Countryside Alliance

09/11/2026

Our work to protect farmland is making a difference.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has confirmed that concerns raised by the Countryside Alliance have helped minimise the potential impact of future energy development on the UK's best agricultural land.

We agree that energy production must increase, but have consistently made the case that the energy transition must not come at the expense of food production and food security. It's encouraging to see those concerns reflected in the six energy pathways submitted to government.

Read more:

The Countryside Alliance has welcomed confirmation that concerns raised through our engagement with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) have helped minimise the impact of future energy development on agricultural land.

09/11/2026

Send a little Highland cheer this Christmas! 🏔️ ❄️ 🌲 'A Highland Winter' by Annabel Pope is the perfect way to share festive wishes while supporting the work we do for the countryside.

Shop here
https://shop.countryside-alliance.org/merchandise/christmas

09/11/2026

A gentle reminder to our supporters of the opportunity to win a truly exceptional sporting prize through our 2026 Shoot Draw.

The winner and nine guests will enjoy a 175-bird shoot day at the magnificent Holkham Estate in North Norfolk.

The day will comprise six drives and our guests will enjoy lunch in the Temple and tea in Holkham Hall, ensuring a memorable day's hospitality from start to finish.

By buying your tickets, you are directly contributing to our Campaign for Shooting, helping us influence policy by challenging misinformation and bias, showcasing the benefits shooting brings to the economy, environment and communities.

The shoot will take place during the 2027/28 season on a date agreed between the winner and the estate.
We are extremely grateful to the Earl of Leicester for generously donating this remarkable day in support of the Countryside Alliance. 🎟️Tickets cost £100 each.

Purchase your tickets here by copying the following link👇
https://www.raffleplayer.com/countrysidealliancedraw/play?referral=TCAFSDD26WEB&utm_source=TCAFSDD26WEB&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TCAFHOLKHAM2026

08/11/2026

Great British Game Week is a great excuse to celebrate the many fantastic varieties of game we have here in the UK.

Game is healthy, sustainable and locally sourced, but it also has an important story behind it. From deer management that helps protect woodlands and crops to the conservation work of gamekeepers creating habitats for countless species, the production of game delivers real benefits for the countryside.

So this week, dig out some venison, pheasant or partridge and enjoy food that's as good for the countryside as it is for your plate.

Why not try the pictured recipe for venison Wellington with spicy red cabbage.
https://www.countryside-alliance.org/library/venison-wellington-with-spicy-red-cabbage

08/11/2026

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.

07/11/2026

🔨 Have you seen what's up for grabs?

With Cheltenham Countryside Day just around the corner, our auction is in full swing!

From Badminton Horse Trials and Olympia to racing on snow in St Moritz and an incredible horseback safari through South Africa and Botswana, there are some fantastic lots on offer!

We've picked out just a few of our favourites. Swipe through to take a look!

And there's plenty more where these came from...

👉 Browse the full auction and place your bids here: https://bit.ly/3WRXrWN

07/11/2026

Great British Game Week!

In a world increasingly dominated by ultra-processed foods, game remains a natural, healthy and sustainable choice. They are lean, nutrient-rich meats that offer exceptional flavour while supporting responsible countryside management and conservation.

Here is one of our favourite unconventional recipes for pheasant! Popcorn pheasant with spicy dipping sauce. Perfect for sharing😋

Whether you're a regular game eater or trying it for the first time, join us in celebrating one of the finest foods our landscape has to offer.

Link to the recipe👇
https://www.countryside-alliance.org/library/popcorn-pheasant-with-spicy-dipping-sauce

06/11/2026

📺Don’t miss this: the future of game shooting is under threat. Ahead of the closure of the call for evidence, we took TV cameras to Nottinghamshire to meet those involved in a shoot to hear why it matters to them.

06/11/2026

What Our Subscribers Knew Before Everyone Else👇

Whether you're passionate about hunting, shooting, fishing or just general rural affairs, there's a newsletter for everyone.

📅 Weekly Countryside Alliance updates
🐎 Campaign for Hunting news and articles
🪶 Campaign for Shooting updates and campaigns
📰 Morning briefings with the latest rural news

Stay informed. Stay involved.
https://www.countryside-alliance.org/newsletter-preferences?utm_campaign=Email+sign+ups&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1793984581

06/11/2026

It's Great British Game Week!

Why not cook up this roast partridge with wild mushrooms and autumn greens this weekend?

From pheasant to venison to rabbit, British game is one of the most sustainable and nutritious foods in the UK. This week, we're encouraging everyone who loves game to become an ambassador for it. Cook it, share it and introduce someone new to the fantastic taste of wild British game.

Recipe below👇
https://www.countryside-alliance.org/library/roast-partridge-with-wild-mushrooms-and-autumn-gre

05/11/2026

04/11/2026

It's Great British Game Week, and we're delighted to see game getting a place on the menu at the Senedd!

Director for Wales, Rachel Evans, welcomes the arrival of venison pie in the Senedd canteen – it's great to see this healthy, nutritious food being enjoyed at the heart of Welsh democracy.

Why not celebrate Great British Game Week by giving locally sourced game a place on your menu, too?

04/11/2026

Do you think last week's Budget does much for rural people?

03/11/2026

The Family Farm Tax, a proposed trail hunting ban, and now plans to restrict game shooting?

02/11/2026

We need the government to drop their obsession with culture war issues, and focus on actually delivering solutions that are going to help rural people thrive.

02/11/2026

New research challenges claims that pheasant releases increase fox numbers 🦊

A new peer-reviewed study by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has found no increase in fox activity on sites where pheasants are released, challenging a central argument made against gamebird management.

The research suggests that legal predator control carried out by gamekeepers may play an important role in keeping fox numbers at or below those found on surrounding farmland and adds important evidence to the debate about the environmental impact of gamebird management.

The study also comes alongside wider GWCT research highlighting the potential biodiversity benefits of well-managed shoots, including more songbirds, hedgerows and wild birds in managed habitats.

Read more: https://www.countryside-alliance.org/news-content-type/new-study-finds-release-of-pheasants-does-not-boost-fox-numbers

02/11/2026

Change, but no change.

The arrival of a new Prime Minister offered the government an opportunity to reset its relationship with rural Britain. Last week's Budget was the first real test – and a deeply underwhelming one.

The Family Farm Tax remains. Rural businesses continue to face significant pressures. And there was little in the Budget to suggest that the government understands the challenges facing rural communities.

Meanwhile, plans to ban trail hunting, bring in a ban on snares and consider further restrictions on sh***un ownership remain on the agenda.

If the government isn't prepared to do more for the countryside, will it at least stop doing things to it?

Tim Bonner examines what the Budget means for rural Britain, and the opportunity Andy Burnham still has to change course, here: https://www.countryside-alliance.org/features/tim-bonner-change-but-no-change-as-budget-skips-rural-reset

Photo credit: House of Commons