The Wildlife Habitat Trust (WHT) has approved a loan to the Fenland Wildfowlers’ Association for £72,000 so the club can purchase 24 acres of land at Sutton Gault, Cambridgeshire.
The WHT trustees felt that the loan would help secure another piece of the Ouse Washes for the future of wildfowling in the area.
Chairman of Fenland Wildfowlers, Paul Evans, said: “Having explored traditional means of financing to no avail, the club revisited the WHT. It was an efficient and effective process that led to a very positive outcome for the club. The trustees, many being wildfowlers themselves, understood the club’s requirements and there were no complications with the process.”
Tim Russell, WHT secretary, said: “As the WHT nears its 25th Anniversary, its flexibility in lending illustrates that it has not lost its original identity namely that it is a fund set up for wildfowlers to provide an easy means of borrowing money to buy land for shooting and conservation. The Fenland Wildfowlers’ Association was the first club to make buying a WHT Stamp mandatory for everyone shooting on their land so with increased interest amongst clubs to buy land we would like all clubs to follow the Fenland example and buy the stamp to ensure the WHT has sufficient funds to cover future needs.”
The trustees welcome any further applications via www.wht.org.uk or by calling 01244 573024.
ENDS