Delectable dishes from the Countryside

Gamekeepers are not only responsible for management of the countryside, but also bringing us the tastiest of ingredients for our plates.

There are around 5,000 full-time gamekeepers employed in the UK, with many more keepers working part time, managing around six million hectares – a land area roughly equivalent in size to Scotland.
Their day-to-day duties, both in the uplands and the lowlands of the UK, involve the skilled management of both reared and wild game, while, at the same time, nurturing the flora and fauna that share these carefully conserved habitats.

Game is also food, and the job of the gamekeeper is central to overseeing this natural and delicious harvest of free-range meat. Game, both furred and feathered, takes many forms. And one of the most versatile – and popular – game meats available to the consumer is venison, much of it entering the food chain as a direct result of the recognised need for gamekeepers to control deer in order to limit crop damage, promote woodland regeneration, protect vulnerable habitats, maintain biodiversity and prevent road traffic accidents.

This resource provides more detail on the relationship of the Gamekeeper to the delicious food that appears on our plates.

Sample a beautiful autumnal venison dish from Michelin Star chef Bryn Williams and learn about the different types of game and their nutritional food value.