Experiencing wildfowling for the first time
Tim Webster was the lucky winner of last year’s Lindisfarne auction, as it was his first time on the estuary, he wanted to share his experience.
BASC Wildlife Fund pintail stamp on sale now
This year’s BASC Wildlife Fund stamp, titled Pintail over Wentloog, celebrates an important coastal habitat restoration project in South Wales.
The BASC Wildlife Fund (BWF) provides loans for land purchase and grants for conservation and habitat restoration projects linked to sustainable shooting. This year’s stamp is illustrated by renowned wildlife artist Paul Henery, who depicts pintail soaring over the coastline at Wentloog, the site of a project supported by the BASC Wildlife Fund.
Money raised from stamp purchases will go towards funding future projects which promote species conservation and habitat improvement. In 2024 alone, the BWF dispersed £265,000 in the form of grants and loans, both at home and abroad – where the latter linked to UK migratory species.
The Wentloog project
Last year a BWF loan of £35,000 enabled Wentloog Wildfowling and Conservation Association (WWCA) to purchase 932 acres of foreshore southwest of Newport. The site has benefitted from a Natural Resources Wales-led project, supported by WWCA, to restore saltmarsh habitat using traditional chestnut stakes to form protective polders. The technique benefits nesting birds and helps combat coastal erosion.
Other recent projects supported by the BWF include the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. The project secured a grant of £52,405 from the fund to assist with preservation of the species in one of its last remaining strongholds in the Cairngorms National Park. Capercaillie formed the inspiration for the 2024 stamp, carrying on the tradition and heritage of fundraising through these collectable miniature works of art and associated merchandise.
About the artist
This year’s stamp artist, Paul Henery, is a highly regarded wildlife artist and keen naturalist. He is a long-time member of the Society of Wildlife Artists and the Artists for Nature Foundation. Paul brought the pintail and the unique Wentloog landscape to life in a beautifully composed miniature. He said: “It’s a delight to be commissioned to paint any wildlife project. I am not a shooter, but I love the idea of a stamp being used for conservation purposes. Especially in this day and age when everything is so under threat.”
The BWF stamp is a must purchase for any responsible shooter who wants to make a difference. By buying this year’s edition, you can demonstrate your commitment to sustainable shooting and support the enhancement of important habitats.
The 2025 BWF Stamp, Pintail over Wentloog, goes on sale from today on the BWF website here and will also be available on the BASC stand at The Game Fair.
Share
Applications open for BASC Wildlife Fund conservation grants
The BASC Wildlife Fund is now accepting applications for its major grants programme.
Project Penelope takes flight
Project Penelope, an international collaboration which seeks to halt the decline of Eurasian widgeon, has got underway in the UK.
