BASC boosts its support for wildfowling

The new team consists of wildfowling officer, Mark Greenhough, conservation officer, Conor O’Gorman, assistant conservation officer, Denise Shepherd, and assistant Bethan Davies.

Greenhough will liaise directly with clubs and give assistance with club development, including recruitment, marketing, youth sections, rules and structures.

He will also advise on higher level stewardship applications and other land management issues. Greenhough will have regular contact with clubs, attending club and joint council meetings and running wildfowling evenings.

O’Gorman will work for wildfowlers negotiating Crown leases and consents for ‘fowling on SSSI’s and Natura 2000 sites.

Shepherd will manage the Crown lease programme liaising with clubs, statutory agencies and the Crown Estate to ensure that leases are in place for the new season.

Davies will support the team assisting with Crown leases, wildfowling returns and the mapping of club land.

Suppport

In England the team can call on the network of BASC regional offices and directors. In Scotland and Wales, Donald Muir and Glynn Cook, both experienced wildfowlers, are available to work with local clubs.

Members in Northern Ireland are well supported by having input and advice from the national Chairman of BASC, Robert Irvine, himself a passionate wildfowler, as well as Tom McGoldrick of Derrylin who sits on the national BASC Wildfowl Liaison Committee.

At head office, BASC chief executive, John Swift, is responsible for European wildfowling issues. Tim Russell, director of conservation, deals with higher level negotiations with statutory agencies regarding wildfowling on designated sites.

Director of research, John Harradine, is responsible for international issues relating to geese, disturbance, non-toxic shot, BASC’s current research project on wildfowling and the analysis of wildfowling club returns.

Chief executive, John Swift, said: “By bringing together the team at head office and appointing Mark Greenhough as Wildfowling Officer, BASC has established a strong team that will benefit wildfowlers across the UK.”