‘Conservation in Cumbria’ (past and present) Westmorland Wildfowlers Association BASC 27th Wildfowling Conference
Location of the River Kent Estuary South Cumbria Morecambe Bay North Lancashire
River Kent Estuary South Cumbria View looking NE South ‘Reclamation Lakeland + Railways’ Fells View looking SW Kent Channel Dynamic Sheep grazed system Towns of Species poor Arnside + saltmarsh Milnthorpe grass
Bygone Days on the River Kent Estuary (Late 30’s) Brogden 2015
Bygone Days on the River Kent Estuary (Late 30’s) Peter Scott launched his punt from ‘The Ship Inn’ to hunt the roosting wigeon and greylags on the sand bars
A Wildfowling Club is formed :- March 16 th 1950 J. Powell R.D Humber Uncontrolled shooting in post war years & Wild Bird Protection lobbying in the early 50’s Many clubs formed & rallied round W.A.G.B.I.
W.W.A worked alongside W.A.G.B.I.
Extract from a 1967 article J. Ellwood & J. Ruxton How the Greylag Returned to Lakeland Cumbria Vol. 16 (10) pages 483-487 Carlisle Library Archives
“The Wildfowler- Conservationist” “The Wildfowler has many responsibilities in the fields of conservation and research, and that he must be practical, whilst avoiding the temptation to concentrate simply on his Sporting interests” Dr Jeffrey Harrison (W.A.G.B.I.)
W.W.A’s ‘Management Strategy’ Landowners, Government Agencies Other Wildfowling clubs, B.A.S.C., Working Tenant Farmers, Local Estuary Groups with others Public Government Agencies Wildfowlers Education & Habitat Young Shots Promotion creation Main Goals Internet-Media Shows Putting something back Estuary scrapes Improve the sporting Improve flashes Create inland wetlands opportunities ‘Perpetuate wildfowling + the club itself’ Diversification Sanctuaries & Land Counteracting Purchase Disturbance Provision of no Active pursuit of new land shooting zones + Improving Game syndicates disturbance free Inland duck syndicates stocks Nest tubes areas Fishing syndicates Restocking Ringing
Working with others
W.W.A. Working with others Local Estuary group Representative organisation Conservation Groups Public & Government bodies Landowners & tenants
Be Positive, Proactive & Defend Your Rights Long history We use ‘Conservation’ of estuary to educate government use & public organizations & the public about wildfowling Stakeholder Proven track ‘We have record of the legal Status (own right to do conservation sporting what we do. management rights) Natural England consents + Crown management plans in place
Habitat creation on leased land
Wildfowl have 3 basic needs 1) Places to Feed 3) 2) Somewhere Somewhere to Breed quiet to Roost
Saltmarsh Wetland Habitat Creation (North West side)
Saltmarsh Wetland Habitat Creation (South East side) S.S.S.I. consent for 2 x 165’ x 65’ scrapes a) Land owner b) Tenant Farmer c) Natural England d) Environment Agency Aim: To creating flight lines across the estuary & from the inland release/nesting zones
New over wintering wildfowl & Spring wader habitat Cattle grazed + wetland Fenced off ungrazed marsh (wader nesting cover) & scrapes Sanctuary scrapes New flashes for shooting
Refuges + Disturbance
W.W.A Refuges Mallard in the New Barns sanctuary (Refuge since 2011) Safe areas No shooting No disturbance Main Roosts Feeding areas Greylags in the Bela sanctuary (First W.W.A. Refuge 1954)
Recreational Pressures Out of 89 WeBS sites Dog walkers in W.W.A. Bela sanctuary Bird watchers on a private W.W.A marsh
Landlord signs Establish good relations with landlords Keep a portfolio of evidence (incident type/dates/photos) local conservation bodies & work together W.W.A. Ground nesting signs Marsh wardening by members Reporting vandalism Encourage Landlord to act (Signage)
Improving stocks
Putting the effort in is rewarding! • Collection & incubation of early March eggs (first brood) • Less restocking now & more ‘’promoting wild DIY production’’ • 4 years of ‘BASC leg ringing’ shows released mallard are fairly sedentary (20 mile radius). • Unique rings source the mallard to the release point. Useful for flight line creation + siting of wetlands. • Good for mallard nesting program (seasonal re use of our artificial nests )
Artificial Nests Drill holes down 1 side for drainage Dig in banksides Point downwards at shallow angle Stuff with hay/straw Best for 2 nd broods when summer vegetation has grown round them Over 40 barrel nests installed on inland drainage dykes near estuary
‘ Hen Houses/ Duck Tubes’ (New idea or just a modification?)
Devenish Wildfowlers Loch Erne BASC’s S & C magazine (2006) Delta Waterfowl Matt Chouinard
‘Mallard factories’ have taken off in the U.K. W.W.A. project began in 2010 Why use them? Greater security for the incubating female Article in French hunting Eggs aren’t spotted by winged predators magazine Protected from mammalian predators featuring W.W.A. Increased hatch rates = more ducklings Concept has spread into Europe & even Iceland !
Duck tubes affords nest protection (Trail camera mounted on post near nest tube)
Quick Guide to Hen Houses Choose location carefully: They do not magically attract mallard! Site in close proximity to reed and vegetation stands (think about cover/insects after the hatch: ducklings are vulnerable once out Erect at 90° angle to prevailing wind Maintain annually in February Tubes are generally not used in first season on ‘new ground’ If they are not used after ‘Year 2’ move them!! Certain tubes are prime duck ‘real estate’. Some are never used.
No cover? Deep water? Rocky bottom? Try a floating ‘barrel raft’ with cover’+ nest tube…………..it works!
The more tubes, the more ducklings produced naturally = more mallard come open season
VERMIN CONTROL February Estuary & Inland Vermin Shoots Members out in force on marshes & inland leases Program of Larsen Trapping, Fox Lamping, Fenn Trapping WWA Chairman: that’s 5 carrions less W.W.A crow shoot and nest tube work party 22/02/2015 With BASC NW Regional officer + Young Shots BASC ambassadors
Sandscale Haws National Trust S.S.S.I. site (40 miles West from River Kent estuary) W.W.A. donated 2 tubes to their ‘Wet Meadows’ project Neil Forbes National Trust Warden W.W.A. donated 3 tubes for the R.S.P.B.’s Leighton Reserve 1 mile from River Kent estuary W.W.A. have forged links with both National Trust and R.S.P.B staff & now maintain the tubes Alasdair Grubb RSPB Leighton Moss Assistant Warden on both their sites
First U.K. record of a ‘duck tube’ being used by Barn Owl (Sandscale Haws National Trust S.S.S.I. site) Winter roost for Barn Owl ( Tyto alba )
Diversification & Land Purchase
W.W.A Sporting Opportunities on 4,416 acres Barkin House Tarn 1986 Ulpha wetland 1980’S Duck flighting Deer Rough Stalking Shooting Core interest Wildfowling Trout + Driven Coarse Pheasant fishing Cinderbarrow Tarn 1998 Tarney Bank Tarn 2013
£50,000 loan W.W.A. Tarney Bank Tarn, 27.6 acres purchased 2013 New Land Purchase Aim: To secure land to provide sporting opportunities for the current membership + for future generations W.W.A are continually scouting for foreshore or land adjacent to foreshore But also thinking of the ‘bigger picture’ + looking at inland opportunities’ Use BASC’s Paul Williamson for advice!
Tarney Bank Tarn Conservation bringing W.W.A members together
Another wetland now managed by Tarn choked with invasive reed mace & changing from a ‘wetland’ to W.W.A. ‘solid ground’ Provide havens for other wildlife as well as sporting opportunities for all members WWA Conservation: Wetland opened up, margins sculpted, reed mace controlled, Planted with native aquatics. Cover for duckling Loafing areas shelter + food Open water
Tarney Bank Tarn Stiles 2 nd flight at Tarney Bank New Teal scrapes Mallard, Teal and Wigeon New fences New bridges Creating Snipe habitat
RAISING CLUB FUNDS W.W.A. End of Season Supper + Sporting Auction • Gun Dog Scurry • Annual Clay Pigeon trophy + open shoot • Darts and Dominoes evenings • Xmas Raffles & Sponsored events Business Having • Proactive like a Race Nights officers • Strategy attitude Taste of Game Evening • Getting Wide Donations from magazine articles the right • social club Purdey Award competition network • members W.W.A. merchandise • Tap into non Income from a land fund levy on subs • members Rent Income from all syndicates £’s • Leasing Grazing rights • Fishing club leases • Payments Wayleaves • W.W.A. paid off just over ½ the 50K loan recently!
Education & Promotion
Getting the message across! Display stands Website Social media You Tube Sporting Literature Local press Local estuary groups Wildfowling groups
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