July Profile: Izzy Hosking

Brought up in rural Oxfordshire filled Izzy’s early years with endless hours of exploring the countryside and Wildlife. This led to beating on the local shoot and assisting the gamekeeper, eventually despite calls from School to study A-Levels and go on to University, the thought of learning more about her interest and passion was far more attractive than confinement of classrooms, and so a course in Countryside management at Hartpury College was inevitable.

After a year at college, it was straight into the Gamekeeping profession, which soon took her to Wales, where she has since called home. In 2013, still employed as a Gamekeeper part time, she saw a gap in the Game Meat Market and so began “Pennant Valley Game”. Processing Pheasants from the shoot where she lived with her now Husband and then Head keeper, she started attending local farmers markets, supplying pubs, and more importantly to her, providing dressed game back to the visiting guns. The shoot proprietor Mr. Robert Jones was a huge influence, encouraging Izzy to promote Game Meat and to purchase a micro processing plant.

Recognised as the only business processing Game in Wales, caught the attention of Rachel Evans – Countryside Alliance director for Wales, this then led to trips to the Welsh Parliament to promote Game Meat to members of the Senedd.

In 2020 the opportunity to purchase her local Butchers shop became available, and so “Izzy’s Butchers” evolved. As well as continuing to serve the community with traditional local Meat, Izzy took full advantage of the platform to promote Game Meat to a wider audience. She has made it her mission to promote and sell as much Game as possible through the shop, both in a traditional manner but also more innovative ideas such as Moroccan Pheasant sausages, Venison Koftas and Pheasant Bacon.

Although not employed in the fieldsports sector anymore. Izzy enjoys and participates in almost every aspect imaginable of Field sports. It is undoubtedly this understanding and her love for the countryside that has motivated Izzy and will continue to do so.