Ajarrett

Without wanting to start a row, please someone remind me the basis in law for NE creating a 300 mtr buffer zone (which is an extension) around SSSIs. I didn't see that being challenged, which - suitably emboldened - then lead to them imposing a 500 mtr buffer zone.

Just interested!

Are you affiliated to BASC?

This is really positive news. In my opinion we can trace much of the current discontent back to when wildfowlers effectively lost control of Council by failing to get wildfowlers elected in the period up to 2015. Perhaps time to awaken a sleeping giant. Alan

Another two joiners yesterday taking us to 1,560. Looking forward to renewals and new joiners from 1st April to see if we can maintain that growth

The change is from snow-covered or frozen ground, to frozen grass and air temperature. Apparently nobody at BASC knows when the change happened our who agreed it!

Be interesting for Conor to explain what BASC's role was in the tightening of the criteria by which a wildfowling suspension can brought to bear. When we challenged SE Region they didn't seem to know there had been a change - or indeed what it originally was! 'It used to be snow-covered or frozen ground'

I wonder why the Chairman didn't mention that the hard weather criteria which precipitates a wildfowling suspension, has been tightened without - it seems - BASC noticing/doing anything about it?! Now it's easier to have a wildfowling suspension. We spotted it and pointed it out to BASC SE Region.

I wonder how membership numbers are doing across the country? KWCA just exceeded its previous record number of members (established last year ). 885th member joined today. Add in the carp fishing section takes us to 1,473.(Or if you count memberships - as some other organisations do we have 1,615!) There are a lot of problems in the wildfowling world, not least draconian and unjustifiable consents from Natural England, and increasing difficulties with shotgun certificate renewals and new applications. There are still however strength in numbers. Still vacancies, as our shooting rights continue to increase - more on that soon. Alan

Just back from looking at land for sale on Romney Marsh. The main dyke - called a 'sewer' is those parts - is about 10 feet deep and completely dry! Land unsuitable. Never mind, something will come along. Apart from isolated pockets Romney Marsh is now no more a marsh than my front garden. Drained and turned to mostly arable long since. Still, worth exploring. Kent Wildfowlers membership flying - over 1,500 now. New members joining every day - 12 since 1st September. Alan

Since my last update July 22, membership has gone crazy! Members joining every day. We have now passed the 1,500 milestone, and looking at the system there are another 96 in various stages of joining! Could get another 100 plus this autumn

I shall be meeting both candidates soon, and will be pressing them on when gov releases us from much of the European legislation which binds us. In particular the 'precautionary principle' enshrined in the Habitats Regulations. This is being grossly misused by Natural England to the detriment of shooting, and eventually to wider country sports. Alan

Shooting renewals are slower this year - lots of problems: cost of living; shotguns certificates etc. Fishing going really well Despite that total membership has just passed 1,200. Had hoped for more by now, but shooting and fishing both showing a profit. Difficult financial climate! Plenty of time to go!

Thought I would post an update at 28th May: Total members so far 1,032. Fishery members 412. Renewals/new members ticking over with some coming most days

KWCA only. We have our own £10,000,000 insurance cover, all the club facilities including all the shooting you can want for. Associate members can join for £30, which give access to website, events, insurance etc. and a day's shooting all in Since we disaffiliated from BASC we haven't looked back, and for this year starting 1st April we already have over 1,000 members. Full members saved over £50 a year when we disaffiliated. Sad to leave BASC, but we felt there were good reasons for doing so - which I will not rehearse here in case they threaten to sue us again!

No limit on annual visits. If there's a permit free you can go! Every day if there's a permit available! We have shooting in North/Mid Kent and Essex, but most of the airgunning is in the Whitstable area, so decent access from the Chilham area

There are a few limitations: on certain areas access is closed during the game shooting season; all permit areas are for limited numbers - usually 2; but there is more than enough land to cater for the 70 cap on numbers

Fee for Air Rifle Hunting is £175 all in. Daily permits (at no charge) for hunting across 27 sites currently available. We expect to add to the 27 sites during the year. Includes full insurance cover. ARH members currently capped at 70, with 7 vacancies as of this morning!

Exactly, that's the membership so far against a predicted (hope for!) 1,500. As of this morning 827 - which is pleasing at this very early stage (renewals were due 1st April, although many paid before that).

Update on Fishery progress. 260 Fishery members enrolled in two weeks from opening, meaning we have already taken enough cash to break-even for the whole Fishery year Add to that over 430 renewals for the main part of the club. Looks like being a good 2022/23 for us.

Lakes are at Faversham, Milton, Chartham and Lydd - all the Bretts portfolio formerly managed by Mid Kent Fisheries

The KWCA has continued its policy of expansion and diversification by acquiring a 10-year lease over a 180-acre carp fishery. The fishery is a well established carp fishery with 10 well-stocked lakes across mid and west Kent. This new initiative takes the KWCA to a new level in both its fishing section, and in terms of overall membership growth. The club will see its membership grow by about 600 with this acquisition, and overall membership grow to over 1,500. At a time when country sports are besieged as never before, being able to demonstrate such large and widespread support from across the sector will give the KWCA more muscle and influence going forward. Mainstream shooting activities will of course continue, with further growth in the number shooting areas anticipated during 2022. Alan

I suspect that is the very point! How on earth can they be counted accurately?

In Kent Wildfowlers we have a nice plastic card including your picture for id and insurance details on the reverse - oh, and we provide shooting!

The problem is our 'friends' in Natural England (NE) are using the precautionary principle to try and protect pintail by stealth via issuing consents - to the the Kent club anyway - which does not allow the shooting of pintail in both Kent and North Norfolk. The excuse being falling numbers in localities (despite in Kent the two main pintail-holding areas in the Medway not being counted in the WeBS counts!). Despite the fact that pintail numbers in the Western Palaearctic (our flyway) are stable. Draw your own conclusions about NE! Alan