PestTech 2013 at the National Motorcycle Museum on 6 November promises to be time well spent. Here are some of the things we think you ought not to miss.
Highlight of the practical demonstrations this year looks set to be the airgun range which is being provided by BSA Guns and the Airgun Training & Education Organisation (ATEO).
This offers the chance to try out some of the guns in BSA Guns special pest controllers range which use a .25 calibre pellet. The larger pellet size gives these guns greater stopping power over short to medium distances and a reduced risk of ‘through and through’ i.e. the pellet is more likely to stay in the prey rather than going though the prey and risk damage to property, says the company. Traditional .22 calibre guns will also be available.
| Experts from ATEO will be on-hand to answer technical questions. As well as the guns there will also be a range of telescopic sights to try. As Dave Mills from ATEO points out: “In our experience it is often the choice of telescopic sight which causes the biggest problem for pest controllers. This has been especially the case among pest controllers purchasing the .25 calibre guns.”
Whilst you’re outside then anyone interested in mole control ought to try to catch one of the two demonstrations on the art of molecatching by master molecatcher Jeff Nichols. These will run at 11.10 and 14.00.The birds of prey demonstrations are always popular. This year they are by Jan Prymeka from JRCS Falconry with two sessions, one at 09.30 and the second at 13.45.Completing the outdoor demonstrations is Liam Brinded with his now regular long netting demo scheduled for 14.30. There are six new companies exhibiting in the exhibition hall – read our introduction and a first appearance for the National Gamekeepers Organisation. We asked the NGO why they were planning to attend and you can read their response here. |
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And, of course, we shouldn’t forget all the regular exhibitors. This is your chance to catch-up with what’s new so make the most of it. The workshop programme includes a session from Public Health England on new research into the risk of hantavirus infection to pest controllers along with a plea for pest controllers to provide a blood sample to help the research. Read more about the hantavirus research here and about the other workshops and events. If you are a member of the BASIS PROMPT professional pest controllers’ register then you will be pleased to know that all workshops, seminars and demonstrations, as well as actually attending the PestTech exhibition itself are worth BASIS PROMPT CPD points. Take your membership card to the BASIS stand number 42 in the Manxman Suite and they will even scan the points in for you. Buy a ticket, or two, or three in the PestTech 21st Anniversary Tombola and, as well as having the chance to win some fantastic prizes, you’ll also be raising money for a very good cause – Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. Russell IPM will be doubling whatever is raised. And finally don’t forget to take a look at the motorbikes. NPTA points out that attendance at PestTech 2013 also gives you free access to the whole National Motorcycle Museum collection. |
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