Conservation in Cumbria (past and present) Westmorland Wildfowlers - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

‘Conservation in Cumbria’

(past and present)

Westmorland Wildfowlers Association

BASC 27th Wildfowling Conference

Location of the River Kent Estuary

South Cumbria North Lancashire Morecambe Bay

River Kent Estuary South Cumbria

View looking NE View looking SW Towns of Arnside + Milnthorpe South Lakeland Fells Sheep grazed Species poor saltmarsh grass Kent Channel Dynamic system ‘Reclamation + Railways’

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 16th 1950

R.D Humber

• J. Powell

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 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.)

“The Wildfowler- Conservationist”

W.W.A’s ‘Management Strategy’

Main Goals

Putting something back Improve the sporting

• pportunities

‘Perpetuate wildfowling + the club itself’

Working with others Habitat creation Sanctuaries Counteracting Disturbance Improving stocks Diversification & Land Purchase

Education & Promotion

Public Government Agencies Wildfowlers Young Shots Internet-Media Shows Landowners, Government Agencies Other Wildfowling clubs, B.A.S.C., Tenant Farmers, Local Estuary Groups Nest tubes Restocking Ringing Provision of no shooting zones + disturbance free areas Estuary scrapes Improve flashes Create inland wetlands Active pursuit of new land Game syndicates Inland duck syndicates Fishing syndicates

Working with

• thers

W.W.A. Working with others

Conservation Groups Landowners & tenants Local Estuary group Public & Government bodies Representative organisation

‘We have the legal right to do what we do.

Long history

• f estuary

use Proven track record of conservation management

Natural England consents + Crown management plans in place

Stakeholder Status (own sporting rights)

Be Positive, Proactive & Defend Your Rights

We use ‘Conservation’ to educate government & public organizations & the public about wildfowling

Habitat creation on leased land

1) Places to Feed 3) Somewhere to Breed 2) Somewhere quiet to Roost

Wildfowl have 3 basic needs

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

Sanctuary scrapes Fenced off ungrazed marsh (wader nesting cover) & scrapes Cattle grazed + wetland New flashes for shooting

Refuges + Disturbance

Mallard in the New Barns sanctuary (Refuge since 2011) Greylags in the Bela sanctuary (First W.W.A. Refuge 1954)

Safe areas No shooting No disturbance Main Roosts Feeding areas

W.W.A Refuges

Out of 89 WeBS sites

Dog walkers in W.W.A. Bela sanctuary Bird watchers on a private W.W.A marsh

Recreational Pressures

W.W.A. Ground nesting signs

Establish good relations with landlords Keep a portfolio of evidence (incident type/dates/photos) local conservation bodies & work together Marsh wardening by members Reporting vandalism Encourage Landlord to act (Signage)

Landlord signs

Improving stocks

• 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)

Putting the effort in is rewarding!

Over 40 barrel nests installed on inland drainage dykes near estuary

Drill holes down 1 side for drainage Dig in banksides Point downwards at shallow angle Stuff with hay/straw Best for 2nd broods when summer vegetation has grown round them

Artificial Nests

‘Hen Houses/ Duck Tubes’

(New idea or just a modification?)

Devenish Wildfowlers Loch Erne BASC’s S & C magazine (2006) Delta Waterfowl Matt Chouinard

Why use them?

Greater security for the incubating female Eggs aren’t spotted by winged predators Protected from mammalian predators Increased hatch rates = more ducklings Concept has spread into Europe & even Iceland !

‘Mallard factories’ have taken off in the U.K.

Article in French hunting magazine featuring W.W.A.

W.W.A. project began in 2010

Duck tubes affords nest protection (Trail camera mounted on post near nest tube)

Quick Guide to Hen Houses

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. Choose location carefully: They do not magically attract mallard!

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

W.W.A crow shoot and nest tube work party 22/02/2015

With BASC NW Regional officer + Young Shots BASC ambassadors WWA Chairman: that’s 5 carrions less

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 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

• n both their sites

Neil Forbes National Trust Warden Alasdair Grubb RSPB Leighton Moss Assistant Warden

Winter roost for Barn Owl (Tyto alba) First U.K. record of a ‘duck tube’ being used by Barn Owl (Sandscale Haws National Trust S.S.S.I. site)

Diversification & Land Purchase

W.W.A Sporting Opportunities on 4,416 acres

Ulpha wetland 1980’S Barkin House Tarn 1986 Tarney Bank Tarn 2013 Cinderbarrow Tarn 1998

Core interest Wildfowling

Duck flighting Rough Shooting Driven Pheasant Trout + Coarse fishing Deer Stalking

£50,000 loan W.W.A. Tarney Bank Tarn, 27.6 acres purchased 2013 New Land Purchase

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!

Aim: To secure land to provide sporting opportunities for the current membership + for future generations

Tarney Bank Tarn

Conservation bringing W.W.A members together

Another wetland now managed by W.W.A. Provide havens for

• ther wildlife as well

as sporting

• pportunities for all

members

Tarn choked with invasive reed mace & changing from a ‘wetland’ to ‘solid ground’ WWA Conservation: Wetland opened up, margins sculpted, reed mace controlled, Planted with native aquatics.

Open water Loafing areas Cover for duckling shelter + food

Tarney Bank Tarn

New Teal scrapes Stiles New fences Creating Snipe habitat New bridges 2nd flight at Tarney Bank Mallard, Teal and Wigeon

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
• Race Nights
• Taste of Game Evening
• Donations from magazine articles
• Purdey Award competition
• W.W.A. merchandise
• Income from a land fund levy on subs
• Rent Income from all syndicates
• Leasing Grazing rights
• Fishing club leases
• Payments Wayleaves

W.W.A. paid off just over ½ the 50K loan recently!

Wide social network

Getting the right club members

Tap into non members £’s

Having a Strategy

Business like attitude Proactive

• fficers

Education & Promotion

Getting the message across!

Display stands Website Social media You Tube Sporting Literature Local press Local estuary groups Wildfowling groups

The 21st Century W.W.A. must be proactive in defending our

• sport. We must be ‘responsive’, ‘reactive’ & ‘adaptable to the

ever changing world ’.

And whatever it takes, we must ensure wildfowling continues for future generations to enjoy…….

Now roll on the 1st! Thank you for listening