Rottal Lodge wins at The Purdey Awards

ROTTAL Lodge in Glen Clova has won a prize at The Purdey Awards.

The Angus site took the bronze award “for the demonstrable conservation efforts and exemplary community partnerships displayed by this passionate family-run estate”.

“Rottal has created a wonderful shoot that has been driven by the commitment of those involved and has shown how proactive community engagement can help sustain shooting,” added the judges.

Sir Alastair Cook, the former England cricket captain, presented the prizes last Thursday in the “long room” at Audley House, the head office of gun maker James Purdey & Sons.

Champagne house Laurent-Perrier founded the contest in 1986, with the gun maker taking over in 1999.

“The Purdey Awards aim to promote a wider appreciation of the outstanding game and habitat conservation work carried out by shoots throughout the United Kingdom and seek to give well-deserved recognition and reward to those shoots and estates that provide the very best,” explained the organisers.

The Great Lemhill & Greenwill Shoot in Gloucester was presented with the gold award, while Godmersham Park in Kent took silver.

Julian Fenwick received a lifetime achievement award “in recognition of the multi-generational work by the Fenwick family at the Lynlloedd Shoot” in Wales.

The Bayfield Hill Estate received a special prize for its commitment “to establishing and sustaining a broad wildfowl and woodcock population”.

Commenting on the importance of the competition, Jonathan Kennedy – one of the awards’ judges, whose father managed an estate for the Duke of Buccleuch – said: “In the school holidays there was nothing else to do apart from shoot and fish – it was heaven.

“I was very lucky, I got into it at an early age and it’s been a real driver in my life.

“I can see first-hand all the good that comes from it, and the challenge for us is to get the message across that shooting delivers the best possible diverse and sustainable countryside – real results, not just talk and politics.

“The Purdey Awards makes that connection.”

He added: “During the [past] 20 years, the awards has evolved and refined, but its purpose is still the same – to highlight all the good that an interest in shooting does in producing the best of the UK’s habitats and landscapes.

“It’s the recognition of the benefits that comes from an activity that is ingrained in the countryside.”

Read more fishing stories on Scottish Field’s field sports pages.

Plus, don’t miss Michael Wigan’s fishing column in the February issue of Scottish Field magazine.