Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2006/January 2007 | Page 48

COUNTRYSIDE & FARMING

Keeping the
countryside

By Tony Ridd

The shooting season is the
finale of nine months hard
work by the game keeper.
It’s not all about pheasants,
partridge and ducks. Our
countryside
has
been
moulded by the English land
owner through farming and
enjoyment of the land.
I often talk about the landscape
that we know today is man made
which has resulted in the wildlife
that it supports. Hedges, woodland
and lakes are a major part but nearly
all created for a reason and that was
when conservation wasn’t even
thought of.
Shooting and the gamekeeper, still

48

plays a massive part in preserving
our landscape and wildlife. A recent
independent study that took two
years to compile reported that
two thirds of the countryside is
managed in some way for shooting
with two million hectares (nearly
5 million acres) under active
conservation and habitat creation.
£250 million being spent by shoots
on conservation.
I spent some time with a local
keeper to learn about his important
role in helping to preserve our
landscape and countryside.
Habitat is the most important
factor for keeping the birds happy.
They require food, warmth and
roosting/sleeping areas. Although
the pheasant isn’t native to Britain

it was introduced from China, the
red legged partridge being French.
We do however have the native
grey partridge that is beginning to

increase in numbers on the Island
due to conservation projects on
many farms. They collectively enjoy
hedgerows, woodlands, open areas

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