Chairmans Blog


April 10th

After attending various area meetings it has been good to meet up with old and new friends.

March 11th

I drove up to Old Meldrum in Aberdeenshire on Friday for an area meeting at the Lochter Centre.

February 20th

Let me start with a date for your diary – The SGA AGM is on the 1st March 2013 at Perth Racecourse, registration 9am.

CASE HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association has urged those working in the industry to join a representative body to ensure they are being updated on the law.
The plea comes in the wake of a decision by a court to reject an appeal by an Aberdeenshire gamekeeper found guilty of breaching the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Craig Barrie lost his license and job last week after using a live pigeon in a Larsen trap as a decoy to attract other animals.
Mr Barrie was not a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, which represents 5300 gamekeepers, stalkers, ghillies and wildlife rangers in Scotland.
And SGA Chairman Alex Hogg believes events highlight the need for people to ensure they are informed by a representative body so they can carry out their duties and responsibilities with the correct care.
"I think it is important for people working in the countryside to make sure they are getting all the information necessary to carry out their work in line with law and best practice.
"All of our SGA members, for example, are updated constantly through our website, social media and member magazine, not just on legal matters but on issues such as insurance and licensing and things of wider interest to people working with wildlife every day.
"There are consultations ongoing regarding new legislation all of the time and it is hugely important people can access this information by joining a representative body involved in the process."