for his oil finishes that belies his years – though his ‘recipe’ is a closely guarded secret

A different coarse of action

Victorian gentlemen turned their noses up at coarse fish. But there is much excitement to be had fishing for pike, chub and dace on the fly

Ladies seize the day at Belvoir

With a stunning backdrop, birds galore and their menfolk to load, last season got off to an epic start for one team of lady Guns, despite the pandemic

To the hill once again

The clarion call has sounded and it is time to set your sights on the ultimate modern sporting challenge

You could see the beaters far distant on top of the next hill They were sending the grouse flying slightly uphill towards the Guns. Glenogil Estate By Forfar, Angus

The first challenge for this party of lucky Guns from Essex – who had won the day in a GWCT raffle – was to stomp up to their butts, where glorious views and testing birds awaited

Selecting the best guns for grouse

Shooting grouse requires quick reflexes and tough, reliable guns that handle instinctively and can be reloaded quickly. Here are 10 to take to the moors

Mackerel, summer's glittering prize

Whether caught from boat, beach or pier with a simple lure, these pelagic beauties are part of the fun – and flavour – of the British coastline

Phoines Estate Highlands

Twenty-six lines of butts set within five corries, each rising to 3,000 feet, offered a roving syndicate a red-letter day on red grouse

For those in peril on the sea

A valuable aid to maritime safety, Britain’s lighthouses are also marvels of engineering; The Field picks five of its favourites

GROUSE-MOOR MANAGEMENT: A BURNING ISSUE

Is controlled rotational burning an important tool to preserve moorland, prevent wildfires and keep carbon in the soil – or should we ‘ban the burn’?

Sherry picking

The fortunes of this fortified wine rise and fall like the bow of a Spanish galleon – so what is behind this much-maligned drink’s current revival?

Community spirit

For too long the voice of the upland gamekeeper has gone unheard. Now, Regional Moorland Groups are providing them with a platform

Make way for the young thrusters

Don’t expect these youngsters to hang about –they’ll be over the gate before you get there

Electric dreams

How easy is it to convert your classic car to electric power – and is it worth the effort? That probably depends on whether you drive a Land Rover or a Ferrari

Bed and banquet

Reminiscing about the day’s sport over dinner is an essential part of a week in a sporting lodge – so it makes sense to splash out on a cook

For He Was A Jolly Good Fellow

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s conservation successes and sporting prowess long attracted the attention of The Field’s commentators

The Simple Joy Of Summer Shooting

With long days to savour, Will Garfit invites you to join him in a pigeon hide to experience the thrilling combination of testing sport and pest control

Ahead of the Game

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s 57 years as patron of the GWCT reflected a pragmatic, pioneering approach to conservation

RED LABS RISING

Once shunned in favour of the ubiquitous black, the fox-red labrador is now becoming increasingly popular, as Giles Catchpole relates

Screaming from the rooftops

A sky filled with shrieking, swooping swifts is one of the true delights of summer. But it is one we need to work hard to protect

Trials and variations

As the line between gundogs and trialling dogs grows ever wider, David Tomlinson wonders whether it’s time to split the breed standards in two

Braced for the plunge

No matter whether you call it ‘wild’ or ‘cold-water’ swimming, it offers peace, exercise and a primeval sense of being at one with nature

The pleasures of black powder

Using a muzzle-loader marries sport, heritage – and the satisfaction of customising one’s experience

Perfect on parade

There may not be the usual Trooping the Colour this year, but a new crop of horses is keeping the Household Cavalry as busy as ever

CARING FOR KENNELS

Legal changes and trail hunting have placed different pressures on our packs. How are today’s huntsmen responding to the challenges?

WEATHER PROOFING THE FLINTLOCK

ONE of the biggest drawbacks of using a flintlock gun on the sporting field was weather proofing.

What lies ahead for our beloved salmon?

What is it about Salmo salar that gets under our skin? And what does the future look like for the king of fish? In the first of a two-part series, avid fishers offer their opinions

SPORTING WAGERS - The Guineas

THE 2000 Guineas is the first of five Classics in the flat-racing season. It was first run on 18 April 1809, although it is usually run in May alongside the second Classic, the 1000 Guineas, which was founded five years later. While the former is reserved for colts, the latter is exclusively for fillies.

Rizzini Grand Regal 28-bore

Mike Yardley is impressed by this pretty gun from the Italian maker, which is particularly well engraved and balanced. Missing little, he declares it one of the best 28-bores he has tested

BRITISH SPORTING ART TRUST

John Ferneley Senior in his Studio at Elgin Lodge, Melton Mowbray by Claude Lorraine Ferneley (1822-1892)