Sporting shooters have raised several thousand pounds to help BASC save water voles and a range of other wildlife from extinction in Cheshire.
BASC organised a day’s simulated game shooting with the kind support and sponsorship of the Manchester Clay Club and the Cheshire Gun Room who donated a quality shotgun to raffle at the event.
The funds were raised for BASC’s Green Shoots in Cheshire project which helps BASC members manage their land for quarry and wildlife in a way that contributes towards local conservation targets.
Head of biodiversity projects, Ian Danby, said: “The money raised will go towards our range of conservation projects in Cheshire, which work on species like water vole, dormouse, grey partridge and lesser silver water beetle. The project provides the ability for conservation targets to achieved in the rural landscape where our wide range of conservation partners have difficulty in accessing as easily as our members.“
The day consisted of five drives; three in the morning and two after lunch, incorporating on one drive the MacNab Double Gun Challenge, at which top guns won 1,000 BASC centenary cartridges. There were also other prizes on offer including a day’s game shooting on a Cheshire estate, shooting lessons and a raffle for a quality shotgun supplied by the Cheshire Gun Room.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Green Shoots is BASC’s biodiversity action plan for the shooting community. It is endorsed by all the governments’ statutory nature conservation agencies for its ability to achieve conservation targets for society at large.
An update of the UK wide programme of work was launched in the House of Lords on 12 May where the chief executive of the RSPB spoke in support of the project.