Auction 2015

Presented by Sulwath Brewers, Sulwath Brewers Ltd, 209 King Street, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, DG7 1DT.

Website: www.sulwathbrewers.co.uk

A gift bag containing four bottles of traditionally crafted, hand brewed beer from the Sulwath Brewers in Castle Douglas. They are Scotland’s most southerly brewery and all their Lagers and Ales are hand crafted by enthusiasts.

Knockendoch – The Dark One: A Solway Ale. It is a full bodied, natural drink imbued with a quiet strength, which can sometimes deceive the unwary. 500ml. 5%.

Criffel: A Galloway Ale. It is strong, rich and dark amber, with a distinct character of it’s own, largely attributable to three specially selected hop varieties.500ml. 4.6%.

Solway Mist: A Wheatbeer. It is a naturally cloudy beer, made with wheat as well as barley and is best enjoyed with a slice of lemon in it. 500ml. 5.5%.

Tri-ball Tribute: A Blonde Ale. Three hop varieties are blended with wheat and pale malts, to give a fresh, crisp, blonde beer with plenty of character. It leaves a pleasant, but bitter aftertaste, with a hint of grapefruit. 500ml. 3.9%.

Presented by Black Isle Brewing Co Ltd. Black Isle Brewing Co Ltd, Munlochy, Ross-shire, IV8 8NZ, Scotland.

Website: www.blackislebrewery.com

This is one of two lots from Black Isle Brewing Co Ltd and contains 2 x Blonde Beer, 2 x Goldeneye, 2 x Red Kite, 2 x Yellowhammer, 2 x Scotch Ale and 2 x Porter.

Black Isle Brewing Co. Ltd is the UK’s premier organic brewery, based in the wild and beautiful Highlands, north of Inverness. We only use the finest malted barley and hops, grown on organic farms without the use of chemicals, as nature intended. The fresh, pure water is drawn from our own private source, deep below the brewery. Our beer is home grown in the Highlands. Organic and good for you!

The successful bidder may either collect the beer or it can be delivered free within mainland UK.

Presented by Black Isle Brewing Co Ltd. Black Isle Brewing Co Ltd, Munlochy, Ross-shire, IV8 8NZ, Scotland.

Website: www.blackislebrewery.com

This is one of two lots from Black Isle Brewing Co Ltd and contains 2 x Blonde Beer, 2 x Goldeneye, 2 x Red Kite, 2 x Yellowhammer, 2 x Scotch Ale and 2 x Porter.

Black Isle Brewing Co. Ltd is the UK’s premier organic brewery, based in the wild and beautiful Highlands, north of Inverness. We only use the finest malted barley and hops, grown on organic farms without the use of chemicals, as nature intended. The fresh, pure water is drawn from our own private source, deep below the brewery. Our beer is home grown in the Highlands. Organic and good for you!

The successful bidder may either collect the beer or it can be delivered free within mainland UK.

Presented by Solway Feeders Ltd, Main Street, Dundrennan, KIRKCUDBRIGHT, Dumfries & Galloway, DG6 4QH.

Website: www.solwayfeeders.com

The versatile Multi Larsen Trap is designed to be able to deal with magpies and carrion crows. It has three catching compartments around its edge, and a spacious call bird compartment in the middle. It is effective in almost any circumstance, and particularly efficient when used on open ground, away from trees or fences.

The side entry sliding trap doors are operated by a wire treadle which is situated inside each catching compartment. When a crow or magpie enters the trap, its first instinct is to hop onto the treadle, which then closes the door behind it. The "multi" function allows it to catch up to three times the amount of magpies or crows when compared to a conventional Larsen Trap.

For more details about the Multi Catch Larsen Trap and General Licence law requirements, please visit the Solway Feeders website.

The Multi Catch Larsen Trap arrives assembled and ready for use and is available for Free delivery to any UK mainland address by arrangement with the Donor.

Presented by Alex Girdwood, The Maxwelltown Gallery, 12 Galloway Street, DUMFRIES, Dumfriesshire, DG2 7TL.

“Nocturne, Green” is an acrylic painting by Alex Girdwood. The image is approx 7” x 5” mounted and glazed in a hand painted frame by Alex Girdwood.

Alex Girdwood is a visual artist who studied at the Edinburgh Collage of Art and went on to teach at Annan Academy. His own work is mainly in oil and covers the subjects of land, sky and sea. In 1979 he opened the Maxwelltown Gallery to promote the work of local artists and his own bespoke picture framing.

He has now built up a reputation for visually sensitive framing. He has a wide knowledge of art and design and tries to treat each frame as an individual challenge. A lot of the work undertaken is completed in hand finished mouldings such as limed oak or polished ash, as well as finishes which are unique to the business.

Collection or Delivery of ‘Nocturne, Green' to be arranged with the donor.

Presented by Christina Williams. 

Website: victoriamacdermott.com

The Whippet ‘Time Out’ is a limited edition print of 250. This print is number 6 of the edition and is numbered and signed by Victoria Mac Dermott. Image size: 40cm x 50cm.

From an early age Victoria Mac Dermott has had a deep passion for the countryside and natural world. Victoria’s knowledge and understanding of both domestic and wild animals in all their natural form and movement is wonderfully reflected in her work. With an instinctive 'feel' for an animal's character and in-depth knowledge of its anatomy, she captures the true essence of her subjects and brings them alive. Working in oil, pastels, charcoal and etchings, her style is traditional and figurative, with a talent which sets her apart from most other wildlife artists of today. 

Born and brought up on a farm in Ireland, Victoria now lives in Devon on the edge of Exmoor with her husband and children surrounded by an array of their animals. Victoria specialises in European and African wildlife and undertakes many private commissions. Victoria has exhibited in a number of exhibitions in England, Ireland and the U.S.A.

Collection/delivery to be arranged with the donor.

Presented by Patrick Laurie.

The Heather Trust has put together an ID guide for moorland waders, attractively illustrated and designed by Patrick Laurie. Featuring a curlew, a peewit, a greenshank, a dunlin, a redshank, a golden plover, a snipe and a dotterel, the quality poster also includes comments on the individual species, as well as some regional names.

A perfect gift for any upland enthusiast, the A1 wallchart (594mm x 841mm) is printed on quality paper stock and delivered in a cardboard tube.

It is available for purchase from The Heather Trust on a ‘buy now only price’ of £20.00 (including postage & packing).

Presented by Patrick Laurie.

The Black Grouse is a lively natural history interwoven with an account of his on-going battle to conserve black grouse on his farm in East Galloway. His beautiful illustrations convey his passion for these vulnerable birds, so full of character, from their aggressive lekking behaviour to their desperate struggle to survive against nearly-impossible odds in modern Britain.

‘***** This beautiful book is a labour of love, with its lively text and striking illustrations by the author. ‘ The Scotsman, Sept 2012

‘Whichever background you come from, this is must read as it covers so many basic questions, including the age-old quandary between the shooting world and conservation.’ The Highland News, July 2012

‘It is without doubt a book which, no matter your individual knowledge of the bird in question, you will learn something from. For many, they will learn a lot, because Patrick has done an exceptional job in researching this bird.’ Lindsay Waddell, NGO Chairman, Aug 2012

Patrick Laurie is Project Assistant and Head of the Country Market and Sporting Sale at the Heather Trust, and has written a monthly column for the Shooting Gazette since 2009. The Black Grouse book is signed by the author and available when required from The Heather Trust.

FREE postage and packing within the UK mainland.

Presented by Keith A McDougall, Hill House, Bridge Street, WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA, Norfolk, NR23 1QP.

A signed copy of "A Special Kind of Light" is published in a limited edition of just four hundred and fifty cloth-bound copies with full colour dust jacket illustrated throughout with more than fifty evocative oil paintings and watercolours, plus line illustations, becoming a collector’s book.

This is a picture book for dipping into, for the guest's bedside table or the coffee table. Short text and more personal chapters link the artists' migrations in paint and prose and the reader will relish the atmospheric paintings of the Highlands, Hebrides and Norfolk farmland and marshes. It is truly a record of a lifetime's love affair with some of our most cherished landscapes. A treasure trove of the countryman's gentle approach to the natural world in paint and prose. Through-out the book Keith's deep interest in wildlife and conservation prevails.

Delivery/Collection by arrangement with the Donor.

Presented by Peter and Suzanne Greenhill, The Courthouse, Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 8HH.

An A-Z guide of the life and landscape of the British Isles. A classical book in encyclopedic format with detailed explanations, cut-away drawings on hundreds of issues, with coloured photographs, maps and sketches.

A hardback book with 535 pages.

Collection/delivery to be arranged with the donor.

Presented by Quiller Publishing Ltd. Wykey House, Wykey, Shropshire, United Kingdon, SY4 1JA.

A Practical Guide for Agriculture, Conservation and Field Sports.

Moorland is the most extensive natural vegetation in the United Kingdom. It is internationally important, culturally and nationally valuable for agriculture, conservation and field sports. Over the past half-century many aspects have been subjected to detailed scientific study so the scale and depth of knowledge about this area is greater than ever before. However, as man's understanding has increased, management standards have tended to decline in many places and there are fewer people living in the uplands with the understanding and skills necessary to make the moorland system work properly in practice and on a sustainable basis.

In Moorland Management John Phillips draws together proven expertise and management tactics for the benefit of those responsible for this wonderful land-type to carry forward into the twenty-first century.

Format: 234 x 156mm, 304 pages Binding: case bound Illustrations: colour photography.

Presented by Edward Chadfield.

A gentleman’s tie, (unused) decorated with pheasant feathers. These unusual ties used to be made in Perthshire and sold in Harrods.

Presented by Edward Chadfield, The Woodlands, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Perthshire, FK19 8PB.

A very well preserved Victorian mounted buzzard, in a naturalistic setting, inside a glass case.

Collection/delivery by arrangement with the donor.

Presented by Malcolm Hay, Edinglassie Lodge, Glass, HUNTLY, Aberdeenshire, AB54 4YD.

A classic day’s rough shooting for three to four guns in the beautiful Aberdeenshire countryside, a few miles outside Huntly. A fantastically varied bag is possible, with pheasant, grouse, snipe, duck, woodcock, hare, pigeon, and rabbit on offer. An old-fashioned mixed day of exciting, relaxed sport.

A delicious lunch will be provided for the guns in Edinglassie Lodge.

To be taken by arrangement with the donor in early / mid November 2015.

If required, self-catering accommodation is available by separate negotiation with the donor.

Presented by The Rt Hon the Earl of Home KT CVO CBE, c/o Henry Birch, Clarke and Simpson, Well Close Square, FRAMLINGHAM, Suffolk, IP13 9DU.

Website: www.dandaestates.co.uk.

One day’s walked-up rough shooting for 4 or 5 guns at Roberton, near Abington, Lanarkshire. A bag of approximately 50 head of mixed game can be expected.

Guns are to supply their own refreshments.

Accommodation on the Estate can be arranged by separate agreement with the donor.

Douglas Estate is renowned for the quality of the shoot. Hill partridges provide very good sporting early in the season, shooting on both the Douglas and the Roberton Moors. As autumn turns to winter, wildfowl and pheasants take over from the partridges, with spectacular high pheasants shot from the Crawfordjohn coverts, being a true test for any sportsman! The shooting and wildlife on the Estate was immortalized by Sir Alec Douglas-Home in his book “ Border Reflections”.

To be taken in December 2015 or January 2016 - by arrangement with the donor.

Presented by Malcolm Hay, Edinglassie Lodge, Glass, HUNTLY, Aberdeenshire, AB54 4YD.

One morning’s roe buck stalking on the Edinglassie Estate near Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

All shooting under the direction of the Head keeper.

To be taken by arrangement with the donor, during June or July 2015.

Accommodation is available – to be arranged separately with the donor.

Presented by Sir Michael Strang Steel Bt. CBE, Philiphaugh Estate Office, SELKIRK, Scottish Borders, TD7 5LX.

Website: salmonviewingcentre.com

Two days' salmon fishing for two rods on the River Ettrick, a tributary of the River Tweed and can be fished from the bank or by wading.

This Lot was won in 2014 by Heather Trust project manager Patrick Laurie, who enjoyed fishing in beautiful surroundings near the historic town of Selkirk.

Many fish were seen in early November, including some spectacular leaping at the specially designed weir at Philiphaugh.

To be taken by arrangement with the Philiphaugh Estate Office between 15th September 2015 and 30th November 2015.

Presented by James C A Burnett of Leys, Banchory Business Centre, Burn O'Bennie Road, BANCHORY, Kincardineshire, AB31 5ZU.

Website: www.leysestate.com

One day's fishing for two rods on Crathes Castle Home Water on the River Dee.

The Crathes Castle Water stretches for two and a half miles of the left bank, immediately below Banchory.

The fishing is divided into two beats each with four major pools. There is a maximum of two rods on each beat and the rods will change beats at one o'clock in the afternoon.

Fishing can be from the bank or by wading. All the pools are accessible by car. Each beat has a hut with a fire and toilet. There is a full time ghillie and a second available, if requested in advance.

To be taken on Tuesday 21st July 2015 by arrangement with the donor.

Presented by Finegand Estate Ltd, Glenshee, BLAIRGOWRIE, Perthshire, PH10 7QB.

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 during 2015 - date by arrangement with the donor, who can also provide the successful bidder with a list of local accommodation.

Presented by Jane Harrison.

The main section is hand knitted in the “Duke” Sanquhar pattern with extra fine Merino and Cashmere wool. The cuff is hand knitted in the “Prince of Wales” Sanquhar pattern. The cushion has plain wooden buttons on the front, with a backing of Harris Tweed.

Collection/delivery to be arranged with the donor.

Presented by Christina Williams.

Website: victoriamacdermott.com

‘Fox Study’ is a limited edition print of 250. This print is number 101 of the edition and is numbered and signed by Victoria Mac Dermott. Image size: 34cm x 30cm.

From an early age Victoria Mac Dermott has had a deep passion for the countryside and natural world. Victoria’s knowledge and understanding of both domestic and wild animals in all their natural form and movement is wonderfully reflected in her work. With an instinctive 'feel' for an animal's character and in-depth knowledge of its anatomy, she captures the true essence of her subjects and brings them alive. Working in oil, pastels, charcoal and etchings, her style is traditional and figurative, with a talent which sets her apart from most other wildlife artists of today. 

Born and brought up on a farm in Ireland, Victoria now lives in Devon on the edge of Exmoor with her husband and children surrounded by an array of their animals. Victoria specialises in European and African wildlife and undertakes many private commissions. Victoria has exhibited in a number of exhibitions in England, Ireland and the U.S.A.

Collection/delivery to be arranged with the donor.

Presented by The Trustees of Appleby Castle Grouse Moor, The Estate Office, Chawton, ALTON, Hampshire, GU34 3DQ.

A day’s stand-and-walk shoot for two guns with the expectation of 30-40 head of mixed game - Pheasant/partridge/grouse/pigeon and other various.

Appleby Castle lies at the top of Appleby High Street and the moor is about a 25min drive from the middle of Appleby. The shooting takes place on high ground between 1300-1500 feet; making use of small copses and woods on the edge of the Moors.

One of the most enjoyable things about the moor are the two keepers, both of whom are excellent; Andrew Lofthouse and Andrew Hall.

The successful bidders are expected to provide their own refreshments and lunch.

To be taken in November or December 2015, by arrangement.

Presented by Mrs Heather Gow, Pitscandly Farm, Forfar, Angus, DD8 3NZ.

2 days’ open hill Red Deer hind stalking in the remote, Ben Hope area of Sutherland. There are some fantastic views in this area.

This could be for one or two people.

The winning bidder will be accompanied by the Stalker. Rifle and Ammo are available by separate negotiation if necessary.

Accommodation is not provided, however the donor is able to recommend some comfortable self-catering accommodation, along with hotels and B&Bs.

Dates to be arranged with donor. To be taken before Christmas 2015.

Presented by Dr Catherine Wills, Knockando Estate, Knockando House, ABERLOUR, Morayshire, AB38 7SD.

Website: www.knockando-estate.co.uk

Three days' fishing for three rods on the Phones Beat on the River Spey.

Knockando Estate has three and a half miles of prime double bank fishing on the River Spey, split into three adjoining beats. The Phones Beat is the middle beat and comprises of eleven main pools. It can be fished from both the bank, by boat, or wading.

Each beat has a fully experienced ghillie in attendance, together with a well-equipped fishing hut and toilet facilities.

You are required to provide your own fishing rods, waders etc. Life jackets can be provided, if required.

Knockando Estate is situated in the heart of Speyside, which is famous for it’s natural beauty, whisky and world class fishing.

To be taken on the 17th to 19th September 2015.

NB: Photographs used in the description are of Knockando, but they are not of the Phones beat itself.

Presented by Mr. Michael Biddlecombe, North Coast Commercials, King’s Hill Industrial Estate, Bude, Cornwall.

Custom made for this year’s Heather Trust Country Market and Sporting Sale, this traditional English weathervane features a trio of red grouse in full flight.