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Farming Today: Farming Today This Week

Farming Today This Week

07/12/2013

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, Farming Today This Week

Charlotte Smith visits a pheasant shoot in East Sussex.

Food, farming and countryside news. How do rural sports benefit the countryside? Charlotte Smith visits a farm shoot in East Sussex which runs a weekly shooting syndicate.

More than four million of us take part in rural sports, according to the Country Land and Business Association. And with the game shooting season in full swing, Charlotte Smith visits a farm-based pheasant shoot to find out more about the sport. Unlike an expensive private shoot, farm drives are run and managed by farmers who pay a subscription to cover the basic running costs. The shoots are not only for sport, but are, according to the farmers, an important social activity. Whilst shoots may have conservation benefits in creating and managing woodland, could some be detrimental to local wildlife populations?

Aside from shooting, rural sports such as quad biking can be a useful source of income for farmers who want to diversify their business. And traditional sports such as ferreting have added benefit as a form of on-farm pest control.

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Jules Benham.

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