News Archive
Old Wildfowling news (For latest news items please see news releases.)

Public access dissects reserve The Association has lost its battle to prevent the public using a path through the centre of our Halling reserve. Forty years after the path was stopped up, a three day public enquiry concluded that the claimed route has been dedicated as a public footpath. For the Association, Alan Jarrett, David Thorpe, Mark Robinson and Pat Gough gave evidence that when we purchased the land, the path was substantially overgrown and impassable, and had long since been abandoned. However, several members of the public claimed to have regularly walked the route during the twenty year period before we brought the claimed route into question, and the Inspector ruled in their favour. A spokesperson for the reserve managers, Wild Spaces Fund, said: “This is a devastating blow to our conservation effort. The reserve is usually left quiet during the spring and summer months but this path runs right through its heart and will bring massive disturbance to nesting birds. It cuts a 2 metre swathe through the otherwise impenetrable, dense, thorny thickets, so important for nesting sparrows, finches, long-tailed tits and song thrush. We are bitterly disappointed with this decision.” For the full Order Decision click here Wildfowler's dog mauled by a seal. Labrador Fly, had jumped into the North Sea near Newburgh to retrieve a duck shot by owner Matthew Will, but the three-year-old dog was mauled and dragged under the water by a seal over twice his size. There was a sudden and terrific thrashing and howling in the water. This huge seal, more than twice the size of the dog, was flinging Fly around and pulling him under the water. Matthew, 21, of Inverugie, Peterhead, ran into the water at the mouth of the Tarty Burn to save the dog, but by the time he dragged the animal to shore it was too late. New shooting at Cliffe The Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association (KWCA) has increased its land holdings still further by purchasing 30 acres of marshland at Cliffe on the southern side of the River Thames in Kent. KWCA Chairman Alan Jarrett commented, "We have been able to continue our expansion with our third land purchase in 2012. This latest purchase has taken us past £200,000 of spending for the year, and together with new rental agreements adds over 600 acres in Kent and Essex to our land portfolio. With high land prices and relative scarcity of suitable land it is always pleasing to find a piece of marsh that fits well with our strategic aims. The land at Cliffe will offer us an opportunity to restore tile-drained grazing land to the traditional marshland that it once was. It will therefore fit well with our conservation agenda, whilst providing valuable additional shooting opportunity for members. Moreover it further cements our tenure in that part of the North Kent Marshes, and reinforces our position as the largest private landowner in North Kent." Members - See Latest News for details. New shooting rights on the Ouse Washes In partnership with Ely & District Wildfowlers Association we have secured shooting rights on the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire. Full details of the location and availability of the 50 acre wash are now available in our Members' Section. By working together with EDWA, one of the most proactive clubs in that area, the KWCA are now able to offer shooting rights for members for the first time on the Ouse Washes . This complements our other shooting rights being assembled in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, and reinforces our programme of growth across Eastern England. New land at Hawkenbury Full details of the 500 metres of riverbank on the River Beult Hawkenbury, in the Weald of Kent are now available in our Members' Section. Click on Hawkenbury. BASC visit our Cooling Reserve Bob Burgess - Westbere Reserve Manager, Gareth Salvidant, Dan Reynolds - BASC SE Regional Director Today during a visit to the Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association’s Cooling Reserve, Dan Reynolds, the BASC South East Regional Director presented Gareth Salvidant with a special award from the Wild Spaces Fund to recognise his valued contribution to Conservation and Wildlife. Gareth who is a mature student studying Countryside Management at Aberystwyth University has just completed a 14-month volunteer work placement with Wild Spaces Fund the recently registered charity of KWCA. He has worked on many varied projects including erecting fences, scrub clearance, reedbed restoration to name just a few and worked at many of the reserves under the stewardship of the Wild Spaces Fund. His work has made a huge contribution to the capital works program funded by Natural England under the KWCA Higher Level Stewardship agreement. Gareth commented, “that whilst he would not necessarily want to pursue Wildfowling as a past time, he now has an appreciation and respect for the commitment that KWCA has towards its conservation responsibilities and that this partnership demonstrates that Wildfowling and Conservation go hand in hand” Woodland shooting opens at Harris's Copse - Wouldham/Blue Bell Hill Following the KWCA's successful purchase of 27 acres of woodland in the Medway area, the area is now open for shooting and permits are available from 7 August. This area offers rough shooting opportunities for club members. Crucially the land will be available for shooting throughout the year, thereby partly fulfilling the need for close season shooting. Members can see full details by clicking on Harris's Copse. KENT WILDFOWLERS BUY MARSHLAND IN NORTH KENT The Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association (KWCA) has increased its land holdings still further by purchasing 30 acres of marshland at Cliffe on the southern side of the River Thames in Kent. KWCA Chairman Alan Jarrett commented, "We have been able to continue our expansion with our third land purchase in 2012. This latest purchase has taken us past £200,000 of spending for the year, and together with new rental agreements adds over 600 acres in Kent and Essex to our land portfolio. With high land prices and relative scarcity of suitable land it is always pleasing to find a piece of marsh that fits well with our strategic aims. The land at Cliffe will offer us an opportunity to restore tile-drained grazing land to the traditional marshland that it once was. It will therefore fit well with our conservation agenda, whilst providing valuable additional shooting opportunity for members. Moreover it further cements our tenure in that part of the North Kent Marshes, and reinforces our position as the largest private landowner in North Kent." Members - See Latest News for details. NEW SHOOTING ON THE OUSE WASHES In partnership with Ely & District Wildfowlers Association we have secured shooting rights on the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire. Full details of the location and availability of the 50 acre wash are now available in our Members' Section. By working together with EDWA, one of the most proactive clubs in that area, the KWCA are now able to offer shooting rights for members for the first time on the Ouse Washes . This complements our other shooting rights being assembled in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, and reinforces our programme of growth across Eastern England. KENT WILDFOWLERS BUY RIVER LAND IN WEALD OF KENT The KWCA has been successful at auction in buying land adjacent to the River Beult in the Weald of Kent. The land consists of riverbank, pasture and woodland. KWCA Chairman Alan Jarrett said, "This is a valuable addition to our land holding. As well as providing additional year-round rough shooting for members it also allows us to increase the offer we can make to our growing fishing section. Diversity is we believe a key to success for a large wildfowling club in a modern world. Our offer now extends well beyond foreshore wildfowling to encompass a wide variety of sporting offers throughout Kent, and into East Sussex, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. 2012 is becoming another successful year for the KWCA with several land acquisitions under our belt and more to follow." KENT WILDFOWLERS LAUNCH WILD SPACES FUND AS A CONSERVATION CHARITY The Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association (KWCA) has made a major breakthrough for a wildfowling club by setting up its own conservation arm, incorporating it as a limited company and by achieving charitable status. Wild Spaces Fund Ltd is now a registered charity, and will be managing important conservation sites for the KWCA. Wild Spaces Fund was set up in 2010, and already manages six KWCA-owned sites across Kent. Work being carried out includes the delivery of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) targets which have been agreed with Natural England. Chairman Alan Jarrett commented, "This is a really important step for the KWCA. We have an extensive conservation programme, with several active HLS and ELS schemes. Wild Spaces Fund is delivering important work on the ground across a number of sites encompassing reed bed, brackish marshes and saltmarshes. Becoming a registered charity will take us to a new level in terms of our standing in the conservation world. There are huge advantages to be gained, not least through enhanced recognition and credibility. We have already managed to secure additional funding for our work, and begun to tap into conservation volunteers to assist in improving our sites. We believe it to be a bold initiative that is going to yield major dividends over time." To make a donation or sign up as a Friend to the Wild Spaces Fund go to www.wildspacesfund.org.uk. ENDS EDITOR'S NOTE: the KWCA has a land portfolio of over 13,000 acres across Kent, East Sussex, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Conservation work will be carried out over many of these areas by the Wild Spaces Fund. KENT WILDFOWLERS PURCHASE LAND IN ESSEX The KWCA has succeeded in purchasing 20 acres of saltmarshes forming part of Baldwin's Farm, Barling Magna in Essex. Club Chairman Alan Jarrett said "We have managed to purchase these saltmarshes after lengthy negotiations, and this allows us to permanently cement our presence in Essex. The purchase represents another major step forward by the KWCA and demonstrates how seriously we take our recent merger with Leigh-on-Sea Wildfowlers. It brings to a conclusion a successful year for the club in which we have made land purchases in three different counties, investing £250,000 in the process." For further club details and a membership application form contact the KWCA via www.kentwildfowlers.co.uk. Alternatively telephone 07836771715 EDITOR'S NOTE: The KWCA is the largest wildfowling association in Britain. It owns over 2,200 acres of wetlands in Kent, East Sussex and Cambridgeshire and has a total land portfolio of over 12,500 acres across Kent, East Sussex, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. KENT WILDFOWLERS EXTEND LAND HOLDINGS IN KENT The KWCA has succeeded in acquiring 25 acres of marshes at Teynham on the southern side The Swale. The land is a mixture of lake, reedbeds and marsh, and further extends the club's already substantial shooting rights. Club Chairman Alan Jarrett said "We have managed to acquire this new site for wildfowling, and it will no doubt be a useful additional to the KWCA's land portfolio in Kent. Recently acquisitions have been out of county, but we are always on the lookout for suitable land in our own backyard. The Teynham Marshes are traditional wet North Kent grazing marshes, and to obtain a chunk of this is a real achievement for the club. We bought the land at public auction, and at £135,000 represents one of our largest cash purchases. The price of available shooting land continues to escalate - simply because they aren't making any more of it! As regards future growth we are currently working with our colleagues in the Leigh-on-Sea Wildfowlers to take on more land outside of Kent." Members can click here for further details. KENT WILDFOWLERS BUY NEW WILDFOWLING LAND The KWCA has succeeded in the purchase of land on the Cam Washes in Cambridgeshire close to the village of Upware. The successful purchase was made via property auction and represents the club's first land acquisition in Cambridgeshire. It further increases the club's vast land portfolio. Club Chairman Alan Jarrett commented "This is an important purchase for us as we seek to expand our land holdings, and provide more and diverse shooting opportunity for existing and future members. Every piece of land that is taken out of shooting can often be lost forever, and our club is doing all it can to save land for the sport. Although we have a limited budget, we have been able to make a number of key acquisitions over the last few years and it is work with which we shall continue as funds allow. The purchase is especially important in the context of our recent merger with Leigh-On-Sea Wildfowlers, and demonstrates that by working together wildfowlers can achieve so much more than by working alone." For further club details and a membership application form contact the KWCA via www.kentwildfowlers.co.uk. Alternatively telephone 07836771715 WILDFOWLING CLUBS MERGE In a ground-breaking agreement for wildfowling clubs on the East Coast the Leigh-On-Sea Wildfowlers Association (LOSWA) has merged with the Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association (KWCA). The combined membership of the two clubs will exceed 500, which will strengthen the position of both clubs, and in particular help to protect wildfowling in Essex. KWCA Chairman Alan Jarrett said: "This is an exciting development for wildfowling in the south-east. By formally amalgamating the two clubs will both become stronger, which will help us to further expand our land portfolio - particularly in South Essex where the sport in under such tremendous pressure. I would particularly like to pay tribute to the officers, committee and membership of LOSWA for having the foresight and courage to merge with the KWCA, thereby maximising existing and future opportunities for our sport. We will now all work together towards our common goals, and the sport of wildfowling will be the beneficiary." LOSWA Chairman Ian Ross added: "After nearly 60 years as a small independent club in South East Essex, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find and maintain shooting in the area. The merger with the KWCA will provide all of our members with a more secure shooting future and they will be in a better position to take advantage of any new opportunities that arise." For further details and a membership application form contact the KWCA via www.kentwildfowlers.co.uk KWCA continues with land acquisition 2010 was an impressive year for land acquisition by the Kent club. Thornham Marshes, in North Norfolk has been the last of 5 new areas of land for the club in the year. In many ways the 564 acres of Thornham Marshes has been the prize acquisition, allowing the KWCA to secure wildfowling that was under threat of being lost to club shooting. The land will be managed in a sensitive way, under consent from Natural England, and will be available to club members on a permit only basis. Club Chairman Alan Jarrett said, "We have had another highly successful year, with new land in the Medway Estuary, The Swale, East Sussex, Essex and finally in North Norfolk. These purchases have allowed us to substantially increase our land portfolio by adding almost 800 acres of prime shooting land. In particular the out of county land we have acquired will allow us to increase our membership base. We welcome membership applications from those wildfowlers who want to enjoy our new land in Essex and North Norfolk, as well of course those wanting to shoot in Kent and East Sussex. Our strategy of proving more and diverse shooting for the club is helping us to maintain membership at a high level of almost 500, and this in turn will help to finance the purchase of more land in the future." For further details and a membership application form contact the KWCA through www.kentwildfowlers.co.uk New shooting grounds in Norfolk KWCA acquires shooting rights at Thornham The Association is delighted to announce that on 1st October we signed a 10-year lease for the shooting rights over 564 acres of saltmarshes at Thornham Marshes, on the North Norfolk coast. This is a major acquisition for us, giving access to some of the finest pinkfoot goose shooting in the country, and will also allow our membership base to expand in other counties. At the moment we are waiting for consent from Natural England, which has the potential to take some time! However, more news when we have it. Conservation at Cooling Reserve We have recently secured a Section 106 agreement (planning gain) with Medway Council to provide compensatory habitat for the new bridge being built at Stoke. This conservation work was carried out on the seven acre marsh at the southern end of our land at Cooling. Part of the deal was to make this a non-shooting area. This rejuvenation work, involving ditch reprofiling, scrape creation, new gates and fencing has now been completed and will soon provide a rich habitat for numerous wetland species. New shooting grounds in Essex We have acquired our first piece of land in Essex at Barling Magna north of Great Wakering. The area consists of 20 acres of saltmarsh on Barling Creek, which in turn flows into the River Roach. Details of shooting dates and conditions appear in the August Newsletter. This acquisition represents a real breakthrough into a new county and follows on from our successful expansion into East Sussex. It services some of the needs of our growing membership in South Essex. New land purchase The KWCA is delighted to announce the purchase of 140 acres of saltmarsh at Stoke Saltings. The purchase allows us to secure the final part of Stoke Saltings - land that has never been under the control of the club, and increases our freehold land ownership in the Medway Estuary still further to over 1,500 acres. It is our largest purchase in terms of area since 1991. Shooting details will appear in the August Newsletter. HLS work bears fruit at Westbere After years without management, reedbeds naturally dry out as invasive willow and alder slowly suck the lifeblood from a marsh. Dykes become clogged and left to natures own devices, woodland would prevail. Carefully applied actions such as reed cutting, scrub and tree clearance, along with a program of ditch work and water level control will, over time, reverse the damage. As the reserve awakens from its long winter slumber, heavy plant and chainsaws now away, we can begin to see the fruits of the past months' labour. Areas of reedbed, cut during the winter months, have begun to show signs of Spring as new phragmites shoot, providing ideal habitat for our increasing visible bittern population. Restoration of the southern ditch is ongoing and the initial work looks very promising with re-colonisation taking place at a rapid pace. Additional culverts help to maintain good water quality, promoting the fish and amphibian populations. The spoil will take a little longer to settle and dry but when it does, it should provide a raised footpath which, we hope, will one day form part of a circular walk around the reserve. The newly created pool may take longer to colonise but the open water will be immediately attractive to overwintering wildfowl as well as providing a haunt for many of the hundreds of invertebrates, fish and amphibians known to inhabit the reserve. New Shooting grounds We have just acquired the shooting rights over Fern Wood in Vinehall Forest at John's Cross. Fern Wood is fairly small at 36 acres, but will provide valuable shooting opportunity in a new area for us. Additionally we have renewed the shooting rights at Beckley Wood. Permits are available for both of these areas throughout the year. More land at Motney Hill The KWCA has purchased more land at Motney Hill. It takes our land-holding there to 75 acres and means that we will be in a position to further develop the conservation potential of the site. KWCA's latest Sporting Auction Loads of wildfowling related items were up for grabs. Want us to send you an email when it starts? More Shooting Rights On The Pevensey Levels The club is pleased to comfirm the acquisiton of an additional 110 acres of shooting rights on the Pevensey Levels. The land is in three blocks near Newbridge, which lies to the west of our existing land at Bowley's Marsh. All three blocks have been acquired on a long-term lease, and will be shot on a rotational basis with Bowley's marsh making up a fourth area. This means that we will now have shooting available on the Pevensey Levels every weekend throughout the shooting season. Full details will be available to club members in the August newsletter. Westbere Higher Level Stewardship Work is well underway.   See the Wild Spaces Fund website for details Members - Fishing Section The fishing section's lake on our Westbere Reserve is open for use. Open to all Full and Associate Members for an extra fee of £25.00 per year. Applications can be made to the Membership Secretary, Bob Stead. Why not get this section added to your membership when renewing your subs. The 4-acre lake holds good bream and other coarse fish; whilst the edges are somewhat overgrown, there are several accessible swims. Restoration of the lake and clearance of swims is part of the Higher Level Stewardship scheme entered into between the KWCA and Nature England. Not a Member? You will need to join before you can fish this lake. PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL LAND We have managed to secure the purchase of an additional 21.5 acres of land at Motney Hill, Lower Rainham. The land is upland to the west of the peninsula, and will provide very limited shooting. It is seen as an investment opportunity, mainly due to the lack of land availability in the Medway Estuary. New Shooting Grounds The KWCA has acquired a long-term lease over The Blackwall Land in East Sussex. The land consists of 38 acres of prime marshland alongside Oxenbridge Marshes, and will give us the opportunity to add considerably to the size of the Oxenbridge permit area. This will mean more permits at Oxenbridge, and therefore more shooting opportunity in that area for members. Once again the KWCA has worked in partnership with Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers, who contributed 50% of the purchase of this new area Lucky Escape The Medway Estuary escaped extensive flooding when a low-pressure system in the North Sea caused a massive tidal surge to pour into the river. Fortunately, the 2,5 metre surge peaked about 4 hours before high tide and rapidly ebbed before it became a threat. High tide saw the surge only add an extra 0,9m to the spring tide. Members, see - tides - flood warnings to check for current flood warning and see the real time state of the tide. KWCA makes another important Land Purchase The Association has just acquired 48 acres of marshland on the Motney Hill peninsula. Back in the 1970s, this area of reedbed, favourite of bearded tits, buntings and warblers, was one of the Kent Wildfowlers' first wildfowl reserves and we are delighted to once again be in a position to manage the land. Marshland shooting available in Kent Unique opportunity to shoot some of North Kent's prime marshes with the Kent Wildfowlers. Days available on Thames and Swale freshmarshes, guided by experienced members of the Kent Wildfowlers. £40.00 evening flight (all day shooting for that same price may be available dependant on conditions and time of year). Apply in the first instance to the Club Secretary New Sporting Shooter website launch. The site launched on Monday. Take a look, register, browse around, perhaps add something to the forums and galleries. You can also listen (or even subscribe) to the podcast! CRoW invades the coast. In February the NATURAL ENGLAND BOARD issued their advice to Government on improving coastal access in England. Their proposals include legislation to create statutory powers to align a coastal access corridor around the whole of the undeveloped English coast, concentrating on filling existing gaps in access. The access corridor would include new areas of spreading room along the coast and could formalise existing beach access, complementary work to enhance coastal landscapes and the erection of gates and bridges. Natural England would undertake much of the planning and implementation through access authorities and occupiers would enjoy the reduced level of liability introduced for CRoW. How does this affect us in Kent? Well, as far as our land goes, improving access on salt marshes and mudflats raises health and safety issues and would therefore be complicated, and the practical public benefits limited, so this will not be seen as a priority. It is likely that any new access in our area will be limited to seawalls and as there are very few gaps in the existing access, we will see little change. Generally there are mixed feelings from Wildfowlers; on the one hand, any increase in public disturbance to our foreshore is unwelcome but on the other, improved access for Wildfowlers could be of great benefit to some Clubs. Click here to read the full Paper. "WILDFOWLING TALES" brand new wildfowling book for 2007 Another spellbinding book by Alan Jarrett with 50 brilliant wildfowling tales from the '70s and '80s. Why wait until next season before the excitement returns? Read this book and you will think that you are back on the Marsh. Purchase direct from the author at £18.00 + £2.00 postage and packing. Order by email now. Alan Jarrett is elected onto the BASC Council Results of the 2012 Council election There were five candidates standing for three seats on BASC Council. The results of the Council election are as follows, candidates are in the order in which they appeared on the voting paper: Candidate Votes Michael Hardy 1382 John Graham 1100 Martyn Parfitt 1084 John Thornley 1600 Alan Jarrett 1377 John Thornley was elected to Council for a second term. Michael Hardy and Alan Jarrett were elected to Council. Alan wishes to thank all who supported him. KENT WILDFOWLERS LAUNCH WILD SPACES FUND AS A CONSERVATION CHARITY The Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association (KWCA) has made a major breakthrough for a wildfowling club by setting up its own conservation arm, incorporating it as a limited company and by achieving charitable status. Wild Spaces Fund Ltd is now a registered charity, and will be managing important conservation sites for the KWCA. Wild Spaces Fund was set up in 2010, and already manages six KWCA-owned sites across Kent. Work being carried out includes the delivery of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) targets which have been agreed with Natural England. Chairman Alan Jarrett commented, "This is a really important step for the KWCA. We have an extensive conservation programme, with several active HLS and ELS schemes. Wild Spaces Fund is delivering important work on the ground across a number of sites encompassing reed bed, brackish marshes and saltmarshes. Becoming a registered charity will take us to a new level in terms of our standing in the conservation world. There are huge advantages to be gained, not least through enhanced recognition and credibility. We have already managed to secure additional funding for our work, and begun to tap into conservation volunteers to assist in improving our sites. We believe it to be a bold initiative that is going to yield major dividends over time." To make a donation or sign up as a Friend to the Wild Spaces Fund go to www.wildspacesfund.org.uk. EDITOR'S NOTE: the KWCA has a land portfolio of over 13,000 acres across Kent, East Sussex, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Conservation work will be carried out over many of these areas by the Wild Spaces Fund. LOSWA secures 600 acres at Chelmsford. Thanks to excellent work by our new friends at Leigh-on-Sea, shooting rights are secured over 600 areas of farmland in Essex. Members can find details in their latest newsletter or online in the Members' Section. John Hoad It is with a great sadness that, after a long battle against cancer, we have to announce the passing away of John Hoad. John was a long standing member joining the Kent Wildfowlers in the 50's and serving on the Association's committee throughout the 60's and 70's. He was a particularly active member always willing to help out with the clay shoots, duck and gosling rearing schemes and the early dog trials. John and his terriers were in great demand on everyone's fox shoot; most shoots organising their entire calendar around him. Many will remember his wildfowling punts; seeing most of us floating around in makeshift plywood 'coffins' prompted John to design and manufacture a very sound fibreglass version. We believe they were the only duck punt to be mass produced; many are still serviceable and in use to this day. He eventually stopped wildfowling due to old age but continued to work his beloved spaniels on various shoots, and even after his cancer treatment, continued to shoot clays, still hitting more than most of us. Laidback and never harried, he introduced many a youngster to wildfowling, full of encouragement and willing to pass on his vast experience. He will be sadly missed. Stoke Seawall Litter Clean Up A big thank you to all who attended Saturday's clean up. Attended by new and old members alike; Saturday's seawall clean up proved to be a great success. In all, we picked up 37 sacks of litter ranging from lifebuoys to old boots. Some who could not attend on the day had already made an effort during the week, making our task that much easier. An abundance of Canada Geese, Greylag, Mallard and Tufted ducks, somehow knowing that we were no longer a threat, performed several low level passes making the morning even more enjoyable. One real treat was finding fresh evidence of water voles along what is probably the most brackish section of the delph ditch. Well done everyone! New Shooting Grounds The KWCA has acquired a long-term lease over The Blackwall Land in East Sussex. The land consists of 38 acres of prime marshland alongside Oxenbridge Marshes, and will give us the opportunity to add considerably to the size of the Oxenbridge permit area. This will mean more permits at Oxenbridge, and therefore more shooting opportunity in that area for members. Once again the KWCA has worked in partnership with Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers, who contributed 50% of the purchase of this new area. Wildfowlers branch out! We are delighted to announce that two new areas of land, consisting of extensive blocks of woodland totalling almost 600 acres, will be available for shooting by day permit from 2nd February 2008. Members - see latest news for details. Do you want to shoot in these woods? Join up now for the 2008 - 2009 season; shoot these woods, miles of foreshore and thousands of acres of marshes. Don't miss out on some of the best wildfowing in England! Send off for your application form now!   KWCA cancels Gundog Working Tests As a precautionary measure, after tests confirmed a second outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Surrey, the KWCA has postponed its 2007 gundog working tests until further notice. BASC statement on H5N1 outbreak in Suffolk The first case of H5N1 bird flu in British poultry for 15 years has been discovered on a turkey farm in Suffolk. Nearly 160,000 turkeys are being gassed to contain the outbreak at the Bernard Matthews site near Lowestoft. Restriction zones have been set up around the farm and poultry owners in the restricted area have been told to keep their flocks isolated from wild birds. A three-kilometre Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone also remain in place around the farm site. A much wider Restricted Zone covering 2,090 sq km is bordered by the A140 to the west and the A47 to the north and almost to Felixstowe in the south. All bird gatherings - including shows, markets and fairs, and pigeon races - have been banned nationwide until further notice. If you need advice on Avian flu please call the Defra Helpline - 08459 33 55 77 (8.30am - 8.00pm 7 days a week) - and choose the Avian Influenza option. If you find dead gulls, waders, ducks, geese or swans and you are within a surveillance area or are unsure whether you are in a surveillance area (targeted surveillance for avian influenza viruses in wild birds is ongoing) you may wish to contact the Defra Helpline (as above) and choose the Avian Influenza option. How will this outbreak affect people who shoot within the restricted zones? As the outbreak is in a commercial flock, there are currently no legal requirements to stop shooting activities in any of the restricted zones. This situation is currently under review and may change over the next few days. BASC is in constant contact with Defra and will continue to monitor this situation. Is it still safe to eat poultry? The advice from the Food Standards Agency remains that properly cooked poultry products including eggs are safe to eat. What about wildfowlers? Wildfowlers and those in contact with wild birds should take appropriate hygiene precautions when handling wild birds. Vigorous hand washing should take place after each activity. What are the key biosecurity measures people should be putting in place? Don’t bring infection onto your farm or shoot, or spread it around on your clothes, footwear or hands. Clean overalls and footwear should be worn when entering shedding or pens where birds are kept. Protective clothing and footwear should be removed and either cleansed and disinfected, laundered or disposed of after use. Strictly limit and control access to places where birds are kept. If possible the site should be fenced with a controlled entry point. Visitors and their vehicles should be limited and as far as possible kept away from the buildings and area used by your birds. Have pressure washers, brushes, hoses, water and an approved disinfectant such as Virkon available. Make sure they are used by visitors to clean vehicles, equipment and boots both before entry and on leaving. Clean and disinfect all vehicles after each journey. If possible, do not use the same vehicles for transporting birds, feed, manure or other wastes. Look out for signs of disease in your flock. Increased mortality, falling egg production and respiratory distress may be early signs of a disease problem. Damaged eggs, dead birds, litter and manure may carry disease. Dispose of them promptly and properly. All the latest information about avian flu can be found on the BASC website but for further advice and information members can call the BASC avian flu hotline on 01244 573056. Bar-headed Goose at Oare Marshes The Bar-head Goose (Anser indicus) that has spent the summer at the Kent Trust’s nature reserve at Oare, photographed amongst Greylags by a KWCA Marsh Warden early this month. An increasing common site in the British Isles (mainly due to escapees), this pale grey Asian goose with a wing span of approximately 150cm hatches its young on Lake Tsomoriri, high in the Rupshu plains of the Tibetan plateau and on west China's Qinghai lake. At the end of autumn they migrate to the plains of northwest India by flying over the Himalayan Mountains at altitudes of 30,000 feet. One outbreak of avian influenza at Qinghai Lake last year may have killed 10% of the world's Bar-headed Goose population! Oxenbridge Marshes Joint Venture Over the last Bank Holiday volunteers from the Kent Wildfowling & Conservation Association and the Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers Association worked together on their jointly owned conservation site at Oxenbridge. This important wetland site on the East Sussex border between Wittersham and Peasmarsh in the Rother Levels flood plain has enormous potential and is home to many wildfowl species. For three days, the volunteers, with the aid of a digger, cleared two of the main drainage ditches which, over the years, had become choked with weed. They built a number of raised blinds and dug out no less than eight wildfowl and wader scrapes. Despite the current 'drought', water levels on the marsh remain high and prospects for the coming season are looking very good. A brand new book by ALAN JARRETT out now. Buy "Wildfowling - North and South" direct from the author. Including Alan's 'South African adventure' - Purchase direct from the author at £18.00 + £2.00 postage and packing. Order by email now. This wonderful 176 page bargain contains beautifully descriptive tales of Alan's wildfowling and shooting exploits in the UK, Canada, Iceland and South Africa as well as excellent chapters on fishing and conservation. Read 'A Hole in the Ground' an extract from Wildfowling - North and South in Wildfowling>>in Kent>>adventures>>Wildfowling - North and South - A Hole in the Ground 'Wildfowling - North and South' is beautifully illustrated by Ian Phipps and the author. Avian flu virus H5N1 The first case of H5N1 bird flu in the UK was confirmed on April 6th 2006. Tests revealed that a mute swan found dead in Cellardyke in Fife was carrying the H5N1 strain of the virus. If you find a dead swan, goose or duck or three or more dead wild, or garden birds together in the same place, call the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77. Bird Flu in the UK Wildlife experts have begun to test wild birds in Britain to determine whether they are carrying the avian flu virus H5N1. Traps are being set to attract various species at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) headquarters at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire; along the Ribble Estuary, Lancashire; at Solway Firth, Cumbria; and at Strangford Loch, Northern Ireland. Wildfowlers in the rest of the country are being asked to look out for unusual bird deaths. The main species at risk being teal, pochard, mallard, Eurasian wigeon, ruff, northern pintail, tufted duck, shoveler, gadwall, possibly lapwing, as well as avrious species of migratory gulls and geese. Dr Ruth Cromie, the waterbird biology research manager at the WWT, said: “I don’t believe this virus is being spread by wild birds. I am convinced that the wild birds found infected with the virus in Romania have caught it from chickens or turkeys. Dr Cromie believes that the chances of finding the virus in migratory birds in Britain are slim. However as a responsible wildfowling & conservation club, we have a part to play in helping with the research. WINDFARM POSES NEW THREAT TO STOKE SALTINGS The development of new wind turbines on BP land at the Isle of Grain threatens to overshadow our nature conservation area at Colemouth Creek. The site lies directly on the main wildfowl flight lines from fresh marshes at Yantlet Creek and could have a detrimental affect on wildfowling activities. Ground breaking joint venture Our new purchase in East Sussex at Oxenbridge Marshes is now to be a joint purchase between the KWCA and the Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers Association. The purchase is a 50:50 venture, with the two clubs sharing permits, income and expenditure on an equal basis. This is a ground breaking venture for clubs in Southern England, and bodes well for the future, as the combined buying power of these two clubs will mean more secure wildfowling for the future. P&O gets go-ahead for £1.5bn port P&O will embark on building the UK's biggest container port in the next four months after the Government gave the project a tentative green light yesterday. Before work can start, P&O must strike an agreement with the Highways Agency over how it plans to improve road links from the site at London Gateway in Thurrock, Essex. The scheme will take up to 15 years to complete. Environmental campaigners hope that in giving the go-ahead for London Gateway, the Government will block a separate proposal - by Hutchison Ports - to expand the port at Harwich. Andrew Dodd, of the RSPB, said the new port would do "least harm to internationally important wildlife sites" given the promise to create new mudflats, salt marshes and grazing marshes in south Essex and North Kent to offset the disruption caused to birds' feeding habitats. Another Land Purchase boosts our holding in East Sussex The KWCA has purchased 49 acres of land on the Kent / East Sussex border at Oxenbridge Marshes. It is situated close to the River Rother, between Wittersham and Peasmarsh. Further details to follow - with shooting details in the pre-season Newsletter. KWCA Chairman & former BASC Chairman Alan Jarrett has been elected as an honorary BASC Vice President. RIVER BEULT - Another near miss! The KWCA was unsuccessful in a recent attempt to acquire the freehold of some 400 yards of river frontage - including full fishing rights - on the the River Beult, near Staplehurst. HALLING Following our purchase of land at Halling in 2004 the KWCA has sold 5 acres of surplus land on this site. This has released capital for investment elsewhere. Wildfowling ways Alan Jarrett's new book 'Wildfowling ways' launched at the BASC Wildfowling Conference isvailable for sale from KWCA Beautifully illustrated by wildfowler Ian Phipps, and written by Alan Jarrett chairman of KWCA and BASC, 'Wildfowling Ways' is available from Kent Wildfowlers at £17 + P&P. E-mail wildfowling ways to reserve your copy. New land purchased at Oare. The KWCA has just completed the purchase of seawall and saltings within Oare Creek extending for 1.4 miles. The land previously formed part of Pheasant Farm. The purchase will provide some additional shooting for members, but crucially it will ensure secure access to adjacent areas under the Association's control. New land purchased at Halling. On 1st October we completed our latest land purchase; 45 acres at Halling Marshes. Halling lies on the north bank of the River Medway and consists of freshmarsh, reclaimed saltmarsh, seawall and saltings. It has the potential to be an important conservation site for the club, and will provide additional shooting for our members. KWCA at Erridge Park Fair. KWCA representatives were kept busy with enquiries on the BASC stand at the recent Erridge Park country fair. Chairman Alan Jarrett said this was our first fair using our new display set up and the response was very good indeed. We will be attending more fairs in the South East this summer. Please come and say hello. The Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association turn to Sussex for new land purchase. In a daring departure from its normal land acquisition programme in Kent the KWCA has purchased land in East Sussex, and in so doing has reinforced its position as the premier land-buying club in the country. The recent purchase is of Bowley’s Marsh, a 35-acre site on the Pevensey Levels near Herstmonceux, East Sussex. The Pevensey Levels extend to some 4,300 hectares. Bowley’s Marsh is within the Pevensey Levels SSSI, and is wet grassland managed in the traditional way. KWCA Chairman Alan Jarrett said, “We are delighted to be able to make our first purchase outside of Kent. We have been looking to expand our horizons for some while and this site seems an ideal place for us to start. We have members from all over the country, with a good number in Sussex and West Kent, so it important for us to provide facilities closer to where our members are. This will also hopefully give us an opportunity to grow our membership in that part of the country, and this in turn will allow us to acquire more land in that area. Bowley’s Marsh is an exciting project for us, and the Pevensey Levels present us with an opportunity to take our particularly innovative brand of shooting and conservation to sites away from our North Kent heartland. I expect this to be merely the first out-of-county purchase by the KWCA. Wildfowling in the 21st century The BASC Wildfowling Conference on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 October brings together a formidable pool of expertise. Key speeches by Russell Bate chairman of Field & Game in Australia, consultant Alan Bird and BASC chairman Alan Jarrett. On Friday there is an evening reception and buffet hosted by Kent wildfowlers, ticket price £7.50. The conference fee is £38.00 including lunch and refreshments. For further information contact Diane McKenzie on 01244 573014. New land purchase confirmed The first of two new land purchases has been confirmed by KWCA. The Kent wildfowlers have completed the purchase of the saltmarshes in The Swale known as The Lillies. The Lillies are situated in the western end of The Swale to the north-east of the mouth of Milton Creek, and are enclosed within our non-shooting Crown area of Elmley Reach. The area is about 400 yards north west of the land we bought last year at Little Murston farm. Whilst it is a farily small area it is a piece of land we have never had the shooting rights over before and as such represents more real growth. Watch this space for details of the other land purchase KWCA are undertaking. Greylag Geese in 800-mile round trip to Glasgow loch Once a year, when greylag geese need to replace their feathers, they fly off on a short migration to find a watery sanctuary to moult in safety. Scientists in Gloucestershire were surprised to discover a population of greylag geese that abandoned their haven in the Forest of Dean to fly 400 miles north to Glasgow. After gaining a fresh set of feathers, the geese then flew back home. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trusts (WWT) revealed the results of their latest ringing survey, which showed the geese making an 800-mile round trip from their reserve in Slimbridge to Hogganfield Loch in Glasgow. The WWT's waterbird monitoring officer, Richard Hearn, said that the migration was unprecedented. "We have been monitoring greylag populations for over 50 years and until now had never noted the British geese travelling large distances to moult," he said. "So I was astounded when colleagues in Glasgow told me they had spotted Gloucestershire birds on Hogganfield Loch. "These birds, ringed on Speech House ponds in the Forest of Dean last summer, were seen at Slimbridge during the winter, then in Glasgow in June and July and are now back at Slimbridge again. He added: "We have no idea why these birds choose Glasgow for their moult when there are plenty of safe locations for them far closer to home." Although Hogganfield is known as Glasgow's most important site for migrating waterbirds, its location, at little more than three miles from the city centre, also makes it a favourite spot for dogwalkers and picnickers. A spokeswoman for the WWT explained the reasons behind the greylags' annual migration. "During the moult to replace worn-out feathers geese are extremely vulnerable as they are unable to fly and consequently choose locations where they are relatively safe from disturbance," she said. "However, their chosen moult site, Hogganfield Loch, in the Glasgow suburbs, is heavily used by people, implying that the birds must benefit in other ways – perhaps by access to additional food sources and protection from predators." The greylag is the largest of the wild goose species native to Europe, and is the ancestor of most domestic geese. Most families of birds undergo a gradual moulting process, replacing old flight feathers over a long period. However, wildfowl, such as the greylag, lose all their wing feathers simultaneously – leaving them flightless and vulnerable for several weeks. Mark O'Brien, research biologist with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: "We know that moulting grounds are separate from breeding grounds but this is really quite bizarre that they go so far and ignore other sites on the ground. The Controls on Firearms consultation Firearms Controls - The Government has published a Consultation Paper on Firearms Legislation. Download a PDF of the Consultation document here - 1.16Mb download. If you shoot, you could well find that yet again the Government is affecting your freedoms by introducing harsh controls on legitimately held Shotguns and Firearms. Read the Government's Consultation paper and Write to your MP or write to your local papers to make the case for legitimate shooting. Publication date: 12 May 2004 Closing date: 31 August 2004 (but you can still write after that date) Responses can be emailed to: firearmscontrolsconsultation@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Or addressed in writing to: Firearms Controls Consultation Home Office 5th Floor 50 Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT Wildfowlers warned - hide your guns Suffolk wildfowlers have been warned to carry their guns in weapon cases on public paths alongside the River Orwell – or face prosecution. The warning comes after a man walking near Levington Creek at dusk was frightened when three men in camouflage gear walked towards him on the footpath carrying 12-bore shotguns. The hunters were carrying guns openly and startled the walker, who has asked not to be identified. Police have warned wildfowlers could be arrested for carrying unconcealed guns – even when there is no danger to passing pedestrians. Even though it was quickly apparent the wildfowlers were heading for a bird shoot, the rambler has demanded hunters conceal their guns to prevent others being frightened. He said: "It gave me quite a fright when I suddenly looked up and there in the middle of nowhere were three men carrying guns heading towards me." "How can it be right that people are allowed to carry weapons like that on a public footpath where families could be walking?" Two clubs have leases for shooting ducks and geese on the banks of the Orwell during winter with dusk or dawn the most popular times. Sgt Mick Richardson, of Felixstowe police, said there had been no reports of incidents but promised complaints would be investigated. He said: "People should not be walking around in a public place with any form of firearm because they run the risk of possibly being arrested." "You can buy gun cases and I would strongly suggest that it is advisable these days that if you have to move a gun in a public area to somewhere, even if it is a short walk to take part in a shoot, to use one." It is an offence under the Firearms Act to have a loaded air weapon or any other firearm, whether loaded or not, in a public place. The act applies to public rights of way and to permissive paths. Kevin Butters, chairman of the North Orwell Shooting and Conservation Club, said wildfowlers were responsible people who had licences for their guns and had to belong to the club to shoot on the banks of the river. He said: "It is getting pretty ridiculous the way people go on about guns – we have even had the police called when we have been carrying a gun across a farm field on a legitimate shoot." "Wildfowling is a country pursuit. I think people read too much into these things – they think everyone with camouflage on is a villain. They see things like Hungerford on the TV and get the wrong idea." Background to story: stamina and patience are hallmarks of a wildfowler, who may sit camouflaged, dog at his side, on a wet, muddy marsh for hours – and never fire a shot. Shooting ducks and geese is a sport which goes back centuries with its roots in the rural traditions of killing game for food, living off the land to survive. Those hunting in our estuaries today are after wild geese and ducks, mostly migrants, travelling from the Arctic circle and Scandinavia in autumn and returning to their breeding grounds in the spring. Wildfowlers – who have an intimate knowledge of the wild and dangerous coasts and estuaries – have never attracted the furore of other country sports, such as hunting with hounds. Trimley Marshes nature reserve warden Mick Wright declined to discuss the rights and wrongs of shooting birds – but said management of the sport in the area is first class. The Suffolk Wildlife Trust has excellent relationships with wildfowlers using the rivers Orwell, Alde and Ore. Mr Wright said his main concern was to limit the shooting to avoid disturbance to the birds – either displacing them away from the rivers, or sending too many into the air at one time, causing panic and damage among flying birds. He said: "It is a legitimate sport and my aim is to work closely with the people involved to make sure that conservation work is protected." "There is good liaison with the wildfowl clubs and I just wish that all groups were as well organised as they are. "The clubs are the best policeman on the river because if there are cowboy shooters out there they find them and then they can be dealt with and stopped. We don't want cowboy shooters any more than they do. "They eat the duck they kill and they don't overshoot because that's not in their interests. In fact, I wouldn't say that they kill that many birds at all." Two clubs have leases from Ipswich Borough Council to shoot on the banks of the Orwell – the River Orwell South Shore Club and the North Orwell Shooting and Conservation Club. Kevin Butters, chairman of the North Orwell club, said the group had about 15 members who did not exploit the birds on the river and followed all the national association rules and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Although the season starts in September, members did not shoot until October until the nights start to draw in and most members of the public are no longer walking the shores and footpaths. Most shooting took place a little after dusk or just before dawn. "Wildfowling is a country pursuit and our members are interested in conservation. We don't kill large numbers of birds, it's not detrimental to the bird life or wildlife of these rivers at all," said Mr Butters. "The reason the club was formed in the first place was to stop illegal shooting on land adjacent to the river and ensure it can be effectively controlled. People were coming from all over the country to shoot before you had to be a club member." Dates for 2003 season Common Snipe Aug 12 - Jan 31 Coot/Moorhen Sept 1 - Jan 31 Duck & Goose - below HWM of ordinary spring tides Sept 1 - Feb 20 Duck & Goose - inland Sept 1 - Jan 31 Golden Plover Sept 1 - Jan 31 Woodcock Oct 1- Jan 31 BASC reveal new WHT stamp design The 2003 UK Habitat Conservation Stamp will feature a painting depictingÊ Barnacle Geese on the Solway Firth by famous wildlife artist, John Cox.Ê Every year the stamp design alternates between a game and wildfowling design. The WHT is largely supported by sales of its £5 stamp, which features the work of a different wildlife artist each year. FundedÊ by Britain's shooting community, since 1987 the WHT has offered loans of almost half a million pounds and made further grants ofÊ more than £76 000. New gas plant to be built at Grain Swedish construction company, Skanska has received two contracts worth £80 million from National Grid Transco to convert a liquid natural gas (LNG) storage terminal on the Isle of Grain, in the Thames Estuary, into an importation facility. The largest contract is for the design, construction and installation of turnkey facilities to import LNG from specially adapted ships. This includes the construction of a new jetty on the River Medway to allow ships to dock and unload their LNG cargo. In addition, Skanska will construct a 3.5-kilometer pipeline from the jetty to four large storage tanks, including the foundations and land corridor for the pipeline. The smaller contract is for modifying the four existing tanks, each with a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters, for the storage of the LNG. The projects will start immediately and are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2004. The existing gas facilities will continue to operate at full capacity during the construction period. Skanska's British business unit Skanska UK was awarded these two contracts after first completing a concept study on the project last year. A Skanska UK unit originally built parts of the Isle of Grain facility in the 1970s. Scheme enhances habitat for wintering waders and wildfowl at Ellesmere Port A £1M scheme to reduce flooding and improve wildlife habitats in Ellesmere Port has been unveiled. The project, officially opened by Environment Minister Elliot Morley, will enhance the River Gowy and Thornton Brook in Stanlow. The Environment Agency has been working with Shell, which owns the land, on the project and has contributed £100,000 towards the cost of a flood-defence scheme. The agency is also working with Cheshire Wildlife Trust, which will manage a new wetland nature reserve at nearby Gowy Meadows, featuring rare insects, birds and plants. Carefully positioned sluices will allow the trust to manage water levels over an area equivalent to more than 270 football pitches. In the past both the River Gowy and Thornton Brook have flooded, the flood-defence work involved changing the course of Thornton Brook through Gowy Meadows. The design provided an opportunity to develop the new nature reserve. As well as diverting the brook, flood defences have been improved by raising existing flood banks and repairing tidal gates. During heavy storms, floodwater from the rivers will continue to be held back in Gowy Meadows. The aim is to create large areas of seasonally wet grassland to attract breeding and wintering waders and wildfowl, and water voles. Poor man's asparagus Picking samphire is hard work, but Norfolk wildfowler Mick Castleton makes his living through daily visits to the marshy margins of the Wash to pick the popular delicacy samphire. It's a 30-minute walk on and a 30-minute walk back. As the grass gets out into the Wash, so the samphire moves out with it. The grass is moving out very fast, and that's why we have the walk. Between June and the end of August, the edges of the giant estuary are fringed in a brilliant green, as the succulent stems push their way up through the mud. Samphire (salicornia) has a high salt content and is also known as glasswort, a name derived from its ancient use in the glass industry. Also valued in the past as a preventive against scurvy, it has traditionally been either pickled or eaten fresh, simmered for about 10 minutes and served with a simple sprinkling of black pepper and vinegar. Since being elevated to culinary star status by the likes of chefs Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver, however, it has been given more exotic treatment. Serverd with Olive oil, cooked in the oven is the new trend Ð or with butter. A lot of local people eat it raw in a salad and don't even bother to cook it." He has been enjoying samphire since he was a boy, when he accompanied his father on trips to the marshes. Born into the old King's Lynn fishing community of North End, Mick and his wife Tina also run a shellfish business and have been picking samphire commercially for nearly 20 years. Their customers have included the Prince of Wales, who ordered 40lb for a party and had it collected from the couple's North Lynn home by a driver in a Daimler. And while you'll pay around £1.50-£2 a pound for samphire at local markets, prices can rocket as high as £7 in London. Back in the real world at Wootton Marshes, it is Ð quite literally Ð a case of getting stuck in, as Mick, Tina and their helpers gather 600-700lb of the stuff a week. Mick is one of only two locals officially allowed to harvest it. "Because you lived in North End and you're a fisherman, you're allowed legally to make a living off the Wash," he says. "That's an ancient right for the fishermen of King's Lynn and around. They're allowed to pick samphire for their livelihood. It's one of those charter things. "It's one of the best years we've ever known for samphire. We had all that rain when the tides weren't on the marsh and we had some nice warm days afterwards. "It depends on the weather conditions completely and this year's been perfect. If you get a lot of dry summers you can't pull it out of the ground. Photography competition - freshwater sites The Environment Agency is urging people to photograph local freshwater sites inj Anglia, to support a United Nations-backed initiative. The images, which will be collected nationally, will form part of an online archive that will be available from September. "This national collection will demonstrate the importance of these sites to people and wildlife Ð and the need to protect them Ð so we want to make sure our region is well represented," said Joanne Hayward, the agency's corporate affairs manager. It is being organised as part of H2O03, the UK initiative to celebrate the UN International Year of Freshwater. Prizes are on offer for the best photographs, including holidays at Center Parcs, trips to Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centres and hundreds of pounds worth of photographic equipment. There will also be a national writing competition on the theme Water for all Ð who cares? People can also take part in an art competition on the theme of freshwater. Details of how to get involved can be found on the H2O03 website: www.H2O03.org.uk   KWCA join 4 Million people in opposing Airport Plans KWCA have joined forces with other groups totalling 4 million members, including the RSPB, to oppose the airport expansion plans at Cliffe marshes which threaten our wildfowling interests throughout the area. The groups have united to fight airport expansion and believe that there is no case for an airport at Cliffe and that potential demand for air travel is grossly overestimated. Read more. Calls for cull of duck population causes Ruddy Row! A leading naturalist has accused some conservationists of "ecological fascism" for trying to eradicate foreign plants and animals. Richard Mabey, who lives at Roydon, near Diss, claims attempts to kill off a range of species, including the ruddy duck which comes from North America, are akin to attempts by the Nazis to "purify" Germany. His views, in his regular column for BBC Wildlife Magazine, have upset naturalists, who say they are simply trying to help a variety of species, often small and weak, to survive. Bitter rows have broken out in recent years over plans to eradicate or "control" species seen as a threat to native plants or animals. The controversial suggestion, backed by the RSPB, is to cull the entire UK ruddy duck population in order to help protect the rare Spanish white-headed duck. Another is a campaign to eradicate hedgehogs from a Hebridean island Ð to which they had been introduced Ð after the creatures were blamed for eating the eggs of rare breeding birds. Mr Mabey said he was appalled by national eradication programmes because they conflicted with the evolution of change in nature. "Nature hasn't the slightest respect for species and racial barriers," he said. "I am totally against the principle that if something has been introduced into this country from abroad it is dangerous and not in keeping." Julian Roughton, director of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, said the majority of species introduced to the UK were welcome additions, but some had caused problems and had to be controlled to prevent them driving native species to extinction. Chris Durdin, RSPB spokesman in East Anglia, said: "After habitat destruction, the introduction of non-native species is the main reason for the extinction of native species." Membership renewals Renewal notices have now been sent out. If you have not yet renewed your membership and wish to do so - please contact Bob Stead Tel. 01322 554518 or e-mail membership straight away. If you have any friends who wish to join KWCA, you can take advantage of the membership recruitment scheme whereby existing members who introduce a FULL (NEW) member will be eligible for a rebate on their next year’s subscription. KWCA Social evening 17th July 2003 Alan Jarrett chairman of BASC and KWCA will give a talk about wildfowling throughout the UK. All welcome. Buffet will be served. 8.00pm start. Members and non members are ALL welcome. Non members call 07836 771715 (voicemail) for details. 'DEMOCRACY GOING TO THE DOGS' PROTEST PARLIAMENT SQUARE Wednesday, 9th July To mark the Third Reading of the 'hunting with dogs' Bill - this is a call to arms for all who support fairness, freedom and tolerance in this country. Everyone within 150 miles of London is urged to make the greatest effort to come - those further away please save your fire power for another time, especially if you have local events to attend. TIMING * 5.00 pm - 7.00 PM for dogs and owners. The vote will be at 10.00 PM For further information please contact the Countryside Alliance Action Office on 01367 850 488 or email grassroute@countryside-alliance.org see CA website for more details www.countryside-alliance.org Read what the BASC are saying about the bill here. KWCA Dinner Dance Sir Johnny Scott of 'Clarissa & the countryman' fame was the guest speaker at the KWCA 50th anniversary dinner dance, held earlier this year at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Maidstone. The evening included dancing to the Peter Elligate Showband. Johhny and Clarissa were available throughout the evening to sign copies of their books: Clarissa and the CountrymanÊbyÊClarissa Dickson Wright & Johnny Scott Published byÊHodder Headline,Ê2000 ISBNÊ0747232474 PriceÊ£20.00 Clarissa and the Countryman Sally ForthÊbyÊClarissa Dickson Wright & Johnny Scott Published byÊHodder Headline,Ê2001 ISBNÊ075531011X PriceÊ£20.00 New research into the effects of lead shot on the environment Wildfowlers are already familiar with the rules that came into force in England & Wales in 1999 following a voluntary lead ban in 1995, requiring the use of non-toxic shot for all waterfowl shooting. KWCA require the use of non toxic shot on all of its shooting grounds. The impetus for this legislation had its origins in the 1970s when reports of dead waterfowl were linked to poisoning by lead pellets ingested as grit. Although there has been continuing debate over the effectiveness and cost of alternatives, the ban on lead for duck shooting has been mostly accepted as necessary. (see the conservation section for details of alternatives to lead shot) New research now suggests that lead from spent shot may be a wider environmental problem. Two studies have caused particular concern: Firstly, a sample of duck livers from Spain showed them to have high lead levels (following lead shot ingestion) and that food cooked from these had lead levels that exceeded EU safety standards. Secondly, a study of American woodcock in Canada showed that they too had high lead concentrations, not from ingested lead shot this time, but from eating worms which had been contaminated with soluble lead from the breakdown of lead shot in the soil. These concerns were taken up by the EU Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Eco-toxicity and the Environment which, in February, noted that lead shot remains the most important contributor of lead to the soil. The Committee recommended a thorough review of the literature and current data sources. In the long-term lead will probably have to be phased out in all shot. Clarissa and the Countryman come to Cliffe Clarissa Dickson-Wright and Sir Johnny Scott visit the Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Associations Cooling reserve. Reserve manager Phil Elliott and other KWCA members discussed the flora and fauna on the proposed site of the countries largest international airport in their regular BBC2 slot. Previous - Next Review: Clarissa Dickson Wright and Johnny Scott visit the North Kent marshes, a remarkable and little known landscape just thirty miles east of London. Its remoteness has made it a gathering point of wildfowl for centuries. The area is also steeped in history, from Charles Dickens to the magnificent Cobham Hall, and Shades House, a pub frequented by smugglers. Farmers and wildfowlers talk of their fear that all might be lost as it is one of the proposed sites for London's new airport. Country Members The KWCA AGM last year approved a new Country Member category. This is available for those living OUTSIDE our catchment area of Kent, London, Surrey, East Sussex and Essex, and is limited to 6 day permits. If you wish to take advantage of this offer, contact KWCA Membership Secretary. Tel. 07836 771715 or e-mail membership for details. KWCA clothing New for 2002 - we have a range of KWCA clothing - embroidered with the club logo. Polo shirts £15.00 Hooded sweatshirts £22.50 Fleeces £30.00 Caps £7.00 Tel. 07836 771715 or e-mail club secretary to order.