Price for a sporting jewel

I am lucky to have rough shooting on 700 acres of land — at no cost. It is a mixed farm with crops, woodland, hedges and marshy areas. It holds birds quite well and I do not need to put any down because it is surrounded by three local shoots whose birds come in — they are not tempted. I shoot it every 10 days, usually with one other, and take a few birds for the pot. I only cover the same ground roughly once every three weeks. There are also pigeons during the year. I am hoping this good arrangement can continue, but if I were ever to be asked for rent of some kind, I wondered what a reasonable figure might be? In days gone by I think people were talking of up to £5 per acre per year, but this is presumably now well out of date. The present owner does not wish to allow the local shoots to take his ground, but any general guidance you can give would be extremely useful.

You are very fortunate. Rough shoots such as yours are becoming increasingly rare. On the open market, a shoot such as this, with its woodland, hedges and marshy areas, could easily ask upwards of £10 an acre. If the owners asked for £1,000 per annum for the 700 acres, they would almost certainly get it. If they were willing to let it to one of their neighbours, who could tie it in to their existing shoot, they could more than double that. Look after them and the shoot, and cherish it for the jewel that it is. LB

A desirable rough shoot with woodland, hedges and marsh could easily draw upwards of £10 an acre for rent