Becoming a member of BASC.

By becoming a member of BASC, you’ll be supporting our fight for sustainable shooting and conservation of the countryside. 

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation is the UK’s largest shooting organisation, with a membership of 150,000.

As the UK’s largest shooting organisation, we promote sustainable shooting practices, offer comprehensive advice, training and education programmes, implement wide-ranging conservation initiatives and safeguard the interests of shooting at Westminster, in the devolved parliaments and in Brussels. 

For more than 100 years, our organisation has served the shooting community, on the ground, in the media and at parliament protecting our sport and the wildlife habitats we are all intrinsically connected to and responsible for.  

BASC represents shooting sports in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and has eight regional teams across the UK, providing expert local knowledge and support when you need it most.

History

The Wildfowlers’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland (WAGBI) was established by Stanley Duncan in 1908 with three primary objectives: aiding professional wildfowlers struggling to make a modest living along the coasts, addressing concerns about the increasing drainage impacting wildfowl habitats, and defending wildfowling against extremists advocating for the complete protection of wild birds. Stanley Duncan served as the association’s first honorary secretary for an uninterrupted 40 years, while renowned wildfowler and sporting author Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey Bt assumed the role of president.

By 1950, WAGBI had expanded to include five affiliated organizations: Southport & District Wildfowlers’ Association (1887), Blakeney and District Wildfowlers’ Association (1927), Morecambe Bay Wildfowlers’ Association (1929), Frodsham and District Wildfowlers’ Club (1938), and the Tay Valley Wildfowlers’ Association (1949).

In 1953, new legislation jeopardizing the future of wildfowling prompted a robust response from WAGBI. Their lobbying efforts resulted in the Protection of Birds Act 1954, a more balanced piece of legislation. The ensuing publicity attracted individuals passionate about preserving their sporting heritage, leading to the formation of local clubs and associations with WAGBI’s guidance.

The Wildfowl Conservation Committee, initially an informal group established in 1949 alongside the Nature Conservancy, gained momentum and formalized in 1960. With a shared goal of safeguarding wildfowl and their habitats, a strong relationship between WAGBI and the Wildfowl Conservation Committee emerged.

In 1975, the Gamekeepers’ Association of the United Kingdom joined WAGBI, propelling membership growth. To better represent its expanding membership, WAGBI transformed into the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). Formally incorporated in 1997, it later became The British Association for Shooting and Conservation Limited.

BASC celebrated its centenary in 2008, boasting a membership of over 150,000, more than 1,200 affiliated clubs and shooting syndicates, and a staff exceeding 140 members.

Looking to the future, BASC faces complex challenges amid a changing countryside and increasing public demand for access. Building on WAGBI’s legacy, BASC is committed to promoting, maintaining, and protecting the historic sport and wild habitats for future generations.

BASC’s headquarters, Marford Mill in Rossett, Wrexham, a historic site, was purchased in 1981 by WAGBI and later became BASC. Renovations and conversions were undertaken, including naming the mill building The Stanley Duncan Building and the stable block offices The John Anderton Building. The site’s rich history continued with the restoration of the water wheel in the early 2000s and an extension named The Duke of Edinburgh building in 2010.

With eight regional offices across the UK, Marford Mill remains central to BASC operations, embodying a deep connection to its community and a proud history as the association’s home.

Phone BASC on 01244 573 030 and use your credit or debit card.

https://basc.org.uk/