ROSS Sinclair of New Alyth has been selected as the recipient of a bursary to participate in one of the country’s best practical and participative upland management courses.

Having won the Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust (SCAET) bursary, Ross is looking forward to attending the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s ‘Grouse, Hill Keepers and Stalkers Course’ when it is held at Invermark Estate by kind permission of Lord Dalhousie on 21 to 25 April 2008.

The five-day course offers a superb programme of talks, demonstrations, discussions and practical participative training plus the opportunity to meet countryside management experts.

“I’ve helped out on local shoots and been involved in gamekeeping for a while,” said Ross (20) who currently works with Cunningham Carpets in Blairgowrie.

“I’m really looking forward to the course and I hope I get a lot out of it as game management is something I would like to pursue in the future.”

There are a few places left on the course and interested individuals should contact Lynda Ferguson, tel: 01425 651013 for more information. Accommodation is available on the estate. The full tuition fee for the five days is £460 including VAT - this does not include the accommodation costs.

Past participants have said of the training resource:

"The subjects covered in the course were far reaching and, in my opinion, touched upon almost every aspect of moorland management and hill ‘keepering. It was an eye opener to see the range of subjects that need addressing to maintain and manage our heather uplands."

"The lecturers and instructors on each of the subjects were excellent. Time and trouble had been spent on assembling the best instruction for the course.”

“A good balance was struck between practical, hands-on sessions and the very necessary lecture room subjects and, of course, no better setting could have been found than the beautifully tended Invermark Estate.”

“I would heartily recommend your course to any young keepers, those aspiring to the post and others with an interest in the maintenance of moorland and good sport.”