Fury over pheasant shoot at nature reserve
CONSERVATIONISTS have reacted with anger over a pheasant shoot on a ‘fragile’ nature reserve.
Lancashire Wildlife Trust say the ‘dangerous’ shoot was held on trust land at Astley Moss, on the border between Wigan and Salford.
They believe the incident, which happened last Friday, is not the first time the shooters have been on the reserve.
They have reported the shoot to police.
Reserve officer Martyn Walker was carrying out health and safety work in Rindle Woods with a team from the trust when they started to hear gun shots on the moss.
He said: “I went over to look and there was an organised shoot heading over the moss towards the woods.
“They were strung out in a line walking through the moss with dogs and beaters. I shouted at them to stop and asked them to leave.
“They walked away off the moss, but would not answer any questions regarding which shoot they represented.
“They had obvious disregard for being on private reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest and appeared unconcerned they had been spotted.”
Astley Moss forms part of the SSSI and part of the Manchester Mosslands Special Area of Conservation.
Martyn added: “The site is fragile and vulnerable to disturbance and obviously we do not allow such activities to take place on the moss.
“The shoot must know that the land is owned by the Trust and that we do not allow shooting on the land but appears to have ignored this. I do not believe this is an isolated incident, as we have found many gun cartridges on the reserve over the years.
“This incident occurred whilst we had members of staff and volunteers on site. We feel that the shoot was dangerous and illegal and are looking to pursue the matter with the help of the police to prevent future incidents of this type.”
The Trust says it has had problems in the past with hare coursing and thefts on the Manchester Mosslands, which include Cadishead and Little Woolden Moss in Salford.
It is trying to make the area a safe habitat for wildlife which can accessed by local people keen to see native birds, animals and plants.
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