Ashley Fox MEP visited Braces Clay Shooting Ground in Bristol to find out more about shooting and the wider role it plays in the South West Economy. Mr Fox is a member of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity, and Countryside Activities. BASC organises meetings of the group through FACE the European Federation of Associations for Hunting & Conservation; an organisation which represents seven million people who shoot across Europe.
Mr Fox visited Braces where he met representatives of the UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), and was given a clay shooting lesson by shotgun coach John Pool. BASC England South West director, David Gervers, told Mr Fox about the value of shooting to conservation and the South West economy.
David Gervers said: “Shooting brings huge economic and environmental benefits to the South West of England. The recently released Value of Shooting report shows that people come from far and wide to shoot here and the benefits to the region’s hotels, restaurants and small businesses are significant. Shooting generates £250 million for the South West economy every year and supports the equivalent of 10,000 full-time jobs in the area.”
“Shooting also plays an important role in wildlife conservation. BASC and its members do a lot to protect natural habitats and promote wildlife diversity through initiatives such as our Green Shoots programme. In the South West the conservation work put in by the shooting community equals more than 2,000 full-time equivalent jobs.”
Mr Fox said: “I am proud to support shooting sports both in the UK and the European Union and was delighted to see first-hand what goes on under the expert tutelage of John Pool.”
This meeting reflects the continued efforts to forge strong links in the European shooting community by politicians such as Mr Fox and by organisations such as BASC.
For more information visit www.bracesofbristol.com
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