Frodsham & District Wildfowlers Club was formed on 2nd April 1938 but the history of wildfowling in Frodsham goes back even further. We have over 150 members ranging in age from juniors starting at 11 years to pensioners of 85, all of whom take their conservation responsibilities very seriously. In recent years the club has raised money to purchase over 200 acres of land between Brook Furlong and the River Weaver, protecting the shooting rights in this area for its members. Some of the land has been put into conservation stewardship to return it to its original wetland and increase wildlife to the area. The stewardship work already carried out in this area by our members has included:
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the erection of new fences and gates so cattle and sheep don't damage the planting of new hedges
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the restoration of neglected hedges
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the building of scrapes which flood in winter for ducks, geese and waders to feed in
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the building of sluices to control the water level
Over the next few years more land will be put aside for stewardship.
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Press clip
Chester Chronicle, 19 August 2010
"WETLAND habitats in Cheshire have been restored by Frodsham and District Wildfowlers Club. The pioneering conservation project is aiming to restore, recreate and reconnect wetland habitats in the River Gowy and Mersey corridors. Richard Gardner of Cheshire Wildlife Trust said: “Working together with the Frodsham and District Wildfowlers and BASC’s Cheshire Green Shoots officer we’ve been able to devise a project to raise water levels and improve the condition of the reed bed which will have a positive benefit for wildlife and the club. “It’s a real win-win situation.”
The Frodsham group agreed to raise water levels, improve the condition of the reed bed and create muddy wet areas for wading birds on two hectares of land on Frodsham Marsh to benefit birds such as curlew and snipe as well as a whole host of invertebrates. Work included creating a large scrape, an area of shallow wetland, and raising water levels by building a series of sluices to enable it to hold water all year round.
Ben Gregory of The British Association for Shooting and Conservation said: “This was an exciting opportunity to take part in a project working with a shooting club who are committed to conservation. “The Green Shoots project is enabling clubs throughout Cheshire to be actively involved with initiatives such as the Gowy and Mersey Washlands project, demonstrating shooting’s contribution to conservation.”"
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New pics in Gallery2
Tide flight on the marsh
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