2019 Auction

Presented by Chris Amos:

50 cartridges / clays at Westlands Country Park, Dumfries and Galloway.

Different guns can be provided or the winning bidder can bring their own.

Presented by Greg Hutchings:

A really exciting chance to see an afternoon of grouse hawking over pointers in East Ayrshire.

A packed lunch will be provided before heading on to the hill. The opportunity will be for two people to spectate while Greg works his dog and falcon as a team.

There will also be an opportunity to handle the falcon, and falconry will be explained in detail.

To be taken by arrangement with the donor on a fair weather Saturday in September or October 2019.

Presented by Simon Blackett:

A family/group ticket to Braemar Castle with personal guided tour and tea/coffee in morning room for up to 10 persons.

To be taken any time in 2019.

http://www.braemarcastle.co.uk/

Presented by John Apthorp:

Tickets for 5 seater box at Royal Albert Hall for Abbaphonic, Wednesday 29th May 2019, 19:30.

"Back by popular demand! Celebrating ABBA’s greatest hits in all their sparkling, show-stopping glory, West End stars Abbie Osmon and Emma Kershaw will perform an amazing line-up of the Swedish pop group’s timeless classics in ABBAphonic.

With the amplified Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a spectacular light show and sensational backing singers, ABBA’s hit songs will be performed with the RPO’s signature symphonic twist!

Hit ABBA songs include:
MAMMA MIA, DANCING QUEEN, WATERLOO, SUPER TROUPER, TAKE A CHANCE, VOULEZ-VOUS, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, I HAVE A DREAM, THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL, S.O.S., KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU, CHIQUITITA, FERNANDO …and many more!

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Matthew Freeman Conductor
Abbie Osmon Vocalist
Emma Kershaw Vocalist
ABBAphonic Voices"

https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2019/abbaphonic/

Presented by Kelso Racecourse:

Entry tickets and racecards for four people with a drink in the Director’s Box during the afternoon.

Valid during 2019/20 Season but excludes Ladies Day.

Presented by Professor Rob Marrs, University of Liverpool and The President of The Heather Trust:

A day’s consultancy visit to an area of moorland identified by the successful bidder.

Rob is a leading academic expert on moorland management with a particular emphasis on vegetation management including heather and bracken.

It is anticipated that the successful bidder will wish to accompany Rob on the visit and in conversation take advantage of his encyclopaedic knowledge of moorland.

To be taken by arrangement with the donor during the summer of 2019. Depending on the location, some assistance with travel and subsistence charges may be requested.

Donated by Chris Amos:

Make a big day's shooting one to remember by enlisting the help of NGO qualified loader Chris Amos.

Whether you are a novice looking for guidance or an experienced shot looking to add something a bit different to your day, this Lot will suit single or double guns for any game species.

Date to be mutually agreed with the donor.

Presented by Dick Bartlett, British Moorlands. Website: www.britishmoorlands.com.

The morning will be spent counting breeding pairs of grouse using pointing dogs to find and flush the pairs which will give an indication of the shooting potential of the 2019 season.  This is fascinating to watch if you enjoy seeing good gundog work.

The afternoon offers you hands-on experience of moorland work such as heather management, grit site selection and operation, water provision for upland wildlife and predator trapping systems.

The whole day is guided by Dick Bartlett who will explain how modern technology is used by British Moorlands to produce grouse shooting which is technically and financially sustainable, and also affordable to the ordinary shooter.

Please see www.britishmoorlands.com for more information on our work to save our heather moorland heritage through viable grouse production for shooting and falconry.

Suitable for a group of 2 - 10.
Location;   Speyside, North East Scotland
Date:  tba for March/April 2020.

Presented by Kinnaird Estate:

Salmon Fishing for 4 Rods on the Kinnaird Beat on the River Tay to be taken between Jan and March 2020.

Presented by Major Alastair Riddell:

Two days trout fishing on the River Lyon, Perthshire to be taken during the season. 

Salmon fishing will also be included, giving the purchaser the option to fish as they wish during their visit.   The salmon beats alternate daily. The purchaser can fish for salmon and trout across that beat and can fish the runs across all my water for trout, but would be asked to stay away from the salmon pools on the other beat.

There are plenty of local hotels, B&Bs, cottages and the famous Fortinghall Hotel nearby.

Presented by Bolton Abbey Estate:

Two people to fish on the Bolton Abbey Estate Fishery for two days during the 2019 season.

Presented by Sir John Scott, by kind permission of Lady Clare Hurd:

This is an excellent opportunity for one person to experience a day’s haaf-netting on the River Nith at Glencaple.   This unique form of fishing dates back to the Vikings, the word haaf coming from the Norwegian word for heave.  The 15 ft net, standing like a small goalpost on three legs, is carried into the river and is supported by the fisherman.  The haaf-netters stand in a line with their nets across the estuary and catch fish coming up on the flood tide and down on the ebb tide.  The fishing at Caerlaverock has been kept historically by the owners for the benefit of the Estate workers and local villagers.

The successful bidder will fish with Johnny, under the guidance of the Caerlaverock Keeper, on the flood and ebb tides.  Johnny Scott wrote and co-presented the successful BBC TV series, Clarissa and The Countryman.  Lunch will be provided.  A pair of chest waders is essential.

Fishing will be catch and release, in line with conservation regulations.

To be taken in the summer months of 2019 between June and August, by arrangement.

Presented by Sir Edward Dashwood, Bt.:

Abercothi Estate has three rotating beats containing forty pools on the River Towy (Approx 1½ hours from Severn Bridge). This is some of the prime water on the best sea-trout river in the UK. Generally the sea-trout are fished for with a fly at night (although spinning is permitted in high water). The beats produce some 300-400 sea-trout averaging over 3lbs each season, including many into double figures. Prime sea-trout time is June to August although there is also a good run of salmon, especially in September and October.

A professional guide is available to assist (tips only) so beginners more than welcome.

When:

Days to be agreed with the Purchaser to be taken April to October 2019.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is not included but there is a Fishing Lodge which may be rented subject to an additional charge and availability.

Presented by Antony Braithwaite and Rob Cooper:

The offer is for two rods to fish one day on the Haughton Castle Fishings on the North Tyne, spend the night at a nearby decent pub and then to fish on the Main Tyne - on the little known Greycourt Beat, opposite the famous Styford beat.

Presented by Finegand Estate Ltd Glenshee, Perthshire:

An excellent opportunity for two rods to try this small but easily fished river in beautiful scenery.  This is fly only, and fishes well from June onward.  Each beat is approximately 1½ miles long.  Although it is definitely classed as a spate river, fish can be caught in all waters.  The Shee Water, which is the head waters of the river Ericht and a tributary of the Tay, provides exciting salmon fishing, where sport can be expected to come thick and fast.  It can be extremely prolific – fishing well late in the season.  This has always proved to be a popular lot with our bidders.  To be taken prior to 31st August - date by arrangement with the donor, who can also provide the successful bidder with a list of local accommodation.

Fishing for one rod on 1.35 miles of some of the finest water on the Tay, all of which is excellent fly water.

A very lightly fished beat in the spring, Monday 6th April to Sunday 12th April 2020 (Week 12) is a 6 rod beat that is likely to have only one or two other rods present at that time of year.

Full time ghillie, boats and first class facilities available.

This time share has been donated to the Heather Trust.

Presented by Flora Blackett:

Website: www.florablackett.com

An oil portrait of an animal of your choosing by aclaimed artist Flora Blackett.

"Born in 1978 in South west Scotland, Flora Blackett trained for 4 years at the prestigious Charles H Cecil studio in Florence, Italy.

As well as portraits, she is a renowned wildlife artist. Dividing her time between her studios in London and her native Dumfriessire she works on both commissions and her own inspired paintings and drawings. With trips throughout the UK, Europe, America and Africa, Flora continuously searches for exciting new subjects. She captures at first hand, the animals in their surroundings and strives to depict both the immediacy and serenity in every scene.
Flora has had many highly acclaimed exhibitions thoughout the UK and America.

In 2014 Flora combined her love of art and interiors to launch Flora Blackett designs.

Her work now hangs in collections throughout the world and is now listed in the national archives."

50% of the Sale value will go to the Heather Trust.

Presented by Mel Shand:

Website: www.melshand.com

An A4 pencil portrait of your tribe from your provided photos, OR your favourite Scottish wild animal OR an ink drawing of a house or building.

Presented by Colin Blanchard:

'Flying Scotsman'; Original Screenprint by Colin Blanchard

Printed by the artist directly from hand made stencils.

40 x 30 cm (unframed); One of an edition of only 15 on 300gsm Bockingford paper.

Presented by Mary Colwell:

"‘In this empowering account of a walk that focuses a razor light on the plight of one of the UK and Ireland’s most iconic birds, Mary Colwell adds a powerful fresh voice to the conservation debate and challenges us to think and act differently. Inspirational!’ Tim Birkhead.

Curlews with their long curved bills are Britain’s largest wading birds. Their plaintive calls, celebrated in both verse and music, are the sound of the British wilderness – a haunting song which is the springtime music of our uplands, moorlands, marshes and seacoasts.  

But so fast has been their fall in numbers that the curlew has now been put on the Red List of the UK’s most endangered birds. Over the last 22 years the curlew has declined by more than 50 per cent across England and Scotland and by more than 80 per cent in Wales and Ireland and it is now sliding rapidly towards extinction.

To raise awareness of the curlew’s rapid decline and funds for its conservation, Mary Colwell, a nature writer and long established producer at the BBC Natural History Unit, went on a 500 mile walk from the West of Ireland to the East of England to track these elusive birds and observe them in their different habitats. CURLEW MOON is the account of her journey.  Starting in the early spring, when birds are first arriving at their breeding grounds in the west of Ireland, she then walks to Wales, where they incubate their eggs. She makes her way through England to coincide with the time when chicks are hatching and six weeks after setting out she arrives in East Anglia as the fledglings are beginning to try out their wings.  Finishing on the east coast, she marks the place where many curlews come to spend the winter.

Curlews need wet, rough pasture to nest, and their decline has largely been driven by loss of this habitat – in Ireland, by the stripping of boglands for peat and elsewhere, by widespread forestry planting and other developments which have destroyed nesting sites, including increased predation by a rising number of foxes.  But although their decline has been drastic there is still time to do something about it. Weaving an evocative tale of discovery interspersed with the natural history of the curlew, CURLEW MOON focuses a light on the plight of this iconic bird which so desperately needs our help."

Presented by Quiller Publishing:

This magnificent volume brings together the work of eight of Britain's foremost wildlife artists. Each artist writes of their own experience of deer and, as you would expect, there are stunning images in contrasting styles of painting, pencil drawing and scraper board, while the accompanying words give a fascinating insight into the world of the artist and the deer.

As Rodger McPhail points out, deer were among the first creatures depicted on the wall of caves more than 4,000 years ago and the evocative images in this superb book show their magic is undiminished. Some coffee table books lie untouched, this is one that you will constantly pick up.

Presented by Malcolm Innes:

A framed print of Roger McPhail's "Before the Rut".

Presented by William Garfit:

William Garfit is well known in the sporting world for his articles in the Shooting Gazette.  He is also known for his line drawings and wash vignettes which have illustrated over thirty books of the country sports.

This sepia print, titled 'Boyhood Memories' was specially commissioned by the publisher of the successful book 'The Fox and the Orchid' by writer Robin Page.  This book has become a "classic" on country sports and the importance of their influence on successful conservation and management of the British countryside.

Approximate size mounted in 12in x 10in (Image size 9in x 7.5in).  Available when required from the Heather Trust.  FREE postage and packing within the UK mainland.

Presented by Keith A McDougall:

Having thought we had completed sold out of our copies of this beuatiful poem, we are delighted to have found 4 more hiding away in our offices.  We therefore have 4 available in this year's auction.

“Lines from Euston – by one who is not going” is a wistful poem written by A M Harbord about a gentleman from another era as he quietly observes and envies a sporting traveller at Euston. 

This edition is illustrated by Keith McDougall, and measures 41.5cm x 30cm, unframed.

It is available for purchase from The Heather Trust on a ‘buy now only price’ of £10.00 (including postage & packing).

Presented by Laura Kirkpatrick:

Website: http://www.luxuryselfcateringscotlandcottages-fishing.co.uk/index.php

A weekend stay for up to six people in the luxury self-catering accommodation.

Ghillies Cottage lies just five miles from the charming villages of Thornhill and Moniaive, where you can find good quality local produce to take home, or enjoy eating in one of the several café’s, restaurants and bars. Further afield lie Carlisle (60 miles), Edinburgh (70 miles) and Glasgow (65 miles). The cottage enjoys an idyllic South facing position with is own large garden, and lies within our own farmland with the farmhouse being half a mile away. We would like guests to feel free to walk over the farm land without restriction (pets being kept on a lead near any livestock). Farm tours can also be arranged.

If you are looking for a relaxing break in Dumfries and Galloway then Ghillies Cottage can offer you a quiet retreat set in lovely rolling farmland with a touch of elegance and style. Our luxurious holiday cottage is located close to Thornhill, which is a bustling and attractive village. The pattern of broad streets provide excellent views through the village and bring an unusual feeling of spaciousness.

Just two miles north of Ghillies self catering cottage is Drumlanrig Castle. A Douglas stronghold existed here in the 1300s, but today's castle was built as one of Scotland's first and grandest renaissance buildings by William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry, in 1691. The castle is surrounded by a 120,000 acre estate and remains home to the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry

The cottage is bounded by river Nith and Scaur Water which are excellent fishing for Salmon and Trout in the winter months. So Ghillies cottage is excellent for fishing holidays in Scotland.

We also provide guests with a welcome hamper for our guests and menu of locally made organic meals, allowing you to order delicious meals which will be delivered to your door." 

50% of the Sale value will go to the Heather Trust.