Cinder and ash have replaced greenery and structure in West Cornwall as the Lands End Shooting Club (LESC) was tragically razed in the recent wildfires, rife up and down the nation. This loss will be felt sorely by the local shooting community, be they rifle or clay shooters, which has been served by the LESC since its foundation in 1982.

In a matter of hours, a wildfire destroyed it all: the clubhouse, firing point, backstops, target systems, storage containers and virtually all of the club's equipment were lost. The fire also destroyed junior trees and wildlife habitat around the border of the range that members had helped to establish and maintain over the years. Fortunately, no firearms or ammunition were stored on site and nobody was injured.

Anyone involved in shooting sports knows how difficult it can be to build and maintain a good facility. What took decades of effort, volunteer work and investment to create has been wiped out almost overnight. Down but not out, it is to rebuilding that LESC now turns its focus.

Insurance will pay out but unfortunately will not cover the full cost of rebuilding. LESC are therefore raising money through a Crowdfunder appeal to replace essential equipment and rebuild the club, with an initial fundraising target of £5,000.

Seeking a silver lining, a glint of optimism shines from the ashes, rebuilding afresh will give LESC the opportunity to create a better facility for the future. They hope to combine their clubhouse and firing point into a single building, improve the layout of the range, and introduce more modern and modular target systems that will benefit both existing members and future generations of shooters.