Branch information and events Photo by: Martin Prochazkacz

THE BDS NORTH WEST BRANCH

Information on the British Deer Society (BDS) North West England branch including events, news, and contacts.

BRANCH Area aND COMMITTEE

BRANCH CONTACTS

Chair	Iain Richards	i.richards@bdsbranches.org.uk
Secretary	Colin Bowker	c.bowker@bdsbranches.org.uk Tel: 01524 823127 07948 676494
Treasurer	Giles Thornley

BRANCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Peter Robson
Nick Jackson
Philip Gee
Derrick Snallam
Steve Cowles
Judy Richardson
Jeremy Kileff

RANGE CONTACT

Peter Robson Tel: 07974126782

North East England and Yorkshire members are particularly welcome to join us on range days.

Please note that the access to the Grayrigg range may alter owing to bridge repair work, so please check the website before travelling.

BRANCH AREAS

Postcode	Area
BB	Blackburn
BL	Bolton
CA	Carlisle
FY	Blackpool
IM	Isle of Man
L	Liverpool
LA	Lancaster
M	Manchester
OL	Oldham
PR	Preston
SK	Stockport
WA	Warrington
WN	Wigan

EVENTS

Please note that branch events may not be going ahead due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Date

Event

24th Mar 7:30PM

WEBINAR: Meet the Sponsor Blaser Special (Online)

Next Event

WEBINAR: Meet the Sponsor Blaser Special

24/03/2021 7:30 PM

Opportunity to meet one of our sponsors' Blaser and find out more about them and how they will be supporting the British Deer Society. The Panel To be confirmed Ask a Question If you would like to ask a question in advance please email info@bds.org.uk

NEWS

Branch AGM

As promised, this year’s A.G.M. will have a Guest Speaker. Alastair Boston of the D.I. has agreed to come and give us a talk and presentation. The content, which I am not going to disclose, will be of interest to all Stalkers and those with deer at heart. I believe there will be slides and interaction with Alastair. Enough said. Come to the meeting on March 6^th as we need to know your views as to how the Branch is run.

Photography

Entries are still being taken for the Branch Photography Competition. Entry is free to branch members and there will be a new trophy and a voucher for the winner. The subject of the photo must be wild or park deer, UK native species in any situation. Committee member Judy Richardson is organising the event.

Eskdalemuir Range Day

Our third visit to Gardeners Long Range. The date has been pencilled in for Saturday, June 20^th. with a cost of £50-00 per Member. (£55-00 for non-members.) There is a new range which goes out to 2Km but the aim is to see what you and your kit are capable of on paper and gongs. Not on something with a pulse! To book a place initially contact the Secretary (e-mail or telephone) and get more details. Places may be restricted as the N.E.Branch has been invited to attend. Bring your own food but refreshments will be provided.

NEW Stalkers

The average age of Stalkers has for some time been increasing and the problem seems to be getting youngsters interested in Stalking and deer welfare. As we all know cost is an important factor. It is seriously restrictive to youngsters wanting to get into Stalking. It costs nothing to take someone out to sit in a hide or doe box with you. It’s a start to what could be a life long interest. We have been contacted by two Scout Groups to put on a Rabbit skinning and Back Wood Cookery event and so have incorporated Deer into the programme. Venison sausages are also on the menu. They will be given free deer recognition hand outs and be shown how through the B.D.S. app. they can help us with the next Deer Survey.

Deer Initiative

No doubt everyone read in the Autumn Issue that the DI is to close at the end of March. Say Deer Initiative and the first thing that comes to mind is the name Alastair Boston. There are many who could say more about Alastair but I’ll do my best. As long as I can remember, he has been at the forefront of organising events for stalkers in the North West, and if he wasn’t organising he was there giving a helping hand. As an RCO he was there to help on Range Days or arranging Best Practice Evenings with an array of interesting speakers and Best Practice week-ends with lots of interest for stalkers. Alastair also gave out attendance certificates for BP days for those doing their Skills Awards and fronted the South Lakes DMG Young Stalkers Day where the raffle turned into entertainment on its own.

One thing that Alastair will be remembered for is the MALMO Stalkers Evening. This must have been the largest event of its kind in the country. It raised many thousands of pounds for the NW Air Ambulance and Injured Servicemen. Everyone at MALMO, the BDS and BASC supported this event and it was a credit to all involved. Many Thanks to Nick Jackson as well!

Alastair Boston, on behalf of everyone in the North West branch, we thank you.

FSA Wild Game Guide.

Glyn Ingram has urged that all aspects of the traceability, best practice and Regulations on the supply of venison should be followed. All current requirements can be found in the Wild Game Guide. It is your responsibility to know the legislation and to adhere to it. How you prepare and dispose of your venison dictates the rules you have to adhere to. Poaching and the illegal supply of venison has long been a problem here in Cumbria and North Lancs as elsewhere. Environmental Health Officers have been working hard to try and make sure venison comes from legal sources. Registered premises are subject to spot checks and inspection. Private premises can only be visited after written notification. Therein lies the problem. They have been working with the Branch to help stamp out illegal outlets.

Download the latest Wild Game Guide and keep on the good side of the law.

Myerscough Open Day

Our stand in the Countryside Marquee has over the years grown and grown. We acquired two new life size banners of a roe and a red which drew a lot of attention. This year will see our display grow even more as we have already booked a larger pitch. The new fallow and sika banners are very impressive. Throughout the day we had a steady flow of visitors and thanks to the staff at HQ we had plenty of handouts which were given to children and sent to different schools. This Open Day must be one of the largest in the country so come along and see us on Brock Meadow.

Forthcoming events

As you read this, the programme of events will already have been discussed, and a full up-to-date list will be sent out as soon as possible after the AGM. If you think you may be able to help out on the stand at an event, please contact the Secretary (c.bowker@bdsbranches.org.uk). Free passes and lunch will be provided for volunteers.

STAY IN TOUCH

If your contact information has changed please make sure to let us know. To update your details simply email membership@bds.org.uk or call 01425 655434.