"Pigeons Cost Farmers £75m a Year" In pursuit of the extraordinary wood pigeon

Voices of the Countryside

We’ve undoubtedly all seen wood pigeons but did you know they are one of Britain’s biggest agricultural pests? It’s estimated they cause over £75m-£100m worth of damage to farmers’ crops every year. They are also delicious and are highly prized, gastronomically, in pubs and restaurants.
Patrick sets off for the Cotswolds to shoot some pigeons over a pea crop they’ve been feasting on. He spends an afternoon with Tom Payne who probably knows more about pigeons and pigeon shooting than anybody else in the countryside today. Tom tells him all about the history of pigeon shooting, why it’s necessary, and he also explains to Patrick why he finds woodpigeons so fascinating.

Patrick then heads to P&S Butchers, in Holt, a small Norfolk market town. Simon Wade, who set the shop up, tells Patrick that game, such as pigeon, is a big part of what they do, and interestingly enough, the London crowd who often come down on holiday, are very keen on the game they sell.