THE English landscape with its variety of woods and copses has benefited in its attractive diversity by management to encourage game birds.

Worcestershire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) had the opportunity of seeing how shooting and conservation go together at Cudleigh Court Farm, Spetchley, by courtesy of Berkley Farms Ltd.

There are 800 acres in hand, including 500 acres in arable, also 150 acres of Deer Park.

"Our shoots are low key," explained John Berkeley, welcoming the visitors, "with eight shoots a season for family and friends, just eight guns at eight stands. We now have just one keeper."

Bruce Fowkes, FWAG adviser, introduced Ian Lindsay, Game Conservancy specialist for the West Midlands and Wales, who was full of praise for Government encouragement of positive conservation work.

"Conservation headlands are proving of great benefit to wildlife. We now have 90 per cent of what we wanted. Hand rearing of game birds will still provide the basis for shoots, but we could see many more wild game birds in the English lowlands."

Stopping by a pond surrounded by trees, Bruce Fowkes outlined the scope for enhanced wildlife management helped by countryside stewardship grants. Removal of an accumulation of silt would result in open water to the benefit of newts and other species.

Ian Lindsay commented on the effects of milder winters over the last 10 to 15 years.

"Fewer wildfowl migrants have come from Scandinavia and the Continent because, while we have had much milder winters, their climate has also been milder.

"Well managed flight ponds result in opportunities with wildfowl, which are better than pheasants to shoot. The secret is to start early enough feeding the pond. Mallard and teal feed on the surface. They are dabblers and need a shallow, shelving area no more than a foot deep, because they cannot reach down lower than that.

"Ducks flying over need a clear view of the water. A tree canopy overhanging the pond will obscure their view from above. Coppicing pondside trees is the answer. It is now compulsory to use non-toxic shot for wildfowl. Sweden are considering banning lead shot completely, and even lead for rifle bullets as well.

"Mink can decimate young ducks and need to be controlled. But starvation is also a major cause of loss. In their first few weeks ducklings depend on invertebrate protein to stay alive, and non-biting midge larvae are a good source when plentiful in the water. You can try a duckling creep feed in a simple creep that excludes the adult ducks."

In a coppice, Duncan Webster, of Abbey Forestry, explained how clearing a dense growth of elderberry had provided a good feeding area for pheasants. Ian Lindsay commented on the habits of pheasants in roosting in a separate wood away from the wood where they are fed.

"They don't fly from a roosting wood," he said.

"In woodland management there are two flies in the ointment," said Duncan Webster. "Grey squirrels and deer. Here we have roe deer. We have managed to tempt the deer away from young timber trees with a sacrifice crop of willow. Deer love willow."

In a field of set aside growing red clover other alternatives attractive to wildlife were discussed. This was demonstrated in another set aside crop of spring wheat, barley and triticale, with some rape. This is especially attractive to small birds and insects.

"You cannot release game birds into it," said Ian Lindsay. "The no earning rule applies with set aside. But it will be as attractive to them as to the small birds. Have you noticed with a shoot the great flocks of small birds that take off with the first shot? Management to encourage game is also of great benefit to a great many other species.

"Six years ago the British Trust for Ornithology clearly demonstrated this in carefully monitored trials. Quinoa and millet proved especially attractive to small birds. Defra's prescriptions for seeds mixtures have been guided to result in cover important for both game and wild birds.

"For late season holding of game you need some kale. But in the Midlands, since oilseed rape came everywhere, flea beetles decimate kale. Control by pesticides is not justified in cover crops, but late sowings of kales such as Emerald and Sparta can be made after the main waves of flea beetle attack are over.

"Conservation headlands round arable fields and alongside watercourses are proving of enormous benefit to wildlife and also to game."