Wednesday 17 February 2016

MINISTER TO SPEAK AT AGM


The SGA is delighted to announce that Fergus Ewing MSP will be the principal speaker at the 2016 AGM with Marsdens Game Feeds, at Caledonian Stadium in Inverness on March 4th.
Mr Ewing will follow SGA Chairman Alex Hogg’s opening address and members will be given the opportunity to ask questions of the Minister following the main speech.
Also on the speaker list will be Michael Wigan, journalist and owner of Borrobol Estate in Sutherland, who will speak on Land Reform and Chief Inspector Fraser Lamb who will talk on firearms issues.
Charlie Whelan, first ambassador of the recently established SGA Fishing Group, and former political adviser to Gordon Brown, will speak on the challenges facing fishery management.
Deer will also be a hot topic, with independent woodland adviser Victor Clements outlining some of the burning issues regarding the management of deer whilst promoting woodland growth.
Josephine Pemberton, University of Edinburgh, will also detail her fascinating work in deer research on the island of Rum in the Inner Hebrides.
The project is one of the longest and most complete scientific studies of a wild vertebrate population in the world, with work ongoing since 1953 and the ‘North Block’ since 1972.
Dr James Fenton will cast an expert eye over our moorlands and their species, as he did in the SGA paper ‘A Future for Moorland in Scotland’.
The SGA is delighted to have Marsdens Game Feeds as the key sponsor of the biggest member event in the calendar and appreciates the ongoing relationship with the feed company.
Members should begin arriving at 9am for registration, before the 10am start. There will be tea and coffee and bacon or sausage rolls served during the registration process and all members must brings cards or their membership numbers, in order to gain access.
A hot lunch with tea and coffee will be served at 1pm, with an estimated finish time of 2.30pm.
SGA merchandise will be on sale as will raffle tickets for our excellent fishing raffle which will be drawn on 27th May.
SGA partners Kings cover crops will have a stand at the AGM and those planning to attend should assist with catering and seating by contacting the SGA office on info@scottishgamekeepers.co.uk or by calling 01738 587 515.