A year of progress
by Alan Jarrett

Recent land acquisition progress for the KWCA has been remorseless as the club seeks to provide an ever-expanding portfolio of shooting for members. Small purchases are now the order of the day, as big blocks of land are now harder to come by.

Until recently the KWCA’s 1991 purchase of £161,500 was the largest single club purchase in cash terms. Since then the KWCA has acquired the freehold of a further 7 areas at a total cost of £198,500.
2002 has been one of steady and determined progress. The freehold of three additional areas of land has been acquired, with a couple of leases thrown in for good measure. Total spend is £80,000.

Of particular importance for a club intent on extending its land holding and influence all these areas have never before been within the control of the club. This then represents real growth for a club already the biggest in the land.

Availability Of Land
But as any club committee know, land acquisition is never easy. In the case of the KWCA two of the areas were acquired after a long and relentless chase.
The tactic used over many years by the KWCA is one of identifying suitable land, tracing the owner – not always as easy as it sounds! – and making an offer. Inevitably most such areas are not ‘For Sale’ per se, but when the rustle of money can be heard it tends to focus the mind of all but the most obdurate of landowners!

The issue of setting the price is not always easy. There is the value of the land on a per acre basis, and then there is the value of the land to the club itself. These two figures may vary considerably, and in the final analysis the club must decide how much they want the land.

Surprise land
Earlier in the year, and at the time when two leads were coming to fruition, a small block of land in the Faversham area of the Swale became available by auction. It was of marginal interest, but of some strategic value.

In the event the KWCA bought the land for £36,000. A small 10-acre site soon grew to 75 acres as the land next door was acquired via a lease. The neighboring nature reserve owners came on with an offer which would give the club a profit, but that may be for another day.
Back to the plan

This was money which the KWCA had not reckoned on spending, so some speedy work with the calculator was called for. All was well and the other leads could go ahead.

The second purchase of the year was also on the Swale to the north of Sittingbourne. This was a classic example of perseverance paying off, as first enquiries had been in 1992! A small area of marsh and seawall was bought for £20,000.

The final part of the plan came good recently, with more land on the Swale – this time on the Isle Of Sheppey near Queenborough. A small finger of land protruding into the channel for some 300 yards came was acquired at a little over £21,000 and represents a valuable extension to club rights.
Of crucial importance as the KWCA once again seeks to rebuild depleted finances two of the areas have an annual income attached. Income from conservation grants and grazing, even on a small scale, ploughs money back into the club, making recovery that much quicker.
Sharing the spoils

Getting best use from a burgeoning land portfolio has tested the club committee, and lead to a recent AGM agreeing to launch a new category of membership. Country membership is available to existing BASC members wishing to gain access to KWCA land.

Country membership is restricted to those living OUTSIDE the counties of Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, Essex and the London boroughs, and details can be obtained by writing to the KWCA Membership Secretary via BASC.

The KWCA search for land goes on, and it may not be too long before another key purchase is made. Thanks to the new membership category such success can now be more widely shared than ever before.