All hedgerows great and small
The government is encouraging the creation of more hedgerows – and that will be a win for shooting and conservation.
Wash wildfowling clubs recognised for their conservation work
The long-standing commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship displayed by wildfowling clubs on The Wash has been acknowledged by a key public body which works to protect the environment.
The Wash and North Norfolk Marine Partnership (WNNMP) manages The Wash and North Norfolk Marine Protected Area network. It comprises local authorities, other governmental bodies, drainage boards, ports and environmental charities.
In a recent communication, WNNMP praised the clubs for their hands-on contributions to the local environment, from large-scale litter removal to biodiversity enhancement. This recognition marks a significant moment, not just for the clubs involved, but for the wider wildfowling community.
“Our local wildfowlers have a strong commitment to conservation and actively work to enhance our local environment,” WNNMP stated. “Groups such as the Fenland Wildfowlers, South Lincolnshire Wildfowlers, Wainfleet Wildfowlers, and the Dawsmere Wildfowlers Group have held successful litter clean-up events, removing tonnes of waste from our coastlines and marshes.”
The picture shows the haul of litter collected from the foreshore by members of the Dawsmere Wildfowlers Group. The group comprises Holbeach, Spalding & Gedney Drove End wildfowling clubs.
Custodians of marshes and estuaries
These efforts are not one-offs. They represent annual commitments, with clubs like Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Wildfowlers also advancing biodiversity through nest box schemes. Their nest boxes achieved a 58 per cent success rate last year and they are collaborating with the British Trust for Ornithology to monitor bird populations.
This recognition is more than a pat on the back; its a powerful reminder of the role wildfowlers play as custodians of our wild marshes and estuaries. Historically, wildfowlers have quietly ‘done the right thing’. But in today’s world, it’s not enough to just act responsibly, we must also be seen to do so.
“This is a great opportunity to highlight that landscape-scale collaboration is essential to help nature recovery,” said Fenland Wildfowlers Association chair Chris Barker, who is also a BASC Council member and chair of the wildfowling liaison committee. “Forward-thinking wildfowlers understand that we are not just harvesting wildfowl, we are deeply invested in the long-term future of these landscapes. Partnerships like this focus on what unites us, not what divides us.”
We commend the wildfowling clubs for stepping forward, sharing their stories and ensuring their work is visible. And we applaud WNNMP for recognising these efforts so transparently.
Looking for wildfowling-related advice or guidance? Visit our dedicated pages here.
Share
The foreshore in winter
During the harshest, coldest, and most desolate days of the winter months, a remarkable symbiosis unfolds on the foreshore.
Celebrating wetlands and wildfowl
In honour of World Wetlands Day, we discuss some of the wetlands projects supports by BASC and the BASC Wildlife Fund.
