AN ALNESS man who works on an estate on an Inner Hebridean island has won the inaugural Scottish Young Gamekeeper of the Year award.
Islay Estates keeper, Alan MacDonald, 24, is a graduate of Thurso College’s gamekeeping course.
He has worked for Islay Estates for the past eight years, and has been described as having a great enthusiasm and aptitude for his job.
Mr MacDonald always wanted to be a gamekeeper, and follow in the footsteps of father David, grandfather Colin and older brother John. He said yesterday: “It’s great to get the award. It helps to encourage more young people into gamekeeping.”
His responsibilities as a beat keeper on 20,000 acres of Islay’s northeastern quarter include the annual cull of 60 red deer stags and 70 hinds, together with the release of 800 partridges and pheasants, and the development of a woodcock shoot.
On the biodiversity front, he is involved in opening up woodland and clearing rhododendrons for the benefit of both wildlife and rough shooting.
Scottish Gamekeepers Association chairman Alex Hogg described Mr MacDonald’s approach to his job as a model for modern gamekeepers, and said he was impressed by his knowledge, not just of the hill environment, but also the underlying debate which surrounds shooting and conservation.
Mr MacDonald’s boss, Jack Adamson, head keeper on Islay Estates, praised his protégé’s conscientious approach to the job.
“He has a good manner and a great sense of humour, and I’ve never heard anything but praise about him,” he said.
“He came here as a very young 16-year-old, but his family’s keepering background and his natural aptitude for the job have turned him into a great young keeper.
“I’m absolutely delighted he has won this award – it is well deserved.”
Mr MacDonald will receive an exclusively designed length of tweed made into a suit by Lovat Mill of Hawick.