Game and Gamekeeping
Today, there are some 5,000 full-time gamekeepers employed in the UK. In addition, there are many who spend their leisure time and money, rearing game and maintaining habitats on their own small shoots.
Dorset Green Shoots
When BASC was in discussion with the South West of England Regional Development Agency in 2005 they showed interest in our Green Shoots programme, especially with the success demonstrated by Green Shoots on the Somerset Levels. The result was they provided funds for BASC to run the survey phase for a project in Dorset in 2006. The survey went out to BASC members in the area and asked for details of where they were shooting and what species and habitats of conservation concern occurred there.
The survey generated some amazing results:
- 1,184 sq km of land surveyed
- This is equivalent to 43% of the land area of Dorset
- Over 17,000 new records of species and habitats created by BASC members
- 88% of members gave BASC permission to share the records with our partners
Many of the members who provided information to this survey are engaged BASC’s SITA Trust funded project on water vole conservation.
If you were part of the survey in Dorset, thank you. The data provided is being used to help conservation effort and in so doing promote the role of shooting sports in maintaining a healthy environment.
Related pages
Green Shoots in the South East
Green Shoots in the South East Welcome to the South East region’s Green Shoots webpages. BASC has long standing Green Shoots programmes running throughout its regions and countries involving members and conservation partners. The concept is to collect wildlife information from members and then use this to inform conservation knowledge
Sustainable Ammunition Articles
Publications and video’s on sustainable ammunition.
