Defra minister backs keepers

DEFRA ministers have told visitors to The CLA Game Fair that it is people, including gamekeepers and landowners, that are at the heart of its Natural Environment White Paper.

Speaking on the event?s first day, the minister for the natural environment and fisheries Richard Benyon, debated the recently published document with a panel including the GWCT?s Tom Oliver and Martin Harper of the RSPB.

Mr Benyon said: ?What underpins this document is that it has people at its heart, and it?s really important at occasions like this to recognise that it is landowners, foresters, farmers and gamekeepers, local communities, the whole myriad of people who mind our countryside and care for it desperately.

?We want to make them feel valued and make sure that the Government makes it easy for them to continue to do the right thing. It?s people who make, protect and enhance our countryside.?

The rest of this article appears in 27th July issue of Shooting Times.

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