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Creation of open spaces within woodlands is a simple starting point and one of the government’s key indicators for woodland health.
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Home » Gamekeeping » Gamekeeping advice » How can I get started as a gamekeeper
Today, there are more than 5,000 full-time gamekeepers employed in the UK. In addition, there are many who spend their leisure time and money, rearing game and maintaining habitats on their own small shoots.
A gamekeeper can be professional or amateur but their role is the same, to look after and encourage the game population on a shoot. They may do this by protecting wild stock and enhancing its breeding potential or by rearing and releasing game birds.
Their skills play an important part in shaping the countryside in both upland and lowland areas.
It is necessary to create a suitable environment for a healthy game population. The gamekeeper achieves this by working alongside the landowner, farmer, shoot manager and sometimes external governing agencies to improve and create habitats on the shoot. These provide food, nesting cover and shelter for gamebirds.
If you are looking at gamekeeping as a career choice then there are a range of courses at colleges across the country such as Game and Wildlife Management level three and Land and Wildlife (Game) – Level 2 Technical Certificate
It aims to support and encourage those wishing to develop their knowledge in conservation, land management or gamekeeping.
It provides financial assistance to applicants where lack of funding obstructs education and future careers.
Creation of open spaces within woodlands is a simple starting point and one of the government’s key indicators for woodland health.
If your shoot has five or more employees at any one time it is a legal requirement to have a health and safety policy in place.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CroW) created a public right of access to mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land in England and Wales.