Hello from Northumberland

[maryg]

Hello!!

I just found the website yesterday and signed up straight away and am very impressed so far - some of the photos in the gallery are fantastic!!

I'm 25 and i'm currently studying Countryside Management at Northumberland College. I'm in my final year and thinking about doing the HND in Environmental Conservation in September, but haven't decided yet.

I live in the middle of nowhere in Northumberland, which i love. I go everywhere with my camera and got some lush photos of everything from Red Squirrels & kestrals to fungi and wildflowers.

The shooting season has just ended, but now my Saturdays are spent following my local hunt, which i love, and if i wasn't so busy with college work i would follow them more and try and get out and do some more deer stalking.

anyway, just a note to introduce myself and say hello!!

[Boddie]

Hi Mary

Nice to have you onboard and hope to see some of your photos too. I guess Northumberland offers up many chances of good shots so I wait with baited breath.

Best

Boddie

[John]

Hello Maryg

I have already given you a warm welcome via PM but let me extend the same warm welcome publicly.

I hope you enjoy your time on this forum and hopefully we will get to see some of these photos of yours.

John

[StuartDH]

Hi Mary, welcome to Wild About Britain. Living in the middle of nowhere in Northumberland sounds pretty idyllic

[Jonny]

Hello Mary...........I am new here too and am enjoying the site. Locals seem ok too.................Jon

[Mark43]

And a big hello from me as well

[nightshade]

hello Maryg,keep quiet about the hunt,take all the courses ina changing world anything which gives you an edge.....

[maryg]

thanks for the welcome but...
i'm just wondering why i should keep quiet about the hunt. it's something that i feel passionate about and most people need to be educated on the 'proper' countryside and how it works. i've lived in the countryside all my life and am involved in the activities that keep the rural economy and community alive. so i don't see why i should keep quiet about something i love.
i don't know your views on country sports but if this is a website dedicate to the wildlife of this country, none of it would be here if it wasn't for shooting, stalking and hunting.

[Lou-D]

Well said, MaryG, good for you! I don't hunt/shoot/fish myself (am not anti either!) but agree that it's been, and continues to be, an important factor in the shaping of a lot of our countryside and in the survival of our wildlife.

We all have our own views on these subjects but wouldn't the world be a boring place if we all thought the same?

Welcome to the group, by the way. Oh, and good luck with your course! Look forward to reading your posts.

[wildone]

Maryg, I thought hunting was banned. Are you now drag hunting or what? Perhaps hunting is different up north to what I have known in the soft south. When you go stalking I take it that any kill is used as food. By the way I trust that you received my PM. wildone

[nightshade]

Hello Maryg, the comment was tongue in cheek(I used to Rough Shoot myself)

[maryg]

We now drag hunt up here, but when you're watching you can't tell the difference - it's still an amazing sight.

As for the stalking, i eat venison on a regular basis, its beautiful meat. Although i very rarely shoot myself (i usually go out with my dad or boyfriend) shots are only taken if safe and a clean shot is available.

thanks to everyone for the support. to be honest i wasn't sure how my insterests would be taken. so i'm very plesed!