A LUNE valley country estate has clinched a national conservation award, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

The Newton Hall Estate, near Whittington, was awarded fourth prize in the Purdey-run competition in recognition for a decade's conservation efforts.

Landscape enhancement, conservation benefits and biodiversity created by habitat management were among the reasons the 1,000-acre game estate gained credit.

Tim Kimber, of Newton Hall, has overseen the planting of several thousand trees, including cherries, oak and lime, four-miles of hedge, the creation of artificial wetlands and the re-introduction of the grey partridge.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has been monitoring bird populations at the estate and has seen the wetlands create significant increases in lapwings, curlews, snipe and many songbirds.

Mr Kimber said the award had been a result of team effort, including the help of Newton Hall gamekeeper Ted Lawson: "We're absolutely delighted to receive this recognition of our achievements. When I say we' I refer to the fact that the achievements of the Newton Hall Estate have been a team effort. It is an important demonstration that shooting is not just about shooting the wildlife we can attract is very significant and attracts tremendous interest.

"In comparative terms, this is only a small estate with a private shoot, and is modestly funded. This makes the result even more special for us when you consider some of the estates were 5,000-6,000 acres."

He added that the estate's motto was to "keep the balance" between conservation and shooting and explained there are plans for more conservation projects.

If the estate can attract further funding from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, hedging, wetlands, woodland shelterbelts and flower meadows are on the horizon.

January 9, 2003 15:00