Farming and environmental grants: delivering nature recovery through sustainable shooting
Ian Danby highlights the opportunities for shooting and landowners within 2024 updates to the English farming and environmental support schemes.
- - Features
- - Features
No such thing as 9 to 5 gamekeepers
Dolly Parton famously sang about working nine to five. Every gamekeeper will know that this is simply not an option, because gamebirds and wildlife have no respect for the average working week. The job really is
a way of life and is demanding on a 24/7 basis. So, sorry Dolly, but your working hours directive doesn’t match the dedication required for this particular role in the countryside. The cowboy boots probably won’t offer the best grip on a rainy British morning either.
The way BASC represents and listens to our gamekeeper members must reflect their bespoke needs, and this goes well beyond a normal job. We are often talking about a cultural identity – a way of life, and it is often a family affair with everybody helping in some way. The best way to spend time with a keeper is to help with the many tasks and duties involved in the daily routine.
From a distance, this may seem like an idyllic lifestyle, almost like living in an Enid Blyton story of countryside adventures. However, the modern keeper probably deals with more stress and anxiety than most people in other careers. As well as all the usual challenges, keepers now battle the growing barrage of regulation, laws and licences. The computer is often now as much a tool of the job as a dog whistle or firearm. The term gamekeeper underplays the role of conservationist, food producer and focal point of community interaction.
In true with the reality
BASC recognises the pressures on today’s keepers, hence our ongoing support and fundraising for the Gamekeepers Welfare Trust. We are proud to have raised thousands of pounds over the years which have gone to good use by those most in need. Our commitment runs through the whole organisation, from our regional and country teams, head office staff, right the way up to our senior management featuring professional gamekeeping expertise. This helps to ensure we do not exist in an ivory tower, and we are in tune with the reality of life as a gamekeeper.
In March we hosted bespoke keeper events in the north and south of England as well as Scotland (see report on pages 54-56 of this issue). It was a chance for keepers to meet BASC staff, ask questions and hear how we are fighting for them and sustainable shooting. We also invited senior politicians so they could listen to keepers and understand the challenges you face. This was all rounded off with a friendly clay competition and some great local prizes.
Our insurance cover for gamekeeper members is also tailored to your lifestyle, and that is why BASC gamekeeper members receive an extra benefit of 24/7 personal accident coverage, something many cheaper policies don’t have. We also know lots of keepers will go beating, picking up or loading on other shoots. As this is not your primary income, you are also covered for all these activities under the BASC liability insurance, which might just make handling that pair of Purdeys as a loader slightly less stressful. The gamekeeper membership still has all the benefits of the regular BASC member, including being your first-resort insurance. And remember, our membership package is bespoke for our members, and the unique benefits we offer are not available anywhere else. Gamekeeper membership costs less than our standard membership at £82 a year, so you really do get more for less.
Expert advice available
BASC has the backs of our keepers and the broader shooting community from a legal perspective. In the past few years, there have been multiple legal challenges, new regulations, and law changes. That is why BASC has been proactive in employing two full-time legal experts. We are fighting for sustainable shooting with the best specialists available. From my personal perspective, working with Marnie and Alex (our ‘tame’ lawyers) makes the job much more effective. As I write this, our regional teams are using the legal expertise within BASC to provide advice to keepers and shoots on individual gamebird release licences, and our legal presence is now understood and respected by key stakeholder organisations.
Our legal beagles were instrumental in launching the BASC Judicial Review against Defra after the chaos caused by the lack of consultation on gamebird release on Special Protection Areas. We have shown that when keepers’ livelihoods are threatened, we will invest in the legal fight.
You also have the option of booking a shoot visit with your regional team. If you or your shoot have any questions or would like an update on any specific topics we are here to help. Just contact your local team and we can arrange a visit. This is a free member benefit, although tea and biscuits are always gratefully received, of course. In 2023, we undertook 370 bespoke shoot briefings. We started with a baptism of fire in face masks, helping shoots get back on their feet after Covid, and have seen general licence changes and new regulation.
We are always here to help and advise with the most up-to-date information.
Working with large landowners
Large swathes of land in the UK are owned by institutions and organisations. They all have shareholders and worry about public opinion. Last year, United Utilities (UU) announced that all shooting on their land would cease. This shows what can happen when an organisation under pressure sees banning shoots as a PR win. Thankfully, after lots of hard work and pressure from BASC and our partner organisations, UU has now decided to undertake an independent review and ensured shoots continue in the meantime. We don’t want this situation repeated across the UK, with shoot leases being torn up and reactive battles to save them then commencing. This is why BASC engages with key stakeholders and ensures they are aware of the many benefits shoots offer well beyond the income generated by shoot lease agreements.
Delivering the complete package
Because BASC represents a huge variety of shooting disciplines and a broader culture, people might think we don’t represent specific groups and smaller organisations as well.
A quick look online shows some people suggest we spend our time eating prawn sandwiches and sipping Champagne. My email inbox currently reflects a very different story. It is full of people asking specialist questions on behalf of members and gamekeepers, seeking information on legal challenges, and looking for positive ways to improve the situation for the shooting community. All these requests have a common theme – to deliver the benefits of being a member of an association packed with relevant expertise.
It is true that you pay more to be a BASC member, however, for that you get a bespoke insurance package, a team of experts on hand to support you, and a proactive mindset across the organisation. In addition, we are always keen to listen and engage our members. You all have a voice, and we always want to hear from you and discuss potential improvements.
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Gareth Dockerty
Gareth is Deputy Director of shooting operations at BASC. Having joined the organisation in 2016, Gareth’s role focuses on ensuring decision makers, stakeholders and the public understand the benefits of shooting for upland habitats and rural communities.
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