Wylye Valley Shooting Ground

[Jan Powell]

Don't shoot sporting so i've never been there but nevertheless, sad news.

 

[Will Hewland]

Yes. Very sad when I hear that somebody doesn't shoot sporting.

 

[Hotshot100]

Really sad to hear this. I have never shot there personally as it's a bit of a long hike from East Kent but I know of its good reputation. Unfortunately we seem to be losing a lot of our best grounds for various reasons, not to mention the smaller ones.

Southern Counties has a big question mark over it, Greenfields has been given planning permission for 7000 houses to be built on site so that's only a matter of time before it's gone and now Wylye. It is really very worrying.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Yes. Very sad when I hear that somebody doesn't shoot sporting.

Yes I know what you mean.....I always think it is very sad when I hear people don't shoot Helice ...or even Trap...

 

[** Pending Removal **]

But on the bright side ......I hear today that their is supposedly going to be a £800K investment at Beverley ..... some rich benefactor whose child is being coached by Pete Wilson.....anyone from up that end heard that or have more details as to what is being built / improved etc etc ..???

 

[Jan Powell]

But on the bright side ......I hear today that their is supposedly going to be a £800K investment at Beverley ..... some rich benefactor whose child is being coached by Pete Wilson.....anyone from up that end heard that or have more details as to what is being built / improved etc etc ..???

I hope it happens but i'll believe it when I see it. They've been talking about replacing the clubhouse for the last 10 years!

 

[Jan Powell]

Yes. Very sad when I hear that somebody doesn't shoot sporting.

 I shot sporting once. I don't regret it though, it helped realise there's better disciplines out there!

 

[Darkside]

I shot sporting once. I don't regret it though, it helped realise there's better disciplines out there!

You had to wake up and think to shoot sporting, found out you were pish, then thought "Bugger this, I'm going back to sleep, trap time..."

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Oh dear......calling the.....Mods........!!!

Help......!!

Darky is on one.....!

He is going on a 'green ink slagging off spree'.....!!

He needs putting on the naughty step until he calms down..!

 

[Jan Powell]

You had to wake up and think to shoot sporting, found out you were pish, then thought "Bugger this, I'm going back to sleep, trap time...

That's the strange thing, I wasn't 'pish'. Thankfully though it only took 100 targets and a day paddling around in the mud before I could get back to the trap line.

 

[Hotshot100]

Oh dear......calling the.....Mods........!!!

Help......!!

Darky is on one.....!

He is going on a 'green ink slagging off spree'.....!!

He needs putting on the naughty step until he calms down..!

Seconded!

 

[GavB]

great ground - had my first taste of FITASC when ian put on a introduction to the discipline day, seems like a lifetime ago! hopefully all concerned will find a new ground

very sad news indeed

 

[garry2749]

Cant believe it Ian one of if the top sporting layouts in the country. What is it with farmers and solar farms these days we are

going to no where left in the south to shoot with southern hanging on by the skin of its teeth. Do you any intentions to set up any where else?

Have had some bloody good days at wylye especialy when it snows the place is a post card. :fie:

 

[RobertBeard]

Beginning to wonder if Government solar tariffs weren't a back door to get rid of shooting by finding a more profitable use for the land - Angry Face!

Emoticonless IPad!

 

[Angelfire]

I hope it happens but i'll believe it when I see it. They've been talking about replacing the clubhouse for the last 10 years!

You have not been shooting at EYGC for long then, the clubhouse has been up for renewal for at least 30 years. If some one older than me now says, it's more like 40 - I would believe them.

Phil* :banghead:

 

[Lock Stock & Barrel]

Beginning to wonder if Government solar tariffs weren't a back door to get rid of shooting by finding a more profitable use for the land - Angry Face! Emoticonless IPad!

I don't subscribe the initial conspiracy theory about the "gov't wanting to get rid of shooting"; rather I suspect, and more likely, that some farmers:

• have just had enough/can't make farming pay and want to take the easy money to get out of the job by selling their parcels of land - good [and sometimes even shabby] land will always command a premium
• if it wasn't wind turbines, it'd be some Barrett-like house-building construction outfit looking to build in picturesque setting.

 

[wylye]

Not the case in this instance but the amount of money needed to raise any interest from the agricultural community is so large, it prohibits clay shooting as an alternative income source. You have to remember that a lot of farms in the South are large units. Just 1000 acres is nothing significant but still attracts a payment from Europe of about £100K. A farm of that size would probably fetch £10million if it were offered for sale. It makes the rent from a clay shoot look pathetic.

But, as I said earlier, we persevere. Thanks again for the kind words, it means a lot.

 

[Shaun Hopkins]

The wind of change is blowing ever stronger through shooting as a sport for many reasons IMO very sad news to hear of yet another ground closure and I wish you all the best luck in the future Ian with whatever you choose to do, anyone living in south east Kent will now be aware of the imminent closure of Greenfields shooting ground in Canterbury yet another nail in the coffin but with falling numbers and the rise in costs you no longer need to be a good mathematician to understand why a better option is to sell up to developers for millions as I am sure most would do.. However this does not bode well meaning me and others on here having to travel much further to shoot which with increased cost such as fuel and cartridges becomes harder to justify. It seems to me that as with most things the future of shooting is in the hands of the future generations who oddly enough love shooting games but sadly without leaving there bedrooms rankster:

 

[Brook Bank]

Ian - we didn't see this coming!!!

Your ears must be burning this afternoon!

Hope you find another ground very soon.

A & W

 

[shootinguru]

As the person who brought Wylye Valley Shooting Ground to life back in the early 90's I feel very sad! it has been a fantastic ground considering the small acreage.

When we started there was a silage pit where the car park is now,  there was still a herd of friesien milking cows there and sometimes it meant we had to stop shooting when they came in for milking! but things changed.

I have been out of Wylye S.G. for 12 years, I still miss the Wessex Fitasc G.Prix and the fitasc shooters who patronized it and all the monthly Fitasc shoots.

I am afraid sporting and Fitasc shooting in the South West is on a downward slope with the demise of Wylye, Newnham Park, Southern Counties is a mere shell of what it was 25 years ago !  Is Podimore safe?

I have had 45+ years as a clay shooter and I am certain that I have had the best of it as shooters are now treated as a larger lout with a shotgun.

I am sorry Ian that Wylye is no more and its going to be almost impossible to find another ground in the locality but best of luck in looking. Cyril Jeffery.