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Wildfowlers lead litter picks across the UK
It’s the time of year when wildfowlers across the UK are organising litter picks and carrying out habitat improvement work, removing waste from coastal and inland areas to support the ground they manage.
Lindisfarne litter pick draws strong turnout
Thirty volunteers from the wildfowling community came together at Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve to clear litter from the shoreline and surrounding paths.
The group included members of the Lindisfarne Wildfowling Management Group, as well as representatives from BASC and local clubs. Throughout the day volunteers worked through the reserve, removing debris that had accumulated after high tides.
Gordon Harrop, a permit holder who travelled from the Lake District to attend his first litter pick, said: “After a six-hour round trip, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the day went really well. We collected a lot of rubbish, there was plenty of friendly banter and the weather held too. It had a real sense of community, with people sharing stories from the season. It was a great way to round off my final flight of the season.”
BASC wildfowling advisor and secretary of the Lindisfarne Wildfowling Management Group, Chris Wright, added: “On behalf of the LWMG, I would like to thank everyone who participated. The event continues to go from strength to strength each year and we look forward to next year’s plastic pick.”
Litter picks and work parties across the UK
Similar activity is taking place across the country, with wildfowling clubs carrying out regular litter picks and wider site management.
At Frodsham and District Wildfowlers Club, members manage more than 12km of coastline along the River Mersey. They also assemble work parties throughout the year.
Recent litter picks on the north shore followed high tides, which had left large amounts of rubbish along the foreshore. Across two events, 18 members collected around ten builders’ bags of rubbish. These included food crates, buckets and even plastic work fences.
The club works with the local council to arrange collection after each clean-up. Litter picks on the south shore often uncover heavier items such as tyres and gas bottles. This highlights the scale and variety of waste reaching the estuary.
On the south coast, South Hants Wildfowling and Conservation Club continues its regular litter-picking. Members removed ten bags of rubbish from the Lymington foreshore during a recent event.
In Lincolnshire, members of Saltfleet and Skidbrooke Wildfowling and Clay Pigeon Club worked alongside a local explorer scout group to clear litter from the Saltfleet foreshore. The group collected ten bags of rubbish, with support from a nearby caravan park, which provided bin bags and a skip.
Year-round habitat management
Alongside litter picks, clubs continue to carry out practical work to maintain and improve the habitats they manage.
At Frodsham and District Wildfowlers Club, members combine litter picking with wider site management, including maintaining bird boxes and refilling duck nesting tubes ahead of the breeding season. The work aims to support nesting activity, has results have included use by a barn owl in recent seasons.
At Chichester Wildfowlers Association, members regularly undertake work parties, including clearing and maintaining ponds, cutting back vegetation and improving access to managed areas.
Such seasonal tasks are carried out ahead of the breeding season, alongside reed cutting, site maintenance and litter picks throughout the year.
More events planned
Litter picks remain a regular part of the calendar for many wildfowling clubs. Further events are planned throughout the year, with volunteers continuing to support the areas they shoot over and manage.
Keep an eye on social media for updates or find details of your local club here if you’d like to get involved – an extra pair of hands is always welcome!
At Frodsham and District Wildfowlers Club, the waiting list is open for those aged 11 and over who are interested in getting into wildfowling. For more information, contact BASC or email info@frodshamwildfowlers.co.uk
Images courtesy of: Lindisfarne Wildfowling Management Group; Chichester Wildfowlers and Conservation Association; and Frodsham Wildfowlers
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