A shoot reborn

A family farm that has been running for 100 years.

It is often said that where a shoot is largely based on the releasing of pheasants and partridges, then wild game is unlikely to flourish. But this is definitely not the case on the Cleatham and Manton syndicate. Situated near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, this 2,000 acre family farm shoot is home to a thriving population of grey partridges, as well as a host of other game and song birds. Despite the fact that this is essentially a reared bird shoot the number of greys has trebled in the last seven years.

Very much a traditional shoot it was started at the end of the 19th century and is now run by brothers Ambrose and Edward Fowler, their cousin Robert Borrill, and gamekeeper Howard Russell. It is very much a joint venture that has gone from strength to strength. Ambrose explains: “The original syndicate had been running for over 100 years, but broke up with the death or retirement of several members about 30 years ago. The shoot covered three adjoining farms each about 500 acres, owned by immediate family members, together with a 170 acre block of woodland owned by a third party, located in the middle of the farmland.”

“We decided to continue the shoot on a small scale, using a parttime keeper. Unfortunately at the time there were no conservation initiatives, but more importantly the wood was a sanctuary for any game we released, particularly late in the season. As the wood was shot on a regular basis, our own shoot dwindled, as did the pleasure that had gone with it.” It is a dilemma which has faced many syndicates over the years.

The love of the sport itself however was very much alive, and when Countryside Stewardship appeared on the scene in the mid-nineties, it was embraced with open arms by both families. Six metre field margins adjacent to any dyke, whole field stewardship, arable reversion, hedge planting gapping up schemes and new scrapes all featured. Both farms also joined the Entry Level Scheme initiative which saw the leaving of over-winter stubbles, planting wild bird mixes and pollen mixes.

The impact was almost immediate. “There was a build-up of small birds and mammals as well as the insect population.

Intriguingly in 1999 Ambrose and Edward also took the decision to use a 40acre block of set-aside for the planting of a short rotation willow coppice. “It has proved to be the most remarkable habitat - the wild pheasants love it, but then all birds do and lots of other wildlife. We see roe deer and muntjac, where we never saw any on the farm. The birds also find protection from corvids and feel safe in there.” The willow, which is cut every three years, is chipped and sent to two local power stations for burning as part of the Renewable Energy Scheme - the ultimate green crop?

During the previous year (1998) a new parttime keeper was appointed - and Howard Russell came with lots of experience of both wild and reared game. They hit it off from the outset. “It’s an arrangement that has worked incredibly well. Howard has since taken on more land over which he lets days as self-employed keeper and shoot organiser. But he has been excellent for us.”

Though all farms grow wheat, rape and sugar beet, the soil close by the Trent is sandy in places and this is an area which has a history of grey partridges. So despite the fact that they are shooting bags of 100-200 reared pheasants and partridges (on a 1/3:2/3 ratio) the number of greys shot has shot up from 66 in 2000 to over 150 last season. “We had some wonderful coveys last year” Ambrose added. “We saw coveys of 16, 18, 20 - it was so exciting seeing them coming over the hedgerows. Though I’m not sure how we will do this year - the weather was terrible at the crucial times and we are not optimistic, but we know that with careful management they will bounce back.”

Theory suggests that when shooting reared redleg partridges invariably the wild greys get shot out along the way. The more days you have the more likely this is to happen. Not so here.

“We don’t shoot them once they have paired, so from mid-December that’s it. Obviously the odd one will get shot by mistake, but most of our Guns are fairly experienced so they can differentiate. Howard also knows where most of the greys are likely to be.”

The other key turning point for the shoot came three years ago when Howard negotiated a lease for the shooting rights of the block of woodland. “This has transformed our shooting - no question. The wood was always at the heart of the shoot, and it has improved both the number and quality of the drives - our returns have obviously also improved.”

The farm is also blessed with good topography with higher ground on the Lincolnshire cliff’ so the presentation of birds off this and over the tall hedgerows can be very exciting.

Little wonder that the shoot was short-listed three years ago for the Purdey Awards. “There is no question that our shoot was in danger of closing in the midnineties” he reflected. “The enjoyment had gone, the bags were disappointing and it was proving a costly hobby. We now meet most of our expectations and more importantly are enjoying the days. It is critical with a private shoot to ensure your guests enjoy a quality day of sport that does not necessarily revolve around a high bag. Presenting birds that test the gun is the real challenge, as well as offering guns the opportunity and excitement of shooting at coveys of grey partridge. The huge increase in the number of song birds is another real bonus for all of us.”

Even better, another generation is coming along, with the sons of all three already keen and hopefully they too will be taking their turn in what is a fascinating and still unfolding story

THE GAMEKEEPER

Howard Russell was born nearby and started his keepering career at the Meynell Estate, at the time a top sporting estate just a few miles away, where after attending Sparsholt College in 1979 he worked his way up to head keeper at the age of 25, over two underkeepers. He was there for 17 years before moving to Northumberland to work for Lord Davenport where as head keeper he looked after a 7,000 acre grouse moor, 10,000 acre pheasant shoot and two trout lochs. But an opportunity to buy some land back in Lincolnshire drew him home to start a game farm and pest control business. Then he added a small timber business in Scunthorpe. But the urge to get back into keeping was too great when given the opportunity to work on the Cleatham and Manton syndicate. Now 45, it has worked out well. “I no longer have the other businesses, but have extended my ground to 7,000 acres on which I not only keeper but also let days. The land all adjoins and I have five different beats - between the different shoots I will this year run 45 days’ driven and 10 days walkedup shooting.”

Talking with him and it is quickly obvious that his passion is English partridges. Inevitably people often ask him why have they done so well at Cleatham. “The obvious answer is vermin control and good habitat - and it’s true. But I must add that the there are areas of sandy soil all over these farms, which suits the greys. “Like everyone else I was very concerned about he effects of the weather this summer, but now as the harvest moves on I am being pleasantly surprised with coveys of all sizes and ages. Though the redlegs haven’t done so well.” Normally the shoot has quite a few wild redlegs, which are most likely the progeny of second year survivors of release onto the shoot. He is absolutely confident that shooting does not affect the overall numbers of the birds. “I count each autumn, and set a 50% limit of the total. Once they’ve shot the 50% that’s it. So it generally means that from mid-December onwards, when they have started to pair up, we call a halt to shooting them. In any event by January they are flying so fast, no-one can hit them! Though by then we are also bringing in large blocks of ground, and the greys will fly out the sides or back over the beaters.” The real decider is vermin control and despite looking after so much ground he is vigilant. Not just in spring, but the year-round.

He found that foxes were a real bother this summer - with the wet weather delaying the cutting of barley and rape they moved around with more confidence and were taking redlegs. “Only small numbers, but any is too many.” He is also this year experimenting with the introduction of some new stock. “I located some English grey chicks hatched from native stock, which I am putting with barren pairs. We’ll see how it goes.

BLACKCOCK AND BUSTARD

From his early keepering days, Howard Russell recalls some unusual entries in the Meynell Estate game book. First and foremost was the fact that a blackcock was shot there on North Lincolnshire heathland in 1954. Go back nearly 100 years and in 1867 a great bustard met its untimely end. The bird was stuffed and mounted and for years was on display in the shoot lodge until the estate owner moved to Scotland, and presumably sits there somewhere to this day. It was just three years later that the bustard became extinct in the UK.

Finally, Leighton was also noted for its duck shooting. This was not surprising given that it had a 2,500 acre forestry, in which there were seven areas of ponds and lakes. “I recall spending many hours there cutting reeds to make shooting butts. Typically a team of eight guns would shoot 100-200 wild duck in a flight. But in 1930 a single Gun accounted for 450 mallard, wigeon and teal, setting a UK record.

COVER STRIPS

For the purposes of driving game the shoot now uses cover strips of maize, dwarf sorghum and millet. Gamekeeper Howard Russell explains: “We used to have just maize and sorghum, but found that the partridges weren’t in the strips until November, and very often we would be left with a lot of maize, which was attracting rats, rooks etc. “Now with the millet added for early feed, partridges are moving in by the end of August. Millet is a thin spidery plant and no good on its own, but works well with maize.” They are sown as a mix in equal one third proportions.

 

 
 
 

Home | Articles | Magazine | Scottish Sporting Gazette
Blogs & Comment | Upcoming Events | Sign Up | About Us