1 / 30

Gamekeepers: Their Role in Sustainable Countryside Management

Explore the history, facts, and responsibilities of gamekeepers in managing habitats, controlling pests and predators, rearing game, promoting healthy eating, and policing the countryside. Contact us for more information.

bjack
Download Presentation

Gamekeepers: Their Role in Sustainable Countryside Management

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The NGO Educational Trust wish to thank the following people and organisations for providing photographs used in this presentation. David Mason Brian Mills Sophia Gallia / Natterjack Publications Game to Eat (Countryside Alliance)

  2. GAMEKEEPERS THEIR ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE COUNTRYSIDE MANAGEMENT 1

  3. GAMEKEEPERS – A BRIEF HISTORY • Gamekeeping is a very old profession (over 1000 Years) • Originally protected the deer in medieval royal hunting forests • As game became more important for food and sport it dramatically changed the role of the keeper.

  4. GAMEKEEPING FACTS • In the UK Gamekeepers manage 15 million acres; an area larger than Scotland. • 70% of Gamekeepers look after at least oneSite of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) • UK Government recognises that shooting contributes to conservation of landscapes, habitats, wildlife and rural communities.

  5. ROLE OF THE MODERN GAMEKEEPER • Management of Habitat • Pest/Predator Control • Game Rearing • Shoot Days • Game to Eat • Policing the Countryside

  6. THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE

  7. COUNTRYSIDE HABITATS

  8. GAME CROPS Provide shelter and food to game birds and a wide variety of other species.

  9. BIRDS THAT BENEFIT FROM GAME CROPS All these bird species benefit from the planting of game crops…

  10. BIRDS THAT BENEFIT FROM GAME CROPS …particularly in the winter.

  11. MANAGEMENT OF HABITAT GAME BIRDS Management of these game birds has played a large part in shaping the British countryside.

  12. MANAGEMENT OF HABITAT WHO MANAGES THIS ENVIRONMENT? • Private Landowners • Farmers • Foresters • Gamekeepers Much of this at no cost to the UK Tax payer.

  13. PEST/PREDATOR CONTROL Predators are meat eaters whose numbers need to be controlled for the benefit of game and other wildlife. HOW MANY CAN YOU NAME?

  14. NAME KEEPER CONTROLLED PREDATORS FOX CARRION CROW MINK RAT STOAT MAGPIE

  15. WHY CONTROL PREDATORS? I EAT

  16. PREDATOR CONTROL Predators are controlled using the following appropriate methods: • Trapping • Shooting • Snaring • Selective use of Rodenticide (Rodent Poison)

  17. PREDATOR CONTROL TUNNEL TRAP Used for Rats, Stoats, Weasels, Rabbits & Mink

  18. PREDATOR CONTROL SHOOTING Used for all predators & Pest species. FREE-RUNNING SNARE Used as a holding device for foxes.

  19. PREDATOR CONTROL LARSEN TRAP Used for Crows, Magpies and Jays. LADDER TRAP Used for Crows, Rooks & Jackdaws.

  20. PEST CONTROL RODENTICIDE Some poisons are legally used in special bait boxes.

  21. PEST CONTROL Pests are animals whose numbers need to be controlled for the benefit of agriculture and forestry. HOW MANY CAN YOU NAME?

  22. NAME KEEPER CONTROLLED PESTS RABBIT WOOD PIGEON GREY SQUIRREL DEER ROOK

  23. WHY CONTROL PESTS? I EAT

  24. GAME REARING • Some Estates rear game birds for release into the wild. • During the shooting season some of the birds will be shot. • Income from shooting helps pay for conservation work on the Estate.

  25. GAME REARING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF GAME REARING

  26. SHOOT DAYS Shooting is an activity enjoyed by people from all walks of life. 25

  27. GAME TO EAT GAME THAT IS EATEN -Venison -Rabbit & Hare -Pheasant, Partridge, Pigeon & Wildfowl HEALTHY EATING -Low fat -Organic

  28. POLICING THE COUNTRYSIDE • Rural Crime watch • Wildlife Crime • Protection against poaching • Environmental Crime (vandalism, dumping etc.) • Early warning system (pollution etc.)

  29. THE GAMEKEEPER

  30. NGO EDUCATIONAL TRUST CONTACT DETAILS For further information regarding any aspects of this presentation please contact: Brian Hayes NGO Educational Trust PO Box 3360 Stourbridge West Midlands DY7 5YG : 01384 221308

More Related