The Savills Shoot Benchmarking Survey uniquely focuses on the economic and environmental performance of driven game shoots. We recognise that the objectives, structure and size of shoots are diverse, and we have therefore designed our benchmarking so that all types of shoots can benefit from taking part.

Our latest results are based on 155 shoots – the most participants in the Survey’s seven-year history – in England, Scotland and Ireland. They shot more than 3,300 days in the 2016/17 season, put down more than 1.6 million birds and employ 250-plus full or part-time staff, generating a turnover in excess of £16 million.

Survey participants receive a detailed personal report with tailored information, enabling shoots to compare anonymously their operations with similar shoots.

Once again, we are pleased to run the Shoot Benchmarking Survey in partnership with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. The team combines Savills property management and sporting knowledge with the GWCT’s highly respected work in exploring how shooting contributes to the conservation of landscape, habitat and wildlife.

Conserve and protect

Grey partridge conservation

Our Survey highlights how shoots can help conserve the wild grey partridge, which has suffered significant declines over the past few decades. Grey partridges are present on 39% of participating shoots with 59% of these shoots undertaking specific management to benefit them. Some 83% of those with grey partridge report that numbers are stable or increasing. We are encouraged that 26% of the shoots with greys contribute to the GWCT Partridge Count Scheme (PCS). We would encourage all shoots with grey partridges to contribute to the PCS at www.gwct.org.uk/pcs

Environmental support

A high proportion of shoots provide and manage wildlife habitats on farmland through funded agri-environment schemes and voluntary measures. Interest in agri-environment schemes remains high: 79% expect to join a successor scheme when their current agreement ends. Work has included:

■ 78% of shoots have established buffer strips and/or field corners

■ 77% have established wild bird seed mix

■ 37% have established pollen and nectar mix

■ 41% have established conservation headlands (selectively sprayed and fertilised or low-input cereal headland)

■ 93% feed their birds after the season.