On the road

THE Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust (GWT) is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022 with the Year of the Gamekeeper and CEO Helen Benson has risen to the occasion by embarking on Helen’s Way, a gruelling fundraising journey across the UK. Together with her Border Terrier, Smartie (above), she is heading south from Castle of Mey, Caithness, to Land’s End in Cornwall, then east to Sandringham in Norfolk, employing any means of transport used by keepers, stalkers, gillies and fishing guides in their work. In her first 500 miles, she has travelled by vintage Land Rover, tractor and even pony and trap—but the hardest journey by far has been by train, as Smartie struggled to negotiate the station’s stairs.

‘Helen’s Way was an idea that was triggered by a tractor run I completed three years ago with my father’s David Brown 880, which had been on the farm since 1968,’ Mrs Benson recalls. ‘I wanted to celebrate the wonderful role of the gamekeeper and showcase how, over the years, gamekeepers have adapted to new methods of transport. From boots to bicycle, pony to tractor and quad bike, we are travelling along with Smartie and hope my journey will raise the profile of the trust, bring back memories and raise a smile.’

Mrs Benson and Smartie have already secured donations for more than £9,500 by the time of going to press, but the GWT has an ambitious target of £220,000 for the Year of the Gamekeeper, which will help ensure the charity’s future and continue to support the gamekeeping community. To find out more, or donate, visit www.facebook.com/gwthelensway