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‘Green Shoots’ is BASC’s primary conservation programme which links our members, the shooting community, wildlife charities and government agencies in order to promote biodiversity.

The shooting community has always been proactive about conservation, in order to maintain a sustainably supply of game. But those involved in shooting also care about the countryside, and are well placed and willing to carry out conservation work that also has wider environmental benefits.

The Green Shoots programme is currently operating in Cheshire, North Wales and on the Somerset levels, with projects in the development stage in Dorset and Northern Ireland.

Each area has its own full time officer who co-ordinates survey projects, conservation work and fundraising. Roughly two thirds of the UK’s countryside is used or managed for shooting. Green Shoot’s success to date has been partly due to the high level of access BASC has been able to negotiate with landowners, and the projects ability to act as a focus for all those who care about conservation.

In Cheshire over 690 sq km of land has been surveyed by BASC members for priority biodiversity species and habitats. Thousands of new trees have been planted, not to mention projects designed to reduce the mink population and encourage our endangered water vole.  The Green Shoots officer for Cheshire is Ben Gregory.