Woodland management
Sustainable shooting, conducted in line with best practice, provides huge benefits to people, the economy and our environment.
Estimates of the conservation benefits that come from shooting roll into millions-of-pounds in equivalent spent each year. The management of habitats like moorland, woodland and wetlands, and bespoke habitat creation areas such as cover crops, provide habitat for quarry and wider wildlife. So too, managing deer, pests and predators reduces environmental damage, protects threatened species and reduces losses in farming and timber production.
Being a member of BASC means you align with enhancing and promoting the benefits we bring for the environment. On this page, we will provide you with resources and links to advice and guidance to do just that.
What benefits does managing woodland bring for shooting and conservation?
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Woodcock
The enigmatic woodcock is reliant on good habitat, which is largely deciduous or mixed woodland containing clearings, glades or rides. They are generally nocturnal, spending this time foraging for creatures such as worms, beetles, spiders, caterpillars and small snails.
UK Game shoots manage 500,000 hectares of woodland and 100,000 hectares of copses. Within these areas, there are a number of things that landowners, shoot managers and gamekeepers can do to enhance their woodland to help create good habitat for woodcock.
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Encouraging and managing natural regeneration
Current government targets aim to increase woodland cover in order to improve carbon capture, connectivity and biodiversity across the landscape.
Reducing herbivore damage in woodland
An increased focus on the impacts of woodland herbivores may be needed to enable new woodland to establish,.
Small game preparation
All game preparation must be carried out with good food hygiene being the number one priority.
