Guide to Improving Habitat for Wildfowl

The Countryside Alliance is pleased to announce the publication of “A Guide to Improving Habitat for Wildfowl”. The guide features examples and case studies drawn from the shooting community over the last decade which highlight the vital, but often largely unseen, contribution that shooting plays in maintaining and enhancing wetland habitats.

The guide was commissioned to assist land and shoot managers in enhancing the environment and their shooting.  Created by Thyme Consultants on behalf of the Countryside Alliance, the guide is not intended to be a detailed technical manual but rather a practical look at the options available to shoots with wetland areas. A wide range of wetland habitats are investigated, from saltmarsh to ponds, scrapes and ditches, and case studies are drawn from Devon, Hull and Gloucestershire amongst others.

In addition to acting as inspiration for those who manage land for shooting, the guide also shows the wider public the countless ways in which shooting interests benefit the natural environment for all to enjoy, whether they shoot or not. The free guide is available for all shoot owner and managers, and can be downloaded from the Countryside Alliance website.

David Taylor, Countryside Alliance Shooting Campaign Manager commented: “With the shooting season over, now is the best time to be planning for improvements for next season. This guide shows many ways in which a small amount of effort can reap dividends. Habitat improvement is not just an obligation to provide visitors to the countryside with a nice view; it provides essential habitats for all species of fauna and flora.”

Simon Breasley, Managing Director of Thyme Consultants said:  "I was very pleased to be asked to produce this wildfowl habitat improvement guide for the Countryside Alliance. Virtually all land has the potential for some form of wetland habitat creation, restoration or enhancement and I'm hopeful that this guide will be an inspiration and source of ideas for many more wetland creation and enhancement projects in the future."

Download the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Guide

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