Keepers helped feed homeless this Christmas
Vulnerable people in Scotland received a meal of nutritious game over the Christmas period, thanks to the hard work of gamekeepers.
Angus keeper Dominic Simpson collected festive game dishes for distribution to the charities
Angus and Grampian gamekeepers teamed up to give more than 600 homeless and vulnerable people a freshly cooked meal of local game over the festive period.
Members of the Angus Glens Moorland Group and Grampian Moorland Group worked to deliver locally reared oven-ready pheasants and partridges, as well as fresh venison and rabbit from nearby hills, to several care, family and community causes.
Game for Giving
The “Game for Giving” bags, provided by the keepers, included pheasant or partridge, along with vegetables, Christmas puddings and mince pies. The free-range meat was prepared for cooking by royal-warranted butcher H M Sheridan in Ballater and Sinclair’s Kitchen in Forfar.
Lianne MacLennan, co-ordinator of both the Angus Glens and Grampian Moorland groups, said: “The moorland groups, which comprise gamekeepers, shepherds, estate staff and their families, have been collaborating with local charities for some time.
“It is not solely a Christmas initiative, but there are particular requirements at this time of the year and the members have been delighted to get involved to help.
“We made it known on social media that we wanted to see quality local game being tasted by more people, as it is a healthy, free-range product that not enough people get the chance to enjoy. Working like this helps everyone. Our group members are delighted to see the game being appreciated by people and to support vital homeless, family and community causes at this time of year.”
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Supporting charities
Among the Grampian beneficiaries were homeless charity Aberdeen Cyrenians, several branches of the family support group Home-Start, and CFINE, which distributes healthy produce and operates a food bank. In Angus, meals were sent to well-being organisation Voluntary Action Angus, support hub and charity Brechin Community Pantry, Montrose Christmas Meals and advice and accommodation charity Transform, based in Dundee.
Leah Bruce, senior co-ordinator for Home-Start, said: “We could not be more grateful for the hard work and effort of the groups, the butchers and chefs involved.
“People who had probably never bought game before enjoyed it and we have welcomed the Game for Giving bags ever since.”
