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A Countryman’s Moon

7/11/2023

A Countryman’s Moon

Well here we are starting November and the New Moon, many things happen on this moon, wildfowl from far off distant lands travel here for winter, the leaves in the trees change to browns, reds and golds marking winter has arrived, it also means the end of my show season but also the last of my Pass It On Young Sports Taster Days and Masonic Fishing Charity Days for this year, it also means I can concentrate on my shooting and hunting season.

Where to start, I suppose with our last taster day of the year, again my you tube video will do this awesome day more just than my humble words and photos, take a look at the video at the bottom of this article, safe to say we were packed out with families attending the day, shooting, fishing, ferrets, birds of prey, big cats, vintage tractors, bush craft and so much more, we went out of this season on a high note indeed, you can see more on our website www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk .

Our Somerset Branch of The Masonic Fishing Charity held its last fishing event for SEN children, young Tommy Gunn being top trout catcher of the day, all our team and those involved had a wonderful day, take a look at our website we might have something in your area www.mtsfc.org.uk or get in touch.

Freemasonry for this last month has gotten into a real swing with lots of different lodge meeting, initiating new members and attending a New Masons Night as a mentor and representing The Adair Club the official light blues club of Somerset Freemasonry.

We also had a wonderful social evening over at Gordano Lodge 6244, the social committee had arranged a curry night, the food was wonderful and we had a most enjoyable night, if you would like to know more about becoming a Freemason click on to the Somerset Freemasonry website link to find out more www.somersetfreemasons.org all you need to know is there.

Its been 5 years since I lost my ole black Labrador Brook, I wrote a celebration of her life entitled It Just A Dog, click on the link button below to read this full article, but have some tissues ready to hand for the tears will fall.

Its Just A Dog Article Link

Remembrance Sunday is in November, I will be stood to attention paying my respects to all who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom, Past, Present and Future I salute you all.

I have been putting the Night Pearl Fellis through its paces, this is a dedicated Day/Night Scope, WOW what can I say yet again another truumph from a Company that makes great equipment by Hunters for Hunters, again the video at the bottom of this article will do this scope better justice than my simple words so take a look.

I am sorry its a bit of a short report this month, the reason is I am not quite the ticket at the moment and under the hospital and doctors for tests, I have a hole in my sock, galloping dandruff and a knot in my braces as my pappy would say, I should be OK I pray and will bounce back soon so bare with me folks.

I attended a Soccer/Football Match this month with my Young Sports ambassador Dom, he is football crazy, me not so much as I have always been a ruby boy, but I did arrange with the help of another good friend and masonic brother to go see Bristol Rovers play, I was really quite impressed with the atmosphere no hooligans and quite family friendly, I will go again with the boy but I am in no hurry, a Rugby match with him will be much better I think.

Dom and Dolcie with their mum came to pay me a visit, Dom wanted to see my historical weaponry room, I have quite a vast collection and love old military and naval history, I used to train with swords and teach many years ago, Dom wanted a lesson with my training kit, so we retired to the garden for some very slow and basic sword practice, Sundays were made for sword practice, we had a jolly half an hour doing battle, I don't know who was smiling more the kids or me as my heart waqs as full as my belly after a fine meal.

I will try and get round to another article asap, but even just sitting here typing this out has me in severe back pain, I hope you have enjoyed my humble scribbles and I look forward to catching up with you all very son under The Countryman’s Moon.

The Countryman’s Moon
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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And That's A Wrap Folks

7/10/2023

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And That's A Wrap Folks
The Show Season Is Over for 2023

Well where has the 2023 Country Sports Show Season gone, one moment its January and were preparing to head to Las Vegas and the Shot Show, the next thing I know its the end of September and I am finishing off with The Yorkshire Shooting Show in Doncaster Yorkshire England.

Of course I am flat out busy with my pest control, being a game keeper, a Freemason, running two organisations, my corporate work and being a town councillor just to name a few things I have going on, I will get back to some of this later in this article.

Well I suppose I should start with The Frampton Show, I really love this show, its only a one day show that really should be a two day show, I have done this show for man years, I should not have gone really as I was very ill, I had reacted to some new medication my doctor had put me on, but I made a promise many years ago I will never let the Young Sports down and I wont well unless I am in a box that is, the last two years I have had to split my team as it clashes with the welsh game fair, so half my team go there and I do the Frampton Show, its only half hour from my front door.

This show I was back in the main ring The Countryman’s ring with my hilarious stand up decoying show, this year I just did the wildfowling show, as last year I had a skein of Canada geese trying to land in the show ring with my decoys, this year they came across but as they were entering the area Ginge from the Gloucester Wildfowlers let his punt gun off, they vacated the area pretty quickly as you can imagine, but all my show demos were packed right out with kids and ladies joining in and rapturous applause from the crowds that surrounded the show ring, the video that's at the bottom of this article really sums up what a great show this is and my demos how entertaining they are so have a watch.

My pest control is flying I am really struggling to keep up with it all, I am two members of staff short so I am having to cover them too, all my other lads are over booked too, Pigeon Shooting and more, Pass It On Young Sports Ambassador Dom joined me on a feral pigeon job with the ole Mossberg hush power 4,10, the boy really enjoyed his time with his old mentor, I was recently called out to a very old customer of mine, he had tried everything to protect his free range flock of rare fowl, its cost him a fortune in electric fencing etc but still the foxes attack and find their way in, I was asked could I pop along and deal with the situation.

I got there in daylight and tracked the area, found out where the foxes were coming from and put myself right on their path, there was an 8 feet wall they were getting on and avoiding the electric fence, this has now been electrified too, as dark started to fall I heard a vixen calling in the distance, I was set up by the orchard at the bottom of a very large hill, I set up the old 243 fox stopper loaded with a 58grn VMax Norma round my favourite lead aspirin that cures any fox from its addiction to my clients fowl.

I set up the Night Pear Seer front thermal add on to my scope and powered up the Night Pear the Night Pearl Scops Max III thermal spotter, the night drew in and the first fox appeared at the top end of the hill ground, he was a huge dog fox I though it was someone's German Sheppard to start with he was that big, this fox showed no interest in coming this way at all, so unless it was attacking the live stock I will leave them well alone, actually I really enjoyed watching him go about his business mousing and eating worms etc, I must of watched him for an hour before he disappeared the way he came showing no interest in the flock what so ever.

Right on queue from where the dog fox came and went a much smaller fox appeared, I judged this to be a vixen just by the way she moved, now this fox had a completely different idea in mind, she was in full attack mode, right on track like an arrow straight at the flock on the line I had tracked earlier that day, on she came 300 yards, 200 yards, 100 yards, as 80 yards I stopped her with a bark, she paused too late my cross hairs were already on her engine room, I would love to write it was a spectacular shot made in a good wind, but no it was pretty text book really, crack and thump and she was down humanely dispatched.

I next found myself in Doncaster Yorkshire for the Yorkshire Shooting show and game fair, again I really love this show, its run by lovely people, the show is awesome and has everything for the hunting, shooting, fishing man and more, I was in the main ring both days and my wildfowling demos are lved as always, Northern people really are lovely folk, Whitby's fish and chips never disappoint and the boys and myself had some wonder food and drink in there too, the video again really does this show justice so take a look at the bottom of this article.

We finish off with a night hunter evening here in my beloved Somersetshire and at the Rifleman Gun Shop and Ranges in Langport Somerset, I had arrange for Night Pear to be there along side all the other top brands, I was there as the UKs Brand ambassador with my side kick Jamie, this was a fabulous event, a wonderful burger waggon served food and hot and cold drinks, the shop was open so not only could you try all the products, but try before you buy too, I could not help myself and do a rabbit squeal and say FOX, to which point every one jumped on the spotters, scopes, lamps going where is the FOX, I chuckled and said too late you needed a Night Pearl to see the Ghost Fox, I just cant help it my sense of humour will get me in trouble one day.

Night Pearl gave me their latest Day/Night Scope the Felis, I have put it on to the awesome Air Arms S510 TDR, Night Pearls remit is they want me to use it on rabbits and rats, the next day I had some jobs come in on and agricultural education centre, I am very impressed with this scope ad look forward to really getting to grips with it to see what it really can do where the metal meets the meat, again look at the video at the bottom of this article as it will give you a better idea more than I can write.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my humble scribbles, I will catch you all next month with the next set of adventures with The Ole Hedge Creeper’

And That’s A Wrap Folks
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

Oh we have this wonderful Celebration of the countryside day just South of Bristol on the 15th of October 2023, full details on the poster above.

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The Adventure Begins Wildfowling Opening day 2023/24

4/9/2023

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The Adventure Begins
Wildfowling Opening day 2023/24
and oh so much more

With this article I am actually starting backwards and will be jumping about a bit, so please bare with me, I also apologise if you have already read some of this on my socials, I am so busy I just don't have the time to re write everything at the moment, my being a Councillor is taking up a lot of time for I am fighting a conservation battle with some people who should know better at the moment, also fighting country sports corner as the largest conservation body there is.

Opening morning of the wildfowling season 2023/24 here in the UK.
By golly that sun was hot when it came up, everything is over grown and needs trimming back, the reins need keetching out and the ponds need cleaning and strimming, were a bit late this year as we're still hay making here.

But Goose and I were just happy to be out and marketing the occasion, I could have called a couple of duck around but they were flappers so I left them be and enjoyed the moment of hearing Thier wings as they took air.

Happy season my fellow whistlers, may I wish you all dry powder and straight barrels.

Somerset Freemasonry Goes Bang Bang for a days Clay Target Shooting.
The day was laid on and hosted by the official light blues club of Somerset, The Adair Club.

The day started off at The Mendip Shooting Grounds restaurant, where everyone tucked into a hearty full English breakfast.

After this Rob Collins the North West Area Rep who organised all of this with the help of secretary Craig Harding, Rob gave a safety brief and laid out the fixtures of the day, Craig gave a talk on The Adair Club shooting competition of the day and score cards were handed out.

We had representatives from other light blues clubs from other provinces too, like Gloucestershire (Porsum Temper) and Worcestershire (Cubit Club), we even had Lady Freemasons from London with us too.

We then headed out for the morning shooting, Rob Collins headed up his coaching team for the novices and those that had not shot before.

Mike Norton The Adair Club Chairman being one of these first time shooters, actually Mike did not like the idea of guns in any form before we started, but under Robs professional guidance and coaching, by the end of the mornings shooting not only did Mike love shooting he was smiling like a Cheshire Cat, there is a video of him dusting clays like a pro, his smile says it all.

The best target of the day was the bolting rat and levelled the playing field even for the most experienced shot, the laughter and banter as the top shots missed these could be heard etching around the shooting ground.

We had Wayne's Brooks (Gloucestershire Mason) son Jasper there with his toy cap gun there dusting clays as was Craig Harding Son Frederick both the boys were treated as stars amongst our group of fine men and masons with partners.

We stopped for a mighty lunch in The Mendip Shooting Grounds and trophy presentation, Craig Harding read out the scores and Rob Collins handed out the trophies.
WBro Ben Maffei Cubit Light Blues Club of Worcestershire took top gun.

2nd place Andy Smith (Cubit Club)

3rd joint place Sam Sheasby (Adair Club) Wayne Brooks (Porsum Semper)

The Wooden Spoon was won by Secretary of The Adair Club Craig Harding, lots of cheers and applause from our group as well as other shooting ground patrons and staff.

A truly wonderful Masonic social days shooting and Camaraderie, the best part we have a couple of men who are interested in joining Freemasonry and would like to know more.
If you would like to know more about becoming a Freemason or coming along to The Adair Club social events and more.

Or Click on the website link to find out more about Somerset Freemasonry www.somersetfreemasons.org

Gordano Lodge 6244 that meet in the Clevedon Temple here in the Province of Somerset held a social event on Saturday the 20th of August 2023.

The venue was The Ring O Bells Public House in Nailsea.

So many Brethren and their Wives, Family, Friends and Guests attended from so many lodges across the province of Somerset.

The afternoon started off with Petanque (French Boules) with teams of 3 people, the competitiveness started right from the off, laughter, jovial banter and Camaraderie ensued with cheers from the by standers watching on, we were having so much fun even the pubs patron's joined in with cheering etc.

The Gordano WM WBro Paul Hinkley team reigned supreme, with JD Bro Rob Collins team getting the wooden spoon.

We then had a belly buster hog roast with all the trimmings laid on by The Ring O Bells Public House, the food and indeed the drinks flowed, the rain came and we all retired to the skittle alley for some other pub sports.

First WM WBro Paul Hinkley and EA Bro Jamie Flynn sold raffle tickets and held a bumper raffle that made some much needed funds for the WMs charity the British Heart Foundation.

Bro Rob Collins then organised a Masonic darts match much to the cheers of of the on lookers, Bro Ryan Harman Taylor winning the championship beating Bro Rob Collins in the final with a nearest the bull as they were tied on scores.
We then had a meat draw and a spin the bottle draw laid on by The Ring O Bells.
Bro Rob Collins then organised a Masonic Pool Competition, this really got the brethren going and competitors bantered with each jovially, soon to be initiated Jason Harvey beating Bro Rob Collins in the finals down to one black ball, Jason taking the pot of £1 as the Gordano Lodge pool Champion.

We then convened to the main bar where Bro Jamie Flynn's better half Jesse was set up to entertain us for the evening in her wonderful singing voice.

She sang not only to us Brethren, Wives, Partners, friends and guests but to a packed patron's bar of The Ring O Bells Nailsea.

Some of the Brethren getting up to sing with Jesse too, Bro Ryan Harman Taylor did a UB40 rendition of Kingston Town and Bro Rob Collins did a duet with Jess a classic from Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's Islands In The Stream, all getting a rapturous applause and standing ovations.

The evening was finished off with a jaw dropping performance and you could hear a pin drop, Jesse finished of with several opera recitals, all I can say is there was not a dry eye in the house not even the rough tough rugby boys at the bar, Jesse rocked the joint, keep your eyes out for she is our support artist for our November cabernet evening.
What a truly fantastic Gordano Lodge social event, everyone left smiling, with full bellies and lots of prizes in hand, those of you that did not make it you really missed a fantastic event.

We even have several men wanting to know more about becoming a Somerset Freemason now too.

If you want to know more about becoming a Freemason click on the website link below www.somersetfreemasons.org

Pass It On Young Sports Annual Ferret Show 2023.

Having just attended our awesome Ferret Show I am very proud indeed of my Young Sports Ferret Handlers.

First I must Say a huge thank you and well done to Julia for heading this show up for me and organising everything, I must also extend a hearty thanx to our independent judges Clive and Terry for for judging the show, no easy task as we had some wonderful ferrets and handlers this year.

The normal show classes were great, but for me nothing beats the working classes, that's where you see real ferrets and handlers at their finest, Chris Potter Took the working show Champion and Billy P took the reserve show champion, the working classes get the biggest trophies sponsored by The Ole Hedge Creeper and Really Wild Adventures.

Each of the working ferret Champions as well as the Young Sports received The Ole Hedge Creepers book From The Start To The Heart, this book starts off from the first day at 2 years old when he caught his first rabbit with his ferret Sam, all The Ole Hedge Creepers books are available on the website link below www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

I am extra proud of my Young Sports Ambassador Dom for taking 1st place best kit under 12 months, he also scooped coveted First Place Champion Young Handler too as well as many other rosettes of 1st 2nd and 3rds in many other classes with his ferret Loki.

Dolcie another of my young sports took reserve child handler with Tikka , with many other rosettes if 1st 2nd and 3rds in many other classes.

Dom and Dolcie start their first season Ferreting this coming season, so next year watch this space they will have a working ferret trophy and rosettes to to their championship cabinets mark my words.

I am very proud of all my young sports, this ferret show is one not to be missed I tell.
Teach Them Right, Coach Them Well for TOGETHER WE CAN INSPIRE
www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk

Dom one of my Pass It On Young Sports Ambassadors just recently joined me on a vermin shoot on my uncles farm in South Gloucestershire, my uncle was having a problem with corvid (crow family) and feral pigeons etc on some cattle yards, it was my job to move them off, we have tried everything here to keep them off this area, but nothing works.

So I opted for the hush power 4,10 shot gun, this worked very well and after a few shots the birds started to get the message, my Ole Dad joined me too, I think him and uncle spent more time chatting eating cakes and drinking tea more than helping me.

Dom learnt some valuable lessons about farming and more, Dad and Uncle took him for a tore all around the rearing sheds and milking parlour etc, he then came back and had a shooting lesson with me, this was his first time firing a shot gun, the smile on the boys face said it all, he went home smiling like a Cheshire Cat with a pocket full of empty cartridge Cases too.

Back in 2017 after being diagnosed with a sticky thyroid as my Dr called it and getting diabetes too all 24 stone (152.407lb) of me.

I decided to give myself a kick up the backside, instead of moping around licking my wounds from a ghastly divorce and other personal trauma I was fighting in my personal life over the last few years.

I heard my Pappy's voice in my head, your a Collins I taught you to be stronger than this and lead where others will follow.

I set myself a goal to lose 10 stone, my mantra was and still is have a good PMA for dedication in myself is my inspiration, or The King Eats First as another inspirational man taught me.

Busting my backside in the gym, giving up my beloved Somersetshire Cider, still with the thought Work Hard, Play Hard, Eat Well, I will achieve my goal.

Covid slowed me up some I was stuck at 8 1/2 stone weight loss, March 2023 medical check up weigh in I was 98kg (15,432 stone) I had a word with myself and said come on boy another hard push is needed.

So in my home gym as much as I could with gruelling work commitments, eat well, leave alcohol alone or cut right down.

WOW it worked I have only gone and achieved it, at today's medical weigh in I hit the scales as half the man I was with a very proud 83kg (13.070227 stone) on the nose, that's beating my goal with over 1/2 a stone to spare.

My muscle tone is back to my fighting weight when I was 20 , so yes I am going to give myself a pat on the back with pride in myself with a big HURRRRRAGH, I done it Pap's just like you told me to do.

I am going to celebrate with a fine meal and a glass of wine, for its proven Hard Work and Dedication pays off.

Now the hard work really starts, that's keeping it off.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my humble scribbles and ramblings this month, come see me at the shows and lets swap some stories, I have 2 shows left for this year, Frampton Country Show in Gloucestershire in the early part of September 2023, finishing off with The Yorkshire Shooting Show and Game Fair in Doncaster towards the end of September 2023.

fingers crossed next month I will be able to write a more concise and fun article as the game season starts, but for now may I wish all my fellow whistlers, Dry Powder and Straight Barrels.

The Adventure Begins
Wildfowling Opening day 2023/24
and oh so much more

By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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The Game Fair 2023 and More

17/8/2023

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The Game Fair Ragley 2023. What a fantastic first day we had, the weather was kind most of the day, we had so many kids and families join me in my decoying demos in my show ring, much entertainment ensued to a packed crowd, the cheers and laughter could be heard right across the entire show. for the first time ever I had a brass band help me in my show ring with a wildfowling demo. I gave a worthy young lad a duck call as a personal gift to start them on their wildfowling journey. A big thanx to Rabbit Fever and my old mate Mark Bell for Young Sports Ambassador Dom's ferret box and for helping supply his first lucky net, a tradition going back to my first day in the Ferreting field, those that have my books will know of this rabbiting man's tradition. I met up with so many old friends and made so many new friends too, I gave out a Gargantua's amount of advice about game calling, game calling lessons and talked field craft and conservation whilst swapping stories, a fantastic second day bring on day three, Day three was brilliant, so many old friends and new, my show ring demos were well attended right to the very end, my team and I went home exhausted but happy. bring on next year we say 🙏💪⚔️🛡️🤠

www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk
www.reallywildadventures.co.uk

#theolehedgecreeper #passiton #passitonyoungsports #passitonyoungsportsambassador #reallywildadventures #TheGameFair #thegamefair #showman #showring #showmanship #entertainment #comedy #brassband #gamecalling #gamecalls #gamefair #buckgardnercalls #countrysports #fieldsports The Game Fair

We also have an awesome NEW weekly shooting venue here in North Somerset, this is a much more family and child safe and friendly shooting and venue and more.

Also Please note we have all new Country Sports Insurance voucher codes, as well as our drone cover insurance, please reference the poster/photos below.

I am so sorry my humble scribbles are a bit late this month and a bit all over the place, there just does not seem to be enough hours in the day or days in the week to be able to keep up with everything, my gruelling work load, charitable responsibilities, the kids organisation and have to move to a more family and child friendly range, plus my duties as a councillor and masonic duties are just overwhelming, I will hopefully catch myself up next month, or meet myself coming back one or the the other.

I do hope you have enjoyed my literal humble scribbles this month.

Cheers The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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To Caledonia and Back

6/7/2023

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To Caledonia and Back
Young Sports and The High Lands

We start this story off in by beloved West Country and Gods own County of Somersetshire here in Englandshire, since I last put pen to paper its been one hell of a ride as the title says from Caledonia (Scotland) to right here at home in Somersetshire.

Jamie one of my trainee pest controllers and his good lady Jess have had a baby, may I introduce you all to Evangeline (Evi) I feel like a proud Pappy (Grandfather) again, for young Jamie is like a son to me now and jess like my Daughter in law, at The Scottish Game fair I spent a fortune on this little pink bundle, you will see this in future articles.

I have the greatest honour to promote yet another of my wonderful Pass It On Young Sports to the highly sublime rank of my personal Ambassador for the National Organisation I started off, I am still the head honcho and pointy hat wearer of, meet Pass it On young Sports Ambassador Theo, a truly hard working inspirational young man, he has busted gut over the last year or so to get on to my Ambassadorship programme, each Ambassador I promote to this sublime rank really has to earn it, or as I say earn your your stripes, Theo like many young folk really struggle in life, so has to work extra hard to achieve, I always love an underdog, Theo is no exception his passion and drive to be better than he is and achieve his goals really shines, this is what I look for in an Ambassador, a true sportsman he is humble in victory and gracious in defeat, I always give the new Ambassadors a talk and a certificate of achievement as well as a contract, what I expect from them and what they will get from me, I always say its been hard work to get on my Ambassadorship programme, now the work really starts for you stay on it.

One thing I will not stand for is a bully or being bullied, I have got in so many situations where I have had to deal with a bully, either they are trying to bully me or I see someone being bullied, as a young man my fists did the talking, many a bully fell because they thought they could put on me, they learned this ole country boy was fast with word or fist, now days I have learnt to be quick of wit and sharp of tong, my Pappy (Grandfather) taught me to be sharp of mind, my one liners of which are vast can cuts like my best hunting knife and that blade sings, I am very proud of Young Sports Ambassador Theo for just recently he got a shiner (black eye) for stopping a bully and defended someone who needed his help, he informed the headteacher and this was all sorted out without a fuss, what a boy.

Now my other Young Sports Ambassador Dom, he has a lot of problems in life starting with being born premature, parts of his brain have not developed fully, with other physical problems and complications too, yet again another underdog who has a passion to succeed and punch above his weight, not only does he achieve he does it in style too, part of his problem his hair falls out in batches, sometimes due to his medication/treatment and stress of it all, he said to me one night at the rifle range I feel so alone and a freak? So I sat on the sofa and talked things over with him, turns out he was very upset as hi hair was falling out again and his mother was going to have to shave his head again, he said about the other kids at school and being bullied by them and all the names he gets called and they hide his hat, so I gave him an inspirational speech about being a slap head being one of the names call him, I then said I tell you what son, see I have a fair bit of hair on my head even with and Eagles egg in a Sparrows nest (bald spot) if you let your Mum shave your head I will shave mine, we can both be slap heads together, wear our Eley hats and have a pic or 20 together, you can show these children I am a slap head too, so when I come in to do a class talk they will know well you are a Pass It On Young Sports Ambassador, let them bull you now and I will be right behind you so rise above them, this pleased my little mate Dom, you know his school report was fantastic too, I bloody hate bullies in any form.

Out in the fields, my estate management and pest control duties have gotten so busy both by day and by night, the Grey Squirrel work has gotten really busy both on the trapping lines and shooting over the feeders, I must admit my air rifle of choice just lately has been the awesome Air Arms S510 TDR in .22 my favourite calibre, this kit from Air Arms is whisper quiet, packs a deadly accurate punch on target, everything I have come to expect from this brilliant English Brand.

I was called in by one of my oldest VIP clients for pest control, he had foxes attacking his pedigree rare breed free range flock, he had tried every from electric fencing and all sorts, but still the foxes were attacking the flock, I rocked up late afternoon to settle myself in and track around the farm to get an idea of how these foxes were attacking etc, as I got there he said could I also take a few rabbits and find a balance as they are eating more grass than his live stock, good job I brought the .22Lrs and Eley Ammunition too I thought, I had a cruise around taking the odd Rabbit from the truck, I let Goose my Cocker spaniel retrieve the shot rabbits, this was a good time to do a bit of training with his and polish some retrieves with him on fresh shot quarry, I must say I love this little dog with heart of lion, he never missed a beat, ole Brook would have taught him a few good lessons though, I really miss that ole dog, but Goose is starting to fill big paw prints and really making our partnership his own, I am so looking forward to many adventures together I telle, like Brook he will be one of the most written about and photographed Dogs on the planet so watch this space.

I shot a few rabbits until night fell, then I switched to the other 22LR and the Night Pearl Marten dedicated thermal scope, this made the rabbit shooting so easy, Spot them with my Scops Max III thermal Spotter, then switch to the gun and take them with the rifle using the Eley Subsonic Ammunition, I also mounted the ole 243 on to my Primos Trigger sticks, to this I added the Night Pearl Seer 50 max front add on thermal scope, again still using the Night Pearl Spotter for spotting the quarry, all of a sudden I heard the Magpie kicking off, I thought eye eye ole Charlie fox is about, then I saw him 400 yards to my left across the big field, by golly he is almost black I remarked, he was huge too at first sight I thought it was someone's German Sheppard he had one hell of a mane on him, alas he did not present a safe shot he followed the road hedge along then disappeared out on the road under the farm by one of the farm cottages, my thought was he will be back shall I move position and try and head him off on his return journey, whilst I was trying to decide what to do as these fields are very vast, the guinea fowl started kicking off in the orchard by the farm house to my right of me, I knew Charlie fox had out flanked me and come in from the road, stealthily I grabbed the ole 243 and trigger sticks and sleeked off like a Tiger on the hunt hugging the hedge line, got to the corner of the orchard dropped the trigger sticks and mounted the gun scanning with the spotter, there was a fox not 30 yards away none the wiser I was there, I would love to say it was a brilliant stalk and topping shot, but no it was pretty text book, cross hairs on thwack and another humane job done administering a 58grn V Max lead injection, this was not the big black dog fox though, it was a vixen, the big boy was still out there, this Night Pearl scopes and spotters etc are of the highest quality built by hunters for hunter, but I will say it makes the job way too easy, I still love the old lamping the best with a good lamp man its so much more social, times changed and I have to remember I am here to do a professional job not to enjoy a good walk.

Reginald The Roe Buck came to see what all the fuss was about.

The Build up to The Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace took many weeks of planning, I was there as a three pointed spear this year, first as myself The Ole Hedge Creeper and representing my own company Really Wild Adventures www.reallywildadventures.co.uk , also working for Night Pearl International on their stand as well as representing Eley Out Doors International as their International Out doors Ambassador, thirdly the most dear to my heart helping Ken Mcillop my Scottish Regional Director for Pass It On Yong Sports and his awesome team of volunteers on our stand too.

I had a fantastic weekend representing internationally myself and the many brands I work with, I attended a VIP invite to a short film opening for The GWFT, the Night Pearl Stand was packed all weekend, I signed some books and autographs, met up with so many old friends and making lots of knew one, I had breakfast very early one morning in the hotel with a band of black musicians who were up in Scotland recording an album, such wonderful young folk, they really could sing, they serenaded over a mug of tea, the two lads came from London, but the two girls were from Bristol and guess what they were from the next road over from where I was brought up, how about that Bristolians Rock especially us Knowle Westers, this was really a special moment, such wonderful young people their positive energy was enchanting I left smiling like a Cheshire Cat.

Pass It On Young Sports Scotland with Ken at the helm is flying high, what an inspirational team of volunteers he has too, the stand was buzzing all weekend, the kettle was constantly brewing too, a sea of families flocking to the stand, a stand that was totally interactive and family friendly, I cannot sing highly enough ken and his teams praises, or how truly proud I am of all of them, the recent triumph of a wonderful taster day they put on for 321 folk was amazing, the next one is already booked and will be on our website soon, if you would like to know more about Pass It On Young Sports or any of our English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish events and shows just click on our website link www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk you will find all you need and more.

I must send a huge thanks to my ole mucker Scott from SAC SHOOTING for my venison and pigeon Haggis, it came through the post, Goose my cocker spaniel mugged the postman and retrieved it for me, the poor old postie didn't know what hit him.

I stayed a couple of nights extra in Scotland with my old friend and bro Tam and his family, Tam and I met more years ago than I care to mention, from foreign shores to home here in the UK we have travelled the world together on many an adventure, Lake Belton in Texas fishing for Bass with Tommy C on his boat being one of our most memorable, I said good by to my Caledonian (Scotland) home and flew back to Somersetshire leaving a piece of my heart behind, I can see me retiring there one day, I love the place, I love the people, the food, drink and sporting opportunities are second to none, I landed at Bristol air port got a taxi to the rifle range just in time to run a Sporting Rifle Night as the Head Coach and RO, no rest for the wicked eh.

Catch me back live on air in the studio between 2 and 4 pm every Monday

Our next show will be the Ragley Game Fair at the end of July, I will be heading up a star studded national cast at The Countryman's Village, come see us on the stand and in our main show ring, you are guaranteed to be entertained, inspired and educated Ole Hedge Creeper Stylie, well until next time I hope you have enjoyed my humble scribbles of my latest adventures with some of the finest folk you will ever have the privilege to me. Stay safe and well one and all God Bless you all.

To Caledonia and Back
Young Sports and The High Lands

By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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Hello Blossom The Merry Month of May Into June

2/6/2023

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Hello Blossom
The Merry Month of May Into June

Blimey where has the time gone, here we are just starting June, it only seems like yesterday I was writing the last monthly article and now here we are, the blossom is in full bloom on the trees here in Somersetshire.

Last month I wrote of becoming a local councillor, wow what a month it has been so far in my new role as a pillar of our wonderful community we have here, I have attended my first council meetings with oh so many more to come, this has really opened my eyes to how things really work, I will say if more people understood local or even national or international politics correctly, what a better world we could build, I am not going to get all PC or Political on you that's just not my bag, all I will say is I am going to try and be one good man trying to make a good positive effect on my local community, let see what this rough ole country boy can achieve for the greater good, mind you I think I look quite dapper in my suit no matter if its my tweeds or Freemasonry suit.

Freemasonry in general has been very busy this last month, as were coming to the end of this Masonic season and break for our summer break its a good time to look back on this season and plan for the season infront of us, all the lodges across the Somerset Province have been so busy with so much money being raised for local charities here in this Somerset Province/County, I love charity work and helping people who really need it, I head up the Somerset Branch of The Masonic Fishing Charity (MTSFC) www.mtsfc.org.uk this is a national charity, here in this pic I am receiving a cheque from the WM of Gordano Lodge, read all about it on the Somerset Province link button below, you will also read of a wonderful night where we initiated my dear friend and now Brother Jamie into Freemasonry, he is my initiate and right hand man on my pest control company, what was even more special a lot of the boys there were my initiates and personal friends of Jamie and mine from this province and other provinces, do read the article its wonderful, if you would like to know more about becoming a Freemason click on this Somerset Province Website link www.somersetfreemasons.org you will find all you need to know there.

A Wonderful Nights Freemasonry for Jamie Article link

Somerset Branch Masonic Fishing Charity Baytree School article Link

Masonic Fishing Charity Somerset Branch Ravenswood School Link

My game calling demos and lessons are flying out, excuse the pun, I am literally almost fully booked out with gigs, the more that people realise game calling is an ancient craft and really works, native American Indians would use a call for all manner of hunting and tracking, if you want to book me contact me via my website.

My international tracking and field craft lessons are also fully booked out, both here in the UK and on Foreign shores teaching this art and craft, again as with the Game Calling that often becomes part of my demos and lessons, I am so booked out I don't know how much more I can squeeze into this year, I am now looking at bookings for 2024, but again contact me via my website if you would like to book me.

Now I work hard 7 days and well nights a week, my weekly hours are almost as many as most folk do in a month, I always say I would rather be busy than bored, my Pappy (grandfather) always said you don't find moss on a rolling stone my boy, he also said if you sit still too long they will put you in a box in the ground, I work so hard for all I have, I do so much to help everyone I can and my charity work takes up a lot of my time, my passion is making a better place for our young folk, many of you know I head up the awesome international Youth Organisation Pass It On Young Sports www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk take a look if you fancy becoming a sponsor or volunteer, something I realised recently I actually take no time at all for well just me, so I have decided to take some time to drink the wine and smell the roses myself, in this vain I have had a new hat this month, a bit of a jest really but I do love the Crocodile Dundee films, So I now have a Mick Crocodile Dundee Hat, so now this ole squirrel wranglers new name is Squirrel Collins, this has made me chuckle so much, I look more like a cross eyed Mexican train robber in my new hat, I have also been learning to play the acoustic guitar for a decade now and have reached my physical limit of what I can do with this guitar, I felt like a change so I have gone over to the dark side and got myself an electric guitar set, well it was either this or a set of bag pipes as I love the pipes, not sure my poor neighbours will like them as much, as they would sound like I am killing a cat, I went for the electric guitar instead, you know I didn't do too bad for my first jamming session, even Goose my Cocker Spaniel Howled along, hmmmm what about those bag pipes.

Now I have not had a saloon car in 30 years since my son Ryan was born in 1993, I have always loved Jaguar Cars, yes you guessed it I got myself a new car too, well an old car but new to me, I finally got the car I have always dreamed of, well except a Trans AM like Smokey and The Bandit but lets do what's reachable and realistic, I love driving this car, its as smooth as silk and don't she have some poke, so if you see me driving around in this wonderful car just know I earnt the right to have her with the sweat of my brow and the blood and blisters on my hands and tears on my face, so beep out and wave, for this is proof that hard work, sacrifice and dedication pays off in the end, I have not reached the top of my mountain yet, but the view is getting better the further I climb, so I say this take some time to smell those roses and drink the wine at your table you earnt it.

This last couple of months I have set a task for one of my under keepers, they needed to learn a lesson for they were not listening to what I was teaching them, so I gave them full charge of a small stand alone woodland on the estate, one pen with only a couple of birds in it as holding birds and layers, a bit of a project really, they just did not fully understand the amount of hours and best practice I put in on my trapping lines etc, now I know I had this particular wood well under control for Grey Squirrel Management, this last couple of weeks something was hitting my feeders there, the under keeper said its not squirrels he never sees any there at all, hmmmmmmmm really, I knew this was not true and he had not been keeping on top of the trapping or shooting as I had taught him, age and experience over youthful knowing it all, I went to investigate and knew it was those dastardly tree rats, I put a squirrel feeder up and fed it with wheat for a week, then one afternoon with the young under keeper at my side and Goose my Cocker Spaniel at my other heel we sat in a hide and waited, two hours produced nine squirrels all nine I shot stone dead with perfect head shots with my ole Air Arms S510 TDR in .22 with non toxic pellets, two of the shot squirrels I could not retrieve as they were stone dead right on top of the big bramble bushes, these were later mopped up by my buzzards, the under keeper shook his head and has now started to listen and learn, lets see how he gets on over this next month shall we.

I am so fully booked on my Lantra accredited Grey squirrel management and red squirrel Conservation training courses, I have a waiting list for cancellations as long as my arm, I think I need two of me, other trainers are doing more around the country so get in touch.

Finding time to go in the studios for radio appearances and filming for the various TV programs, book signings and now writing magazine articles etc, its most definitely getting very difficult as my time is in such demand, I suppose with success comes even more sacrifice, but I do all I can to represent country sports and conservation well and help as many people as I can, its the way the lord made, I am often being told I must slow down your taking too much on, well that's just me I suppose.

Also this month is a very nice month to announce its my/our National Secretary at Pass It On Young Sports birthday, Margaret (Mags) is 72 years young, she is a very special lady who keeps us all in check, she is who you will speak too first if you call head office, or see her on our stands at shows or running the reception at our Air Rifle Ranges etc, she works so hard for us volunteering all her time, the Young Sports and Families love her, as do all us other volunteers, the lads fondly call her the Jack Russel Terrier for she bites if you press the wrong buttons, she is a wonderful woman and as with everything a good secretary is the back bone of all organisations/clubs/committees etc, so it was decided we would do her a surprise party at a recent Pass It On young Sports Air Rifle Range recently.

I conscripted the help of another wonderful woman to help me hatch this plan, Julie is the mother of one of my Young Sports Ambassadors, we had a summer buffet laid on with cream teas, nibbles and not one but two birthday cakes, watch the you tube video that is attached to this article this will show you better than I could ever write.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my humble scribbles all bout my adventures and more, tune in next month to see what we have been up too, all that's left to say from a God Fearing Man is to wish you all to be stay safe and well, God Bless One And All.

Hello Blossom
The Merry Month of May Into June
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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A Wild Time Of The Year

12/5/2023

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A Wild Time Of The Year
A Month of Million Varied Stars

I really don't know where to start writing this article, so much has happened since I last put pen to paper as it were, I could write an entire book about what's been happening here at The Somerset Wild Head Quaters of The Ole Hedge Creeper, I suppose I should start with the start of the month, so here goes, grab a glass of something nice to drink sit back and hear me now.

Four several months the planning was in place to be at The Stalking Show 2023, this year was going to be in a bigger way than before, I was there in several different roles and some of them with my international caps on, first off I will say the show was magnificent, I truly didn't think team Freer could not have done any better than the awesome previous years show, how wrong can one man be, they not only beat last years record they blew it out of the water, how they will top it again next year I don't know, but count me in I am already booking my hotel in anticipation.

The show looked awesome, the vibe at the show was just magnificent, traders and show goers alike loved every moment of the show, we all just did not want it to be over.

My stand The Pass It On young Sports stand was manned by Brendan, David and Brian from the UK & Ireland Grey Squirrel management group (The Grey Area) look for them on Facebook, the boys managed the stand for me I was popping on and off book signing and game calling, you see I had two other stands to man for Night Pearl (one of my international caps) plus do my parts on stage demonstrating the latest equipment and apparel etc with my new side kick who works for me Jamie, there was a technical problem with the PA system etc. so I jumped into the breach and did an ad lib game calling demo with some of my Young Sports who were there with their families, watch the video attached to this article its hilarious, one Mum got to play with my big waggler live live on stage, she got very excited I am not sure why.

We are holding our Pass It On Young Sports Ferret show, full details on the poster, drop Julia a shout to book in, this is a show but I particularly like the working sections so I am personally sponsoring them.

contact Julia via the Pass It On Young Sports events page www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk

Oh yes before I forget I am heading a grey squirrel management and trapping course in Hampshire in June, full details are on the poster, get in touch and book in, spaces are limited too, I am hoping to be running another very soon in Bristol or Somerset.

I got talked in to running in the local elections here to stand as a local Councillor, now I am not overly political, but I will say as a local village boy I am not too impressed, especially as my lovely village I grew up in is now a town, so I thought why not stand lets see if a rough ole local country boy like me can make a positive difference here locally especial for our young folk as that's were my passion lays, I want to start building better facilities for our young folk, stop them getting bored and sitting around the shopping centre, give them good opportunities to learn new skills make life long friendships etc, much like I did as a boy here, we had a wonderful youth club called The Mycon or The Methodist Youth Club Of Nailsea, it truly was an awesome place if you read my books I write very fondly of my time as a boy to manhood here.

It has come to my attention that me running for council has got some folk a little hot under the collar, my lack of response to these people is a simple approach, silence speaks volumes when dealing with fools, for arguing with a fool only proves there are two.

My Pappy raised no fool.

I like Margaret Thatcher's thoughts here, for she once said something that stuck in my mind and inspired me.

I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding, because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.

This is something I truly believe, to cast dispersions on my character is reflection of their own inadequacies and not that of mine, so I will leave this there with them, for I am a busy man and do not have time to discuss my finer qualities any further for there is just too much to get done for the greater good, I am sure if I am as bad as they say I am, when I meet God on the day of judgment I will accept all he has to say and take it on the chin, as my Pappy another God fearing man would always quote from the bible, he/she who is without sin must cast the first stone, or as I say, those that live in glass houses should not throw stones.

A very straight talking Irish lady neighbour of mine confronted me on the day of voting, now read this in a very broad Northern Irish voice, COME HERE ROBERT!!!!! tiz this true what I see here that you are running for Council???!!!! yes Mrs OXXXX that is me right there, Ahhhhhh I see she says and what are your thoughts on this and that, I gave my answer with all my conviction and heart felt words and truly meant every one of them, again in a broad Irish accent, she announced well you have my vote its about time we had someone with a good moral compass and the Brass BXXXS to stand behind them as a god fearing man, myself and all the ladies from the club are voting for you, perhaps you would like to come along and give us a talk sometime, I have known this lady since I was a boy and she knew my Mum well, so she really knows me, of course I will go and give a talk to them on whatever subject they want, I am very partial to her ginger cake, as we say a fair exchange is no robbery.

I have been very busy with my Freemasonry since my last humble scribbles, my old friend and now Bro Chippy had his third ceremony just recently in The Province of Wiltshire, I was truly honoured to be there to see him reach this sublime degree of a MM, as they say I have been there with him all the way 1-2-3 a jolly fine lodge he has joined there too, I also attended Gloucestershire Lode to see my dear friend and now Bro Wayne 2nd, another fine ceremony I cant wait to see his 3rd again a fantastic Lodge of Agriculture and a jolly fine night with good men and Freemasons was had, in Somerset I have visited so many lodges and side degrees far too many to list, wonderful men and Freemasons each and every one of them, I truly love Freemasonry, if your in Somerset and fancy joining click on this website link www.somersetfreemasons.org you will find all you need to know there, when I next write I will have initiated my right hand man Jamie into Gordano Lodge, I cant wait.

My professional pest control has been out of control since I last wrote, I have so much work on I have met myself coming back so may times, Rat work and moles well I am having to buy even more traps this year, squirrel work blimey what a year so far both domestically and in the forestry work I do on the estates, Goose my cocker spaniel know his job well when checking traps, he trees the squirrels on the estate well that are hanging about, a quick shot from the ole BSA single 20 bore deals with them humanly and quickly, of course goose is on hand to retrieve them as smooth as silk.

Rabbit work I don't do a lot of any more due to the RHD disease wiping all the rabbits out, but being called to a multi sports ground just recently and a VIP riding centre this has changed some what, first armed with the awesome Air Arms S510 with my Night Pearl Seer 50 front add on, spotting with my Scops Max III thermal spotter made the job too easy, I will attach a couple of pics just for reference preposes, this coupled with on another night using the 22LR using Eley Subsonic Ammunition and the dedicated Marten 650 thermal scope made the job just too easy, it takes some of the enjoyment out really, obviously I go nowhere without my favourite thermal spotter too.

The North Somerset agricultural show was awesome as ever, Brendan from The Grey Area group joined me and put on the grey squirrel control stand, this was a huge success our stand was bursting at the seems with people, some of my Young Sports and their families game to say hello, especially my brilliant Young Sports Ambassador Dom, he helped with talking to people and helped me with my game calling demos, a wonderful day was had by all, alas we did not get to The Northern Shooting Show in Harrogate due to an admin error by the show, so I had that weekend of and just enjoyed being lazy.

We finished off with a Pass It On Young Sports Taster day to remember, watch the videos they will show you far better than I can write here what we get up too.

Well I best stop writing now or I wont have much to write about in the next article all about my adventures.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my latest humble scribbles as much as I have writing them and remembering, so until the next time stay safe and well one and all.

A Wild Time Of The Year
A Month of Million Varied Stars
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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As Spring Approaches

2/4/2023

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As Spring Approaches

What a truly awesome month this has been, such a varied month too, it only seems like last night I wrote the last article, not a month ago, my Pappy (Grandfather) always said as you get older my boy time slips by way too fast like the flowing of the trout stream, by golly I now know what he meant.

First off I want to tell you of some of the awesome events we have going on over at Pass It On Young Sports, of course you all remember we re launched the Scotland Branch this year, we have two events on in April 2023, one here in England and one in Scotland, then another here in England in October of 2023 as well as all the shows we are doing and the weekly Air Rifle Ranges, look at the posters below for more information of go over to our website where you will find all you need and more www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk just click on the link or type it onto your browser.

Blimey where to start this month, I suppose with a wonderful roost shoot with my Ole Dad, he bought a new over and under 20 bore at The British Shooting Show 2023 from my good friend David at The Oxford Gun Company, so I arranged for him to join me on the estate to shoot some roosting pigeons coming up off of the winter wheat, this was extra special as we sat on the memorial bench my brother and I built for my Nan and Pappy as this looks right across the valley right towards their house, god rest their beautiful Souls, Goose and Tess our spaniels were also there for the retrieving, I don't know it just not feel right to shoot without my dog at my side, the flight was non stop and the birds flew strong in to the pine plantation, hmmmm lets just say the shot count was higher than the birds bagged, but none the less we kept the dogs busy and Dad and I made some new memories whilst chatting about old ones and smiling, this really was a father and son bonding session.

I was heading up with my co lecturer David a squirrel control training and trapping course here in Bristol this month, we were fully subscribed as soon as the course went live, we are backed by some of the top names in the business for Red Squirrel Conservation and Grey Squirrel Control, just look at the names on the poster for the Hampshire one we have coming up, this is also a Lantra backed course, this was one of the best courses we had ever done here in Bristol and I very much enjoyed doing it with David.

As always I have been targeting The Grey Squirrels hard (non native invasive species), not only are they destroying our ancient forests and broad leaf trees with their ring barking etc, they are also a direct reason for the decline in our song bird populations and ground nesting birds as well as eating the eggs/young and adult birds alike, they are also destroying our Owl population especially our Tawney Owls, as well they are a direct cause of the almost extinction of our Native Red Squirrels with the squirrel pox they carry, harmless to The Grey Squirrel but deadly to our Native Red Squirrel who die a most horrific painful death, so you can see why it is so important to control these grey invaders.

As I wrote last month my pheasant feeders have been getting hit hard by the squirrels, I have taken a couple of novices out and sat them in the hide and taught them how to shoot squirrels to a feeder, again with trapping I find this to be the very best methods, but I will say that little single barrel 20 bore I carry with me in the woods always accounts for a great many and this month is different to that, as per the one in the photo, Goose my Cocker Spaniel chased it up the tree from the feeder, I dropped it with one swift shot from this feisty little gun and goose retrieved it, it was that text book I simply could not write more about it apart from saying Goose and I have this method working as a team nailed.

Above one of our native Red Squirrels dying a ghastly death after contracting The Grey Squirrel Pox.

Above a non native to the UK Grey squirrel eating an adult song bird.

Last month I wrote about a nostalgic photograph of my Dad, Uncle Dave and Myself some 30 years apart, this actually started a bit of a ball rolling, I received a wonderful photo from my Brother, who had got it from an old school friend, this photo is approx 1982 so over 40 years old, the stories we have swapped since and memories have flooded back of a fantastic child hood, the funny thing that two of us in the photo are now Freemasons which I think is great.

As many know I am a Freemason and I head up The Somerset Branch of The Masonic Fishing Charity www.mtsfc.org.uk just recently we held a wonderful days Trout and Course Fishing for a local SEN school, this was a huge hit as we pay for everything and put on a BBQ for lunch too, every young person caught a course fish and I made sure every single one of them and the teachers and helpers caught a Trout on The Fly too, today Fishing was Catching, look out for the full report coming soon, we also received cheques of donations from Woodspring Masonic Lodge 8791 and Wraxall Masonic Lodge 9011 both of which meet here in the Province of Somerset, without the support of Freemasonry and the general public we could not do these events, if you feel like donating to the charity or indeed volunteering drop us a line via our website, or indeed if you would like to know more about becoming a Freemason then go over to the Somerset Masonic Website: www.somersetfreemasons.org you will find all you need to know there, each Province/County has their own websites so youn can find out more generally over at www.ugle.org.uk that's The United Grand Lodge Of England.

Of course I still head up The Really Wild Adventures Marksmanship Team www.reallywildadventures.co.uk with my fellow Coaches and ROs, we help run the weekly Air Rifle ranges for Pass It On Young Sports, again click on their website link for more information in your area www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk there you will see the events page pay close attention to that.

Matt, Leighton and Myself on The Pass It On Young sports Range.

This leads me into my final part really well, as you can imagine teaching The Young Sports the wonderful art of Marksmanship and competitive target shooting, some want to try hunting, this I always give them a serious talk about, for hunting should always start with conservation at your core, now I run a professional pest control company, Really Wild Pest Control you can find this on my personal website www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk or over on my corporate business website www.reallywildadventures.co.uk now if I can I try to take out the odd Young Sport and Parent who I feel is worthy and showed the right attitude towards ethical pest control etc, just recently my dear old childhood friend Matt and I have got back in touch with each other, this is due to him wanting to start target shooting again, also this is something he wanted to do with his son Leighton, after a few weeks both father and son were right into it and now shooting in our inter club leagues, Matt decided to buy his son his own air rifle, this I assisted in as I own the local gun shop, you can find this on my website www.reallywildadventures.co.uk we are more than just a gun room, I had very large rat infestation job come in, this was on a 600+ year old farm house with an old orchard, I went during the day to have a recce and work out a plan of action, blimey it was like Swiss cheese or a colander I had never seen so many rat holes or indeed rats running about during the day, god knows how infested it was at night, contracts signed and I agreed with the client when I could start the ball rolling, this would need more than just shooting visits so I advised on trapping and other eco friendly approached to rat control.

This first night was more a test the waters and get a better picture of how best to deal with the rat problem, I met Matt and Leighton there in the late afternoon early evening, still plenty of daylight left to get a feel for the place and get the boys in position, Matt was covering the compost heap, Leighton sat on a chair with my MK2 Primos Trigger Sticks with his new air rifle mounted on it covered the chicken pen end of the garage, whilst I 10 feet away covered the other end of the garage, I shot the first big sow rat whilst the client was talking to me, this pleased them greatly, I saw Leighton get don on his scope, his body language was like a cat ready to pounce, I knew he had a rat in his sights, I watched him do everything I taught him to do on the range, he squeezed the shot off, THAAAAAAAACCCCKKKKKKK I knew he hit the rat had as he let out a cheer and a YESSSSSSSSS as his arm went in the air, I know that's a memory he will never forget, we all remember our firsts, his dad and I walked over to congratulate the boy, a perfect head shot what a shot, I dont know who was more proud his Dad, Myself or Leighton, he was smiling like a Cheshire Cat.

As the dark fell I set the boys up with my old Nite Site Eagle and Wolf, both father and son taking rats in turn, I set up my awesome Air Arms TDR S510 with the Night Pear Seer 50 front add on Thermal Scope Using the Night Pear Scops Max III thermal spotter for spotting the rats, Matt and Leighton did well and the photos are of their part of the bag, I am saving my photos for the next Ratting Article I write, but lets just say a wheelbarrow was used to collect them all up and some mighty fine shooting was had all round I say, we left a very happy and satisfied client who has booked me again, so as The Terminator says I’ll Be Back.

This article is dedicated to my Young Sports and a Father and Son Bonding session both for Matt and Myself, I think we will be seeing more of Leighton in future article what do you think, I hope you have enjoyed reading my humble scribbles as much as I have had remembering and writing them, so until next time stay safe and well one and all.

As Spring Approaches
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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A Manic Month

8/3/2023

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A Manic Month

Well I really don't know where to start with this article, I am so busy I have met myself coming back twice this month already, as usual its a busy time for a game keeper, one season finishes, most think this is the quiet time, but no this is a busy time planning and getting ready for the next season, for those of us who rear our own birds this is the start of many months hard work on our rearing fields etc, I wont go in to deep detail here but will save it for another article I am writing called The Game Keepers Year.

Well for me the first show of the season kicked off in February at The British Shooting Show 2023 up at the NEC Birmingham, WOW what a show, the show buzz this year was awesome and I will say this was one of the best BSS I had been to for a long time, I was representing several of the international brands I wear whilst at the show on The Night Pearl Stand, Eley, Decibullz, Helios, Really Wild Adventures but to name a few, The Ole Hedge Creeper was a busy bunny indeed all weekend, Friday I was Suited and booted in my finest blue tweeds as I had lots of business meetings with meet and greets, Saturday and Sunday I was back in my comfy jeans, safari shirt and Eley Cap, as always I made time for a sea of fans who came to say hello, sign autographs, have photos taken, so many old friends came to say hello and a sea of new friends I made too, I was blessed that so many of my Young Sports Ambassadors came to say hello. Dom and Theo both sporting hats the same as me, Eley and Night Pearl whilst playing with all the kit on the stand, I booked signed all weekend and totally sold out of every Book I had with me, I also filmed with several field sports TV channels from all over the world and I lost count of how many interviews I did with the international sporting press, that was an awesome weekend I telle, next stop The Stalking Show in April, this is a fantastic show to go too, see you all there.

No rest for the wicked I was only back one day and I was booked to be at a prestigious catering college, demonstrating game preparation from fur and feather to game cookery to a sea of young inspirational chefs, this is always a highlight of mine to be a guest lecturer at the colleges, I supplied the fresh shot game, the pigeons were one thing but the grey squirrels this took these young chefs by surprise, actually 3 of the young chefs I had taught before, so they were right in there, can I have these Boss I have a Jamaican recipe I want to make, then they were off skinning, gutting, plucking etc the way I had showed them, the others were a little timid as always, but after some coaching from me they all got stuck in and came up with some amazing game recipes from around the world, one Young Hungarian chef skinned the entire squirrel tale and all, this looked a bit like a skinned rat, she said that is how we do it from where I am from, so she cooked it tail and all, I must admit her little pieletts were wonderful and I asked her for the recipe, the day was finished off with everyone tasting everyone's creations, I will say the plates and bowls were left empty, so my job was done here, I had inspired another generation of game chefs with a passion for ethically sourced wild game.

I have really turned my attention to the grey squirrels now, their activity in my woods etc has really stepped up a pace, the young squirrels will be flying the dreys shortly, so a new influx of egg thieving, song bird killing, forest destroyers will be descending upon me very shortly, this one on the feeder I had to repair as the blighters ate it, was one of the biggest snarl tooted tree rats I had ever shot or trapped, it was a big boy indeed, it had the biggest pair of John Dobbler’s I had ever seen on a squirrel, he must of carried them around in a wheel barrow or something, all I will say he did not argue with a shot from the ole 20 bore, it bowled him over clean at 25 yards centre spread, I do love that calibre the ole 20 bore, I will be running a series of pest control training courses coming up all about squirrel control, trapping, shooting, conservation and the law, keep your eyes peeled on my social media's, as you can imagine places are limited to train with The Ole Hedge Creeper.

The usual TV work and Radio work has been quite busy too, as well as all the articles etc I have been busy with both on this shore and foreign shores, I must admit, I really enjoy the weekly slot on Radio Bath, A Taste Of The Country its called between 2pm and 4pm, that's a fun show with my ole mucker Paul Mallon.

My Game Calling, Field Craft and Tracking lessons have been flying with so many booking for both here in the UK and on Foreign Shores, I am not sure how I am going to fit it all in, but as always I will find a way.

I have been helping train a lot of friends oh and their dogs, as I always say training the dog is easy, it training the owners that's the hard part, like my ole Dad for instance, I trained his springer spaniel Tess, she turned out brilliantly, Dad not so much, sorry Pops I had to put that bit in, as you say you cant teach an old dog new tricks.

I have been very busy in my freemasonry too and out most evenings in the various orders I am in, I cannot urge all men or indeed women highly enough about the wonderful world of freemasonry, if your near Somerset and would like to know more about joining then click on the Somerset Website link www.somersetfreemasons.org or if you are farther afield then go over to www.ugle.org.uk where you will find all the information and more.

I will finish off this little article with a couple of photos, they are of my Dad, Myself and My Uncle David my Dads Brother, we are actually more like three brothers as I have never really felt like a son and nephew, I often refer to us and our adventures as The Three Amigos, what is actually nostalgic about the two photos, that they are actually 26 years to the day apart, the old one is ferreting for the railways, the latter taken on a rough shoot on my estate where I have been keepering from around the date of the first photo, so for me putting on a day for these Ole Snake Eyed Redknecks rough ole country boys really means a lot to me, I simply wanted to mark the occasion in the Collins family History as we sat there in my woods telling stories of old, actually a new memory was made just after the latest pic, Dad helped with some tree felling and spread out yet again all over my woodland, its a personal joke and story between us Collins Boys, but I am sure if you put a pint in our fists at a bar or at a Country Show this story and more will come out to hysterical laughter.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my humble scribbles as much as I have remembering and writing them, until next time stay safe and well one and all, don't forget to come and see me at The Stalking Show 2023.

A Manic Month
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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The Grand Finale

5/2/2023

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The Grand Finale
A Hampshire's Tale

Well there we are the end of the Game and Wildfowling Season of 2022/20223, in my previous article The Seasons End we took a whistle stop look at this past season, in this article we are going to look at the final shoot of the season in Hampshire where I was shooting as a gust of my dear friend David the estate owner and my other dear friend and fourth generation game keeper Roberto, what a fantastic day and indeed night we had, we will also look into some trapping days for the Red Squirrel protection dealing with Grey Squirrels, as I am the South West Regional Director for The Uk & Ireland Grey Squirrel or The Grey Area Page.

I last shot on this wonderful Hampshire Sporting Estate as a guest in November of 2022, whilst drinking a warming glass of port and smoking a choice cigar that evening in The African trophy room with David and Rob, I was asked would I like to return as their guests on the 31st of January last shoot of the year, its a beaters and guns all together day, I didn't even need to think of course I said yes, I would clear my diary no matter what to be there, this is the most wonderful shoot and the people are some of the finest you will meet anywhere, truth be told I have been dreaming of this final shoot of the season here since I was asked, I literally was counting down the months, days, hours and minuets until I could be back here again.

The Grand Finale

The day came and I was up at a sparrows wink, I just could not sleep in anticipation and excitement, I was like a kid trying to listen for Santa and his reindeer on the roof. The 4.30am alarm went off but I was already awake just staring at the alarm clock, I was out of bed, washed, dressed in my fines mole skin suit from Jack Pyke like the house was on fire, flask and sandwiches made, guns, cartridges a bottle of home made mead ready to take as a thank you gesture, I was ready so I had a small bowl of corn flakes and a couple of Mugs of tea whilst waiting for my dear friend Ben to pic me up as he was a guest too.
6am came in a flash and I was already waiting for Ben outside to load his truck up, this we did in the blink of an eye and we were both back on the road within a few moments, our chatter was excited, light and jovial all the way up to the estate, we actually arrived in record time and was there in no time at all, John saw us arrive and beckoned us in to the kitchen, tea is in the pot he said, this was real tea, loose tea just like my Grandfather (Pappy) would have, Ben made me the first and that slipped down like pure velvet dancing over my tonsils, your a bit early for breakfast John announced, laughing we said that's OK we will wait, we will wait for all the other guns, beaters and pickers up to arrive, David came down and greeted us like old friends, we sat around the table swapping stories and discussing the day that lay ahead, by this time everyone had started arriving, some friends I had not seen for a year or two, a fine breakfast of fresh baked rolls and sausages were had and more tea, now it was time to get shooting,

We split into two teams, Rob gave a safety talk and we went about the day, walking guns and beaters, and the other team standing guns, then vice versa after every drive, I will say this right from the start, the game birds from Perdix valley Game really fly well, especially these end of season birds, the flat ground of this Hampshire Estate is not famous for high birds, but I will say these From Perdix Valley game must have had NASA written on their backs, not only did they fly strong but gained a good height before they were presented over the guns, I swear they had jet rockets under each wing, this is a testament not only to their breeding, but also of the great keepering skills of my dear friend Rob, his father and grand father and great grand father are so proud and made him the Game keeper he is today, with his own personal take on the craft too, it truly is a pleasure to know him and call him my friend.

That first drive of the day set the bar high in the world of game shooting I telle, every other drive also reached this high bar too, some of the finest shots I had seen taken with clean kills and hmmmmm some clean misses too, the picking up team did a fantastic job marking and retrieving every shot bird, I don't think a single bird was lost this day.

We retired for the evening meal early as we had planned to be on a duck flight, so a wonderful meal was prepared by John and Ger, all off the estate Southern Fried Pheasant and Guinea Fowl and Pheasant conjoins with Nik’s wife's home made sweet chilli dipping sauce, followed by a duck casserole, a pheasant casserole with fresh root vegetables, proper creamy mashed potatoes, fresh baked bread and proper salted farm house butter with as much tea or coffee you could want, the pudding and cheese board were going to be for after the duck flight.

The Duck Flight, blimey stick a fork in me I was done, I was so full on dinner I could hardly walk let alone shoot, I said to Sebastian the shoot captain, put me in a nice quiet spot I have had a lot of shooting today, take young Ben here to a hot spot get some birds over him, although Ben had taken some cracking birds this day, a high curling hen on the first drive and a wonderful left to right cock bird stand in my mind, it was an honour to see my young friend take these birds in fine style.

Sebastian said that is not a problem I will put him in a great spot, if you go over there on that far peg you might get one or two shots but that's usually a dead peg, that's fine with me I said, I am really happy to just watch on this one, the drive started and I noticed all of a sudden the wind changed 180 degrees, from my position I could see all of the other guns around the various ponds etc, these duck took to the wing strong and hard and gained a good height immediately, again a testament to Perdix Valley and the quality of their birds and to Robs keepering skills, actually to this old wildfowler it was wonderful to hear the sound of duck, feel the whistling wings over my head and see these ducks fly, for a moment I had to pinch myself for I was transported back to the marsh as these birds flew strong like wild birds.

Then my peg came alive, it seemed like every duck wanted to fly over me, my barrels blazed red, quiet peg yeh right, this peg was on fire I hardly had time to re load, every bird I took was a good sporting duck, I lost count how many I had down when the whistles blew to say end of drive end of season, a picker up and his fine Labrador cross came over to help pick my ducks up, we were still picking up when all the others were enjoying their pudding and fine glasses of port, I got to the African Hunting Lodge just in time before all the food was eaten, they all laughed saying we thought you had got lost, I laughed and said they are still out there picking up my shot birds, the evening flowed and joviality and laughter flowed, a fine evening the icing on the cake after a fantastic days game shooting and rounding off the perfect end to a cracking season, Ben had some good ducks too on that flight but I was most certainly in the hot seat, everyone left one by one, Ben and I were staying the night so we all sat in front of the log fire and the brandy and fine cigars came out as David, Rob, Ger, John, Ben and myself talked like old school friends, I have place my order for all my birds from Rob and Perdix Game for next season, I will add their contact details, if you want quality clean strong flying birds drop them a line, I guarantee you will wish you had used Perdix Valley Game sooner. The next morning Ben and I got up packed our truck, David made us a wonder cooked breakfast, John had to go and retrieve the eggs from under his hens , another cup of tea and we said our good byes, Ben and I came home with a pile of wonderful fresh shot Hampshire Game in the boot, you will see some of these used in my recipes in the fourth coming month.

Pest Control

Well with this season over we start planning for our next season, necessary maintenance and repairs, sorting our birds and getting all the incubators, sheds, pens drinkers, feeders etc all sorted and so much more, I wont bore you now with all this and will save that for another article in the life of a game keeper.

Now for many of us we really step up our pest control, the list is almost endless here but everyone of us involved in running a shoot etc will be out day and night controlling the vermin before each species breeding season etc, as The South West Regional Director for The Grey Area Squirrel control is at a paramount at the moment, my techs and other qualified folk are now able to get out on the shooting estates etc where they could not before, this is the perfect time to start dealing with this grey invader for me, although I deal with them all year round, I am not a fan of poison for pest control, it has its place in some parts, but not for me, I always try the echo friendly approach first, a good trapping line works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, my thoughts are a good traditional trapper who knows his job can make a big impact but still be eco friendly.

I generally use two peoples traps, Colin’s Traps is my first one, he is a retired game keeper and knows exactly what's needed, my Pappy and Uncle Dave use his traps and I have since boyhood, Colin is in his 80s now and still as sharp as a brand new pin, you can see him on his stand at most game fairs, his telephone number is on the photo.

The other trap maker I use is Katch It Traps, that's my game keeper friend Rob’s firm, equally as good as Colin’s Traps, British made with the finest materials that wont let you down, Rob has had a few personal issues this year on top of so many other problems Covid and leaving Brexit related on top of the French disaster with eggs etc, I have had to wait for orders etc myself, all I can say here is bare with him.

Grey squirrel control is a vital conservation effort, most think its all about bringing back our beautiful native Red Squirrel, it not although that is a huge factor in why we have to control the grey invader, its well documented the Grey Squirrel carries a pox that is deadly to our Native Reds, but for me I say we are not going to eradicate the grey invader, the best we can hope for is the control of said species, plus the fact they are a conservation nightmare, killing our song bird and ground nesting bird populations, eating the young chicks and adult birds alike, killing our ancient native forestry and broad leaf trees, bark stripping etc, get one in your attic and you will know about it, so this month I really up the anti on my Grey Squirrel Control, both Professionally and Domestically I get really busy now with this, I will soon be assisting in running Lantra approved courses on Grey Squirrel Control here in the Southern Counties, keep your eyes open for the adverts for that, a dedicated Squirrel article I will write next time.

Well as I draw to a close on this season and this last shoot shoot, WOW what can I say, it started off like a desert, then the rains came and it tuned into a wet place indeed, but for me the whole season was magical as always, it matters not to me the size of the bag, its the just being out there, some of the best hunts and shoots I have in my memory banks, I did not fire a single shot, so for this Ole Countryman it really is about being out there in mother natures living larder, the camaraderie and friendships made, working my little Cocker Spaniel Goose and just enjoying everything The Lord blesses me with.

The Grand Finale, I cannot thank highly enough my hosts David and Rob for their wonderful hospitality and their hands of friendship, all the team from John in the kitchen, to the beaters and pickers up, to my fellow guns and guests, I am now raising a fine glass of port to your good healths and I so look forward to seeing you all again, at the Country Shows and Game fairs through the Summer or at the shoot the next time I am graciously invited as a guest, cheers to one and all.

Until next time I hope you enjoy my humble scribbles as much as I have enjoyed remembering them and writing them, take care one and all, come say hello at the shows, my first is The British Shooting Show 2023 at the NEC Birmingham, you will find me on The Night Pearl Stand wearing one of my international Brand Ambassadors Hats.

The Grand Finale
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
AKA Rob Collins
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk

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To my Haters & Stalkers, I am a Lion not a Sheeple, my advice is to not poke the Sleeping Lion, for if you awake me from my slumber you will hear me ROAR, then you will find yourself staying at Her Majesty's pleasure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

About the Archive

As you will all know I am a busy boy and I am asked post articles and review on behalf of lots people in lots of different places.

The images and photos are for illustration purposes only, they may not be of the actual day/article or location in question or even at the same venue, for client/venue sensitivity,data protection and often location or contract legalities, we may use a stock photo at our discretion, The main place to find most of my articles is of course the
Countrymans Diary Magazine.

This Archive is a central location of all those pearls of wisdom I have let loose on the World, whilst its not bang up to date the knowledge contained in here is worth its weight in gold.

Feel free to share this information its all free and it my pleasure to Pass It On.

A Countryman’s Moon

A Countryman’s Moon

And That's A Wrap Folks

And That's A Wrap Folks
The Show Season Is Over for 2023

The Adventure Begins Wildfowling Opening day 2023/24

The Adventure Begins
Wildfowling Opening day 2023/24
and oh so much more

The Game Fair 2023 and More

To Caledonia and Back

To Caledonia and Back
Young Sports and The High Lands

Hello Blossom The Merry Month of May Into June

Hello Blossom
The Merry Month of May Into June

A Wild Time Of The Year

A Wild Time Of The Year
A Month of Million Varied Stars

As Spring Approaches

As Spring Approaches

A Manic Month

A Manic Month

The Grand Finale

The Grand Finale
A Hampshire's Tale

About the Archive

Archives

Categories

SPONSORS and Pro Staff Appointments

​A Countryman’s Moon

And That's A Wrap Folks ​ The Show Season Is Over for 2023

The Adventure BeginsWildfowling Opening day 2023/24 ​and oh so much more

To Caledonia and Back ​ Young Sports and The High Lands

Hello Blossom ​ The Merry Month of May Into June

A Wild Time Of The Year​ A Month of Million Varied Stars

As Spring Approaches

​A Manic Month

The Grand Finale ​ A Hampshire's Tale

About the Archive

Archives

Categories

SPONSORS and Pro Staff Appointments

A Countryman’s Moon

And That's A Wrap Folks
The Show Season Is Over for 2023

The Adventure Begins
Wildfowling Opening day 2023/24
and oh so much more

To Caledonia and Back
Young Sports and The High Lands

Hello Blossom
The Merry Month of May Into June

A Wild Time Of The Year
A Month of Million Varied Stars

A Manic Month

The Grand Finale
A Hampshire's Tale