Ending wildfowling licensing in Braunton enables us to honour the traditions of North Devon while conserving the future of our biosphere. We wish to ensure that Braunton remains a beacon of biodiversity and a source of pride for future generations.
 

Honouring Tradition, Protecting Wildlife

We, the undersigned, call upon local authorities, conservation bodies, landowners and their agents to end the licensing of recreational shooting of wild birds in the area of Braunton marshes. While we deeply respect and celebrate the rich traditions of North Devon, we believe that the recreational shooting of wild birds must be re-evaluated in light of the urgent need to conserve and protect declining bird populations and the prevailing social revulsion of having a barbaric bloodsport on our doorstep.

North Devon is renowned for its enduring rural traditions, from our annual tug-of-war to the magnificent medieval Great Field. Our rich agricultural heritage has sustained generations while inspiring efforts to protect and nurture our rural environment (https://www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/ Similarly, our region’s customs have evolved to prioritise conservation, environmental stewardship and sustainability, ensuring our community endures in harmony with nature.

While many traditions are vital to our heritage, others have rightly been left behind as our understanding of environmental and societal impact has grown. North Devon no longer recognises “traditional” activities such as stubble burning, animal fighting or wrecking. Like these historic activities, our community should also place recreational shooting of wildlife into the history books. 

Wildfowling clubs may point to their efforts to conserve nature, but in 2025, many hardworking local and national bodies are dedicated to saving our natural environment. There is no call to release animals if the goal is to simply gun them down again.

 
Birds of Braunton: A Vital Haven for Wildlife

Braunton Burrows is a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve and a haven for diverse bird species that depend on its unique habitat (https://www.unesco.org/en/mab/north-devon?hub=66369 Amongst the birds native to our region are:

Curlews – Europe's largest wading bird, now classified as near-threatened due to habitat loss and population decline.
Lapwings – Recognised for their striking appearance and tumbling flight displays, but increasingly rare in the UK.
Redshanks – Often found in wetlands but under pressure from environmental degradation.
Shelducks – A distinctive and much-loved wildfowl species commonly seen along the estuary.
Skylarks – Their beautiful song once filled the skies of North Devon, though their numbers have declined significantly.
 
The Alarming Decline of Bird Populations

Bird populations across the UK have faced dramatic declines. According to recent government data, farmland birds have declined by nearly two-thirds since 1970, while wintering waterbirds, including many species present in Braunton, have also shown troubling trends, with almost half of these populations now in decline (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/biodiversity-indicators-for-the-uk Contributing factors include habitat destruction, climate change, and diseases like avian influenza. Adding the pressures of wildfowling exacerbates this already fragile situation (https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/state-uks-birds

Braunton Burrows, Marshes and the surrounding area is a critical refuge for these species, providing food, shelter, and breeding grounds. To protect this biodiversity, we must reconsider practices that could further endanger these birds.

Declines in bird numbers can be shown to have a corresponding effect on natural predators and damage the delicate balance of plant and insect species in the area. 

The effect of shooting

The transition from lead shot to non-toxic shot has reduced the amount of lead entering the environment. However, non-toxic shots are linked to higher rates of wounding and prolonged suffering for birds (https://www.wwt.org.uk/ Additionally, the disturbance caused by wildfowling affects potential nesting sites, disrupts breeding, and further threatens vulnerable bird populations (defra.gov.uk). In an area where bird numbers have declined, it is vital that we take action to slow this decline.

Tourism & Local Economy 

“World Class By Nature” is writ large on the Link Road sign that welcomes visitors to North Devon. Tourism is a key part of Braunton economy with many businesses serving visitors who are attracted by our beautiful beaches and breath-taking natural landscape. Recreational Wildfowling runs contra to the expectations of our many visitors and could damage the reputation of our village and/or harm our local economy. 

It should be recognised that wildfowling businesses have traditionally engaged in environmental protection and organised clay shoots. We hope that members of their organisation will consider that the conservation of nature does not have to include blasting wild birds.