With binoculars not readily available, and with the increasing interest in the natural world, Oology (egg collecting) became increasingly popular in Britain and the US during the 1800s. The collection of the eggs of wild birds by amateurs was considered a respectable scientific pursuit until the mid 20th Century; it was a popular hobby amongst both children and adults and in some cases big collections were built up and collectors traded eggs. Some bird eggs were also collected during and after the war to supplement incomes. The Wild Birds Protection Act 1954 in the UK made it illegal to collect eggs.

Hunting has been practised in Cumbria and throughout Britain for hundreds of years and the High Fell contributors have memories of a range of hunting activities that were once common practise in Cumbria - from otter hound hunts, to hare coursing and hunting fox with hounds.
Nowadays shooting can form an important part of the rural economy and, if managed properly, can help maintain important habitats for wildlife. However hunting is controversial and hunting with dogs (including hunting for fox, deer, mink and hare coursing) was banned in England and Wales by the Hunting Act 2004.

For most of human history we have been foragers, roaming the forests and fields to collect food for the table. With the advent of agriculture and hunting the need to find our food amongst the hedgerows declined; some of the wild foods which large numbers of the people used to collect - mushrooms, nuts, berries, flowers - have also dwindled as habitats have changed since the war. With the increased interest in environmental sustainability, concern over ‘food miles’ and desire for ‘local food’, 'wild foraging' as it has become known is again increasing in popularity.