AS A committed conservation angler – ie, I catch very little – I’m getting a bit perturbed by ScotGov’s approach to those of us who participate in Scotland’s flourishing game shooting and fishing industry.

The latest wheeze – on top of a pre-emptory ban on guns on Scotrail services in the run up to the Glorious 12th – is a planned requirement that estates must apply for a licence before they can run a shoot.

But, what must be remembered is that grouse shooting is worth £150m to the economy and angling contributes £100m, supports around 2800 jobs and generates nearly £50m in wages and self-employment income to Scottish households.

Regulation would bring nothing but cost into the system and, for another thing, it’s not just toffs who enjoy these sports. You’ll soon need a licence to do anything with the Famous Grouse!

Not on your Nelly

A charitable ‘Ladies do lunch’ was held at Banchory Show, recently, and approximately £34,000 was raised for the Archie Foundation and The Scottish Air Ambulance charities. Well done to all for that.

While the ladies were dressed to impress in their fancy frocks, the same might not be able to be said about the host(ess?). This was Nelly Gray – otherwise known as Jimmy Dick, from Northton Farm, Cullerlie, Echt – who was also dressed to impress and seems to have a penchant for dressing up in ladies' clothes (a hark back to YF days)!

The master of ceremonies seemed to have had an underwear-filling ‘issue’, which was just as well as he made a right @?& of himself!

But the banter, the two-course meal, raffle, charity auction and various pop-up shops were well received and all for two good causes.

Rabbits piggy-back sheep

IT’S well known pigs can’t fly, but it would also appear that rabbits can’t swim – though they are resourceful if a recent report is anything to go by.

A farmer in New Zealand was stunned to see rabbits hitching a ride on the backs of his sheep when torrential rain had swamped the field. In an effort not to get washed away, the rabbits jumped on the backs of the sheep to stay safe.

While the farmer moved his sheep to higher ground, the rabbits rode to safety. They must have read Watership Down!