Big issues

Peter Nixon, Director of Conservation, said: 'We are well aware of the importance of countryside traditions and welcome well managed shooting activity on our properties, where this fits in with our principal purposes of conservation and access.

'We will continue to allow shooting unless there is a conflict with nature conservation or public access which cannot be reconciled.

'We will do everything we reasonably can to ensure shooting and access and conservation can coexist. We expect the shooting community to play their role in examining how shooting operates – there may be a need for shooting to be managed in different ways.'

Last updated 01/03/12