In this episode of Women Who Work in Fieldsports, we sit down with Laura Irwin of Tulchan Estate, one of Scotland’s most renowned sporting estates, to explore what it really takes to build a career in the heart of the countryside.

Laura shares her journey into fieldsports, offering an honest insight into estate life, the variety of roles involved, and the skills needed to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated industry. From day-to-day responsibilities to the importance of teamwork, stewardship, and adaptability, she reflects on the realities, rewards, and challenges of working on a leading sporting estate.

This conversation shines a light on the diverse opportunities available to women in fieldsports and the passion, resilience, and dedication that underpin success in this world. Whether you’re considering a career in the sector or simply curious about life behind the scenes on a working estate, this episode offers inspiration and practical insight in equal measure.

In this episode of Women Who Work in Fieldsports, we speak with Louisa Clutterbuck, CEO of Eat Wild, about her dynamic career championing sustainable wild game in the UK. Louisa reflects on her journey into the fieldsports and food sectors, the evolution of her leadership role, and how she has balanced professional ambition with her recent transition into motherhood.

Louisa also shares candidly about the challenges she has faced along the way, offering a thoughtful and grounded perspective on resilience, career growth, and life’s changing seasons.

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of miscarriage.

In this episode, we’re joined by the legendary Polly Portwin — Director of the Campaign for Hunting at the Countryside Alliance. A leading voice in rural affairs, Polly shares her insights on the future of country sports, the challenges facing the countryside today, and why tradition still matters in a modern world.

Whether you’re passionate about field sports or just curious about the debates shaping rural Britain, this conversation offers straight-talking perspectives from one of the countryside’s most influential advocates.

This month Iona had the pleasure to speak with Lesley Peake from Twin Peakes Fly Fishing and Karen Woolley from the Angling Trust. Two incredible women in the fly fishing world. They shared their insights and advice and talked about the need to get more women into angling.

Jo Perrott is the founder of the Ladies Working Dog Group, a global community that’s rewriting the rules on how women train their gundogs. Facing serious health challenges herself, Jo knows what it means to keep going when the path gets rocky, and she’s built a space where women can do exactly that with their dogs. She’s passionate about cutting through confusing advice and ‘perfect dog’ myths to focus on what really matters: building confident, resilient handlers and dogs who work as a team in the real world. The community's practical, no-nonsense approach is wrapped in kindness and a genuine belief that every small win deserves to be celebrated.

You can also buy her book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thoughtful-Dog-Trainer-Mindset-Journey-ebook/dp/B0CNDH89P1

Anita North is a former English clay trap shooter known for her success in Olympic Trap. She began shooting in her late twenties and went on to win multiple Commonwealth Games medals, including gold in the women's trap at the 2010 Delhi Games. After retiring from competition in 2017, she became a respected coach on the British Shooting Talent Pathway. Based at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground, Anita is committed to developing new talent and promoting wider participation in the sport.

Philippa Davis is the cookery columnist for The Field Magazine, a chef and tv presenter.

She grew up with her extended family on a small holding in Dorset where her love for food and feeding people was sparked. At 14 she got her first job in a restaurant, it was hot, fast and furious and she was instantly hooked into the world of hospitality.

In this podcast she joins Louisa and Vanessa to give an overview of how she got to where she is today.

Jessica is founder of Kingstone Coaching and Training Consultancy.

After working in the highly driven corporate sector for over twenty years, Jessica founded her own coaching and training consultancy, Kingstone, taking her side hustle of five years and developing it into a full-time business.

Jessica found the corporate sector was hugely supportive in the growth and development of employees, yet, as soon as we step outside of the that world, the support with growth and development is often missing. Jessica’s mission is to help companies and individuals in the rural sector utilise their strengths and build their confidence to thrive within their working world and their life.

When Jess isn’t working, she is clay and game shooting, adventuring in the
outdoors, both in the UK and overseas, and has recently taken up fly fishing.