Branch information and events
Information on the British Deer Society (BDS) Northern Ireland branch including events, news, and contacts.
Events
Please note that branch events may not be going ahead due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Please note that you will receive full details of all these events via email but if in the meantime you wish to enquire about any of them please e-mail me at secretary@bdsni.org.uk
There are also seven Rifle Club Range Days. The dates of these will be emailed to Rifle Club members separately.
Thank you to everyone who made all our events in 2019 so successful. We look forward to seeing you all at our events in 2020.
Branch contacts
| Chairman | John Hetherington | chairman@bdsni.org.uk |
| Secretary | Osmond Gurgan | o.gurgan@bdsbranches.org.uk |
Committee
Chairman and Deer Recorder: John Hetherington
Vice Chairman and Treasurer: Adrian Fitzsimons
Secretary: Osmond Gurgan
Training Officer: Eric Rosborough
Media Liaison: Martin Malone
Education Officer: Jodie Donnelly
Deer Research Officer: Prof. Jaimie Dick
Branch Area
| Postcode | Area |
| BT | Belfast |
News
The Game Banquet
For the seventh year running, the branch sponsored a Gala Game Banquet organised by the Ulster Reform Club for its members and guests. We support this event as part of the branch’s promotional strategy aimed at taking the BDS message to a wider audience than we can reach through our presence at game fairs and similar activities.
The Branch donates a carcass of wild venison which the Club’s Head Chef uses to create the centrepiece main course of a truly fine dining occasion. Greg Kane, representing BDS-NI, delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the work of the BDS, the various deer species found in Northern Ireland, and the importance of deer management. Additionally, the Branch Chair very generously donates a case of wine as the first prize for a ballot held in aid of Belfast’s St Anne’s Cathedral Christmas Appeal which underpins a range of local charities doing essential community work but which are too small to afford professional fundraising support.
Gralloching and Butchery Demonstration
This took place at the farm of our Branch Chairman, John Hetherington, on March 2, 2019, This event is what we now refer to as a “Carlsberg Event”. Yes, you guessed it. This was probably the best event of the year and was the one we received the most positive feedback from you the members. Indeed, nearly everyone who attended this event wanted to know when we would run another one. You won’t have too long to wait as we hope to run a similar event soon.
At this stage I would like to pay tribute to our outgoing Chairman John Hetherington who unstintingly gives of his time and makes available his premises for many different events throughout the year. Thanks also to our committee and the membership of BDS NI for giving us yet another successful year.
Branch AGM
We are looking forward to the first event of 2020 which will, of course, be the Branch AGM. This year we are privileged to have BDS Chairman Rory Putnam come over and participate.
