THE HEDGETARIAN

‘Hedgetarian’ is a word that may well end up in the Oxford English Dictionary just as ‘chad’ did and ‘Brexit’ almost certainly will if it hasn’t already. It refers of course to those who source their food from hedgerows but I don’t believe that should be restricted solely to wild growing herbs and fruits. It should also include the meat that is free ranging throughout the countryside. The British have always abhorred a food scandal and more of us are becoming active rather than passive consumers to try to insure against becoming unwitting victims of some future horsemeat type scandal. Many shoppers are now asking themselves searching questions about
the meat they eat. If you buy British you will be supporting some of the highest animal welfare standards in farming anywhere in the world. Unfortunately in a global food market it is easy to get lost in the maize of
clever marketing. ‘Packed in the UK’ or ‘EU’ is no guarantee of anything.

Some of us go back to source and culling deer in our ancient semi-natural woodland means that we know what kind of death the animal had. It is our job to make sure it is as humane as possible. Stressed animals pump adrenaline and cortisol into their muscles which affects the taste. This is a lesser but added incentive to us to deliver a good shot and an instantaneous death. It may make uncomfortable reading but, if you eat meat, don’t hide behind the styrofoam tray. These things need to be addressed. It means too that
we know the oxslips, orchids and tree saplings are benefitting from the population management we are undertaking.  We also know how much better meat tastes when you have worked hard for it. How your meat arrives onto your plate matters in more ways than one.

First published in the Eastern Daily Press Dec 2017