Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 70

life

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING

Left: Martin Humphary, Nigel Bennett, Ray Bishop, John Kingswell,
George Jenkins, Alistiar Davidson, Rob Hobart, James Kingswell,
Nick Scott, Mike Davidson, Martine Humphary.

Out with the local
pheasant shoot
The land around Gatcombe Mill has
belonged to the Hobart Family for many
years. The current owners are Mr & Mrs
Robbie Hobart who are enthusiastic and
passionate about the countryside they have
stewardship of. They see shooting and the
work that goes into it the shoot as part
of the lands conservation; they have been
shooting here for more than 40 years.
To have a shoot you need a keeper,
Gatcombe is very fortunate to have three
generations of J Kingswell’s who between
them they have a wealth of knowledge
and experience not only about caring for
the land and rearing the birds. But also
in woodland conservation which means
this area is teaming with wildlife including
red squirrels, barn owls , song birds and
buzzards.
John Kingswell senior is a well known
and respected island countryman who for
many years was master of hounds. On his
daily visit he feeds and checks on the bird
feeders and drinkers. His son James does the
day-to-day graft and organises the shoot’s
syndicate of gun’s.

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Then there is James’s son Jack who has
been at the shoot since his childhood he
runs the beating line and after the shoot he
prepares the birds that go to local butchers.
The syndicate guns are a real cross
section of the local community they have
businesses as diverse as haulage, electrical
contractors, farmers, aggregate suppliers,
legal representatives and estate agents.
Left: James, John & Jack Kingswell.
The syndicate support the Isle of Wight
Gundog Club by allowing the land to be
used for training of retrievers and spaniels,
After another couple of drives the day
to hold working tests and they generously
is all but over bar a count up of the birds
donate a day to the club to hold a field trial.
(pheasant and duck) to see who has won
A typical shoot day starts with the team of
the sweep. Then a quick cup of tea whilst
20 beaters and pickers being joined by the
mulling over who shot the best bird of
guns for hot dogs and tea. This is followed
the day or which dog excelled at finding a
by the work of the morning being 4 drives,
difficult bird, then homeward bound.
covering a large area of bog, reed beds,
This shoot has a unique atmosphere
brambles and woods.
being friendly welcoming and sociable. For
The much looked forward to lunch for
everyone be they young or old whose lucky
the gun’s is in the house hosted by Robbie
enough to be involved in this shoot they will
and his wife Baba whilst the beaters pickers
all tell you ~ there is nowhere better to be
and dogs take a much needed break in the
on a winter’s Saturday.
beaters room.

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