Shooting Sports: 'What Future'

And details of the full seminar programme Introducing the Country Land and Business Association's CLA seminar at 10.15am, in CLA Game Fair Theatre, Friday 26th July 2002, at the CLA Game Fair, Broadlands, Hampshire. There will be a pre-seminar media briefing at 9.50am and an opportunity for interviews and photographs with the Minister for Rural Affairs.

CLA President, Sir Edward Greenwell, will chair the meeting.
Guest Speaker, Alun Michael MP Minister for Rural Affairs
Also speaking at the event are: John swift, BASC & Dr Stephen Tapper, GCT

Accreditation for the pre-seminar media briefing with the Minister starts from 8am in the press centre.
All media wanting to attend the pre-seminar media briefing must be in the press centre at 9.30am. (by Main Arena)
Media are advised to leave plenty of time to get to the CLA Game Fair, as traffic is notoriously busy. We advise anyone coming from London to leave early!

CLA GAME FAIR PROVIDES PLATFORM FOR MAJOR DEBATES ON FUTURE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE

Issues which are critical to the economic and social structure of rural Britain will be in the spotlight this week when a series of high powered debates take place at the world's biggest - and most important - country show.
Shooting, rural tourism, farming and the environment all feature in a programme of seminars which will be occupying the centre of the political stage at The CLA Game Fair which opens at Broadlands, Romsey, on Friday ( 26th July). The aim, says Game Fair Director, David Hough, is to ensure that The Game Fair provides the platform for serious debate on the issues which will shape the future of the countryside and the rural economy.

The seminar programme opens at 10.15 on Friday in The Game Fair Theatre with the issue which will be of concern to a huge section of The Game Fair's expected 125,000 visitors - the future of shooting. The debate will be chaired by CLA President, Sir Edward Greenwell who will outline the importance of shooting as an economic driver and as an instrument in the conservation and management of the landscape and the environment. Speakers will examine the policy, politics and practice of game rearing and shooting and open a debate on what the shooting community needs to do to protect itself from restrictive legislation. The seminar will also hear what the Government's attitude to shooting is likely be.

Tourism is one of the key industries for most rural areas - yet it is still a largely fragmented industry operating at varying standards and without any apparent central co-ordination. The Country Land and Business Association is currently involved in a major research project to identify how an industry which currently generates £15bn can be improved. How to provide better marketing, better co-ordination, better value - these are some of the question the CLA Game Fair Seminar will be seeking answers to when it opens at 11.15 a.m. on Friday. The seminar - which is due to be attended by representatives from county and district councils as well as tourism groups and individual operators, is part of a research project which the CLA will be running throughout the three days of The Game Fair to establish what people think of English and Welsh tourism and how information about what is available in the countryside can be communicated to a wider audience.

CLA Vice President, David Fursdon, who will chair the seminar, said:" Rural tourism is fundamental to the health of the rural economy - but the industry needs a focus which will pull together its various strands. We want to identify key initiatives which will help achieve that objective and at the same time help reinvigorate the industry on a regional and national scale."

On Friday lunchtime the former director of the Game Conservancy Trust, Dr Dick Potts, will receive a special Contribution to the Countryside Award. Dr Potts has devoted his career to championing the cause of wild game birds and has led the way with innovative farm-based conservation projects.

Threats and opportunities for landowners and farmers will be the theme of the main debate of Friday afternoon when Game Fair Theatre sponsors, Strutt and Parker present their vision of the future. The seminar will be chaired be James Laing, who is head of the rural division of Strutt & Parker and speakers will be rural business advisor, Anthony Fortescue, and farm business consultant, James Attrill.

Friday's events conclude with a presentation by accountants, Saffrey Champness, on the results of a recent survey into rural leisure activities.
The Saturday seminar programme starts at 10.30am with a debate on the future of angling chaired by CLA President, Sir Edward Greenwell. Paul Knight, Director of the Salmon & Trout Association and Bob James, of the Angler's Conservation Society, will join Sir Edward in a discussion on ways and means to ensure angling and waterways survive and thrive.
At 11.30 on Saturday a team of speakers a under the chairmanship of Farmers' Weekly Editor, Stephen Howe, will debate the, potentially beneficial, relationship between Countryside Stewardship agreements and shooting. This seminar will be followed by the presentation of the Farmers Weekly/ CLA Game Fair , Gamekeeper of the Year Award. This annual award is given to the 'keeper whose efforts bring significant benefits to wildlife and country sports.

Saturday afternoon sees a discussion on the myths and realities surrounding organic farming. This seminar, which is being organised by The Science Museum in conjunction with the CLA will examine whether organic or commercial farming can offer a real blueprint for the future.

The final event for Saturday features Adam Des Forges, Senior Interpreter at The Royal Armouries Museum who will be staging two interpretations on the history of weapons Saturday and Sunday. The Game Fair Theatre offers the world premier on Ewart Grogan, Edwardian explorer and big game hunter while the 'Training for Hunting and war in the Middle Ages? explains how a knight was armed for war, the development of arms and armour, the techniques for training and the use of specialist weapons such as the boar sword. The 20 minute programmes use costume and drama to help bring the history of the period to life.

On Sunday morning Strutt and Parker and The Field are inviting Game Fair visitors to join them at 10.30am to celebrate the success of their Give a Dog a Home campaign. Over the past four months the two organisations have been working together to find new homes for working dogs. They have succeeded in re-housing some150 dogs and, along the way, highlighted the excellent work carried out by rescue centres.

Sunday lunchtime the Game Fair Theatre is the venue for a major auction of sporting goods and promises to raise money for the Leonora Children's Cancer Fund. Over 70 outstanding lots on offer to be sold by auctioneer Barry Hutchinson, of Hamiltons.

PROGRAMME
Friday 26th July

10.15 am "Shooting Sports - What Future?"
Chairman: Sir Edward Greenwell, President CLA
The Rt Hon Alun Michael, Minister at the Department of the Environment Food & Rural Affairs
John Swift , Chief Execeutive BASC
Dr StephenTapper, Director of Research The Game Conservancy Trust

This is a debate which affects not only shooters but everybody with an interest in the economy, environment and social structure of our countryside. Speakers will discuss the importance of shooting as an economic driver and as an instrument in the conservation and management of the landscape and the environment.

11.15 am "Rural Tourism- A Win Win Opportunity?"
Chairman: David Fursdon, Vice President CLA
Alan Britten, Chairman, English Tourism Council
Richard Wilkins, Historic Houses Association

Tourism is one of the key industries for most rural areas - yet it is still a largely fragmented industry operating at varying standards. This seminar is part of a research project which the CLA will be running throughout the three days of The Game Fair to establish what people think of English and Welsh tourism and how tourist related information can be more effectively communicated to a wider audience.

12.15 pm Presentation: Contribution to the Countryside Award.
The former director of the Game Conservancy Trust, Dr Dick Potts, will receive this special Game Fair Award in recognition of his devotion to championing the cause of wild game birds and the manner in which he has led the way with innovative farm-based conservation projects.

2.30 pm "Threats and Opportunities for Landowners and Farmers"
Chairman: James Laing, Head of the Rural Division of Strutt & Parker
James Attrill, Farm Business Consultant, Strutt and Parker

Game Fair Theatre sponsors, Strutt and Parker present their vision of the future.

3.30pm Rural Leisure Survey by Saffery Champness
Speakers: Jerry Barnes and Suzie Swift of Saffery Champness

Earlier this year Saffery Champness appointed Spada, Marketing Agency, to conduct a survey of the sporting activities of countryside estates in England, Scotland and Wales. Responses in excess of 240 estates and covering over 1 million acres were compiled, results of which will be fed back at the seminar.


Saturday 27th July
10.30 am The Future of Angling

Chairman CLA President, Sir Edward Greenwell.
Paul Knight, Director of the Salmon & Trout Association
Bob James, of the Angler's Conservation Society
This debate will focus on ways and means to ensure angling and waterways survive and thrive

11.30 am Shooting Sports and Countryside Stewardship
Chairman Stephen Howe, Editor, Farmers' Weekly,
Speakers: Prof Alan Buckwell,ChiefEconomist,CLA
Matt Ward, Strutt & Parker
Mike Swan, Game Conservancy
This seminar will debate the, potentially beneficial, relationship between Countryside Stewardship agreements and shooting.

12.15 pm The Farmers Weekly/ CLA Game Fair , Gamekeeper of the Year Award

This annual award is given to the 'keeper whose efforts bring significant benefits to wildlife and country sports. Stephen Howe will present the award.
2.15pm Which way for Farming?
A discussion on the myths and realities surrounding organic farming. This seminar, which is being organised by The Science Museum in conjunction with the CLA will examine whether organic or commercial farming can offer a real blueprint for the future.

3.15 pm Presentation by The Royal Armouries
Adam Des Forges, Senior Interpreter at The Royal Armouries Museum who will be staging two interpretations on the history of weapons. Ewart Grogan, is the story of an Edwardian explorer and big game hunter while the 'Training for Hunting and war in the Middle Ages? explains how a knight was armed for war, the development of arms and armour, the techniques for training and the use of specialist weapons. The 20 minute programmes use costume and drama to help bring the history of the period to life.

Sunday 28th July
10.30am Give a Dog a Home
Strutt and Parker and The Field invite Game Fair visitors to join them in celebrating the success of their recent campaign. Over the past four months the two organisations have been working together to find new homes for working dogs. They have succeeded in re-housing some150 dogs and, along the way, highlighted the excellent work carried out by rescue centres.

12.00 noon:Charity Auction in Aid of the Leonora Children's Cancer Fund
Organised by Westcountry Sporting Worldwide in conjunction with the CLA Game Fair, this is a major auction of sporting goods and promises to raise money for the Leonora Fund. Over 70 outstanding lots on offer to be sold by auctioneer Barry Hutchinson, of Hamiltons.

2.30 Presentation by The Royal Armouries
Adam Des Forges, Senior Interpreter at The Royal Armouries Museum who will be staging two interpretations on the history of weapons. Ewart Grogan, is the story of an Edwardian explorer and big game hunter while the 'Training for Hunting and war in the Middle Ages? explains how a knight was armed for war, the development of arms and armour, the techniques for training and the use of specialist weapons. The 20 minute programmes use costume and drama to help bring the history of the period to life.