How a Kent shooting estate is ‘making space for nature’ - BASC

Wide-ranging conservation work being carried out on a Kent shoot is set to become a case study for the county’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Godmersham Park Estate recently welcomed Kent County Council’s Making Space for Nature team members Chris Drake and Rachel Boot. It was an opportunity to show them how shooting and conservation go hand in hand.

The invitation followed the consultation on Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS), to which BASC responded. With funding from Defra, Kent County Council has been developing the Kent and Medway LNRS since 2023.

LNRS are plans developed with input from local people to prioritise action for habitat and species enhancement in their area. Each plan includes an opportunity map to show where action will have the most impact. Local authorities are required to produce them under the Environment Act 2021. The aim is to create a nature recovery network to help government hit environmental targets for England.

With more than 4,000 BASC members in Kent, it was an important opportunity to show local policymakers what shooting contributes to the environment and conservation across the county.

A 'three-legged stool' approach

Estate manager Ben Palmer and gamekeeper Adam Horn gave an overview of the extensive conservation work carried out at Godmersham. The focus over the past ten years has been on four key areas: wetlands, woodland, chalk downland and margins/hedgerows. The aim is to maximise biodiversity without harming the character or overall profitability of the estate.

The estate, which is located near Canterbury, has taken a ‘three-legged stool’ approach to conservation, creating habitat like wader scrapes, making wild bird food available year-round and controlling predators.