We continue to learn from past mistakes

There is a good deal of talk about changing the name of the age-old profession of gamekeeping or, to be more specific, gamekeepers. Nothing new here: the Wildfowlers Association of Great Britain and Ireland morphed into the British Association for Shooting and Conservation; the Game Conservancy became the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust — the addition of the word ‘conservation’ being the magic word.

Having abused our wildlife for centuries, it has become important to add key words such as habitat, conservation, wildlife, protection, anything that gives the impression that our flora and fauna are being shown the respect they deserve.

The reality