In my blogs I will be looking at not only how we cook and prepare food, but also where it comes from and the people behind it. Game can be harvested in a wide number of ways, by man and dog, with a gun and via the ancient art of ferreting and falconry.

Falconry has a special place in my heart as I have been a practicing falconer for over 15 years. When falconry started is a point of contention; some say it began in China or the Far East some 1000 years BC and was then brought to Europe by the knights of the crusades. What is not in dispute is the fact that back then falconry was practiced to bring food to the table. Long before guns where invented, man's association with birds of prey is evident in historical paintings and manuscripts - throughout the world it was practiced by many a civilized and nomadic people.

In Europe an individual's standing in society could be gagued by the hawk or falcon he or she was permitted to own. Even the English language had names and expressions that were solely derived from falconry, such as to be 'hood winked'. In falconry, this term refers to when the hood is placed on the bird's head preventing it from seeing thing the falconer does not want it to.

Even the Royal Family had strong connections with falconry. The Royal Mews in Kensington was built not to house horses but the Royal Family's extensive collection of birds of prey. The word 'mews' came from falconry not from the horse world: A Mews is a place where a bird of prey is kept tethered and ready for hunting.

This weekend I will be doing more demonstrations at the International Falconry Festival at Englefield Estate in Reading. This is an event that only takes place every two years. It is a coming together of peoples and cultures from all over the world with falconry being the common interest. 50 countries will be represented at the festival from as far away as Japan and Peru. to Germany and Spain; all these countries have strong historical relationships with falconry and birds of prey. They have been brought together under the gaze of UNESCO to show falconry as an important part of our national and international heritage.

My Demonstrations at the show will be all about preparing game rabbit and game birds on site and helping people understand what to do with their quarry. So come along and enjoy a truly spectacular event.