Nature reserves to remain state-owned

BASC has welcomed a Government statement that National Nature Reserves (NNRs) will remain in public ownership, despite DEFRA officials ?scoping a range of options?.

Wildfowling takes place on a number of NNRs, including iconic sites such as Lindisfarne. Part of the Wash is also an NNR, with local clubs providing voluntary wardens.

Mark Greenhough, wildfowling officer at BASC, said: ?The current arrangement of wildfowling on NNRs seems to work well, so a continuation of current permit schemes would be a good thing for wildfowlers.

?The alternative would be for NNRs to be released from public ownership. If that happened, we don?t know whose hands they would end up in ? it could pose problems if the wrong people took them over.?

The rest of this article appears in 16th February issue of Shooting Times.

What is YOUR opinion?

Join other ST readers in our forums to discuss your views.

Like this article? Mark this page on a social bookmarking website…